Patelco Credit Union CEO Erin Mendez Ranked in Top 10 for American Banker’s Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions 2022

Erin Mendez

Patelco Credit Union, a Bay Area-based credit union dedicated to the financial wellness of its members and communities, is pleased to announce that CEO and president, Erin Mendez, has ranked in the top 10 of American Banker’s Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions 2022. Since Erin arrived at Patelco Credit Union in 2013, she has transformed the organizational culture to a focus on members, team members and the communities they serve.

The Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions award, which debuted this year, celebrates the senior executives guiding the future of the credit union industry, while also examining issues of mentorship and inclusion. The award was created to share the stories of the top 25 women leading the credit union industry through times of rapid and unprecedented change. It seeks to recognize the achievements of these women and promote discussion of topics important to the advancement of the next generation of leaders. 
 
“Erin’s innovation and dedication to Patelco makes her more than deserving of this recognition,” said chairman of Patelco’s board of directors, Jesse Rivera. “In her time as CEO, she has worked tirelessly to improve the financial health and wellbeing of our members and the communities we serve.”
 
The award reflects Mendez’s success through leadership challenges, as well as her ability to implement innovative ideas. Despite pandemic-related challenges, Mendez championed creative solutions to give back and positively impact the communities it serves in Northern California. Mendez and her team were committed to making a difference, including giving more than $500,000 to non-profit organizations driving change in affordable housing, children's health, food security and financial health and well-being.

​Mendez's attention to improving the financial well-being of members has led to the creation of several products that directly help members on their financial journeys. These include the Patelco Virtual Branch™, featuring services expected from an in-person branch visit but online and in real-time, as well as the ScoreUp Credit Builder Loan, a response to members needing to establish or build their credit scores.

---