Richard Garcia President and Chief Executive Officer of North Jersey FCU Richard Garcia has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of North Jersey Federal Credit Union since August 2023. Building on the credit union’s educational legacy, he has strengthened financial infrastructure, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability, expanding the institution’s capacity to provide access and economic opportunity. Today, North Jersey FCU operates four full-service branches, three satellite student-run branches, and a comprehensive digital banking platform, supported by 74 credit union professionals serving more than 27,000 members and stewarding over $250 million in assets across New Jersey’s counties of Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Union. Through a strategic focus on access and sustainable growth, Richard quintupled North Jersey FCU’s membership growth rate in his first two years and expanded lending to meet evolving community needs while improving portfolio performance, growing commercial lending, and supporting micro and small businesses, particularly minority, immigrant, and women owned enterprises. He was instrumental in developing the credit union’s comprehensive community engagement strategy, positioning North Jersey FCU as a trusted hub where members, businesses, and community partners connect and build lasting relationships. Passionate about education as the pathway to opportunity, Richard promotes professional advancement within his team and encourages growth in the credit union movement. He deepens member empowerment by deploying year-round financial literacy and workshops in collaboration with consulates of communities most represented in the membership, as well as state universities, hospitals, leadership programs, and community based organizations. An expert lender and financial analyst, Richard is committed to providing high quality, low- cost financial services that build trust and mutual loyalty. Prior to becoming CEO of North Jersey Federal Credit Union, Mr. Garcia served as CEO of United Cities Credit Union and previously dedicated more than two decades to banking and financial services, holding executive and senior leadership roles at Lakeland Bank, Capital One Bank, and Hudson United Bank prior to its merger with TD Bank. Most recently, Mr. Garcia led international collaborations with credit unions in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Ecuador to deepen understanding of member experiences and advance safe, trusted financial services wherever members call home. A William Paterson University graduate and Bergen Community College alum, Richard has served on the boards of Inclusiv and the Foundation for Free Enterprise and as former President of the Bergen County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce. He has been honored with the Commerce & Industry Leadership Award and the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award for Exceptional Community Leadership, among others.