Credit Union Jobs Key Terms

Discover the names and descriptions related to credit union jobs

By Chelley Thelen

Credit union jobs are usually pretty stable, and they are great for people who are friendly, detail-oriented, accurate, efficient and honest. Job seekers and credit union human resources employees will benefit from understanding key terms related to credit union jobs. Job seekers need to know the terminology in order to sound professional and knowledgeable in their interviews. Credit union human resource workers need to know what to look for in potential employees in order to reduce turnover (and the high costs that come with it).

Member-owned cooperative

Credit unions often use the term "member-owned cooperative" when defining themselves. This means that the members of the credit union are actually the ones that own it. Because it is a cooperative, the organization exists only to serve its members. No one makes a profit. Understanding this concept is important for anyone seeking a credit union job, because it's important to realize that you will be working for a not-for-profit organization.
Try: Check out My Credit Union Is Me for a definition of what credit unions are and how they are structured.

Tellers

Credit union tellers are the face of the organization. They are the ones that greet members, introduce members to new products and services and conduct the daily transactions with members. Credit unions will want to hire tellers who are honest, personable and accurate.
Try: This article from Workforce explains not only characteristics that are desirable in credit union tellers, but also how they manage to recruit and hire those employees.

Member service representative

These credit union employees work at call centers. A member service representative at a credit union has the job of answering phone and email inquiries from member-owners.
Try: This is a full job description of a member service representative at Kemba Financial Credit Union.

Branch managers

Credit union branch managers have a very important job in the corporations. Branch managers are also called financial managers at some credit unions. These people supervise and direct all of the other employees in a given branch, making sure they do their work correctly and efficiently. Branch managers at credit unions are often promoted into their position from other jobs within the credit union. Many branch managers started out as tellers or loan officers.
Try: Spokane Teachers Credit Union has a detailed description of a branch manager’s work.

Loan officers

As with other lending institutions, such as banks, credit unions need to employ loan officers. The purpose of this job is to help member-owners obtain financing for homes, vehicles, commercial ventures, college education or other large-ticket items. A credit union loan officer will sit down with the member to obtain his information, run a credit check and process the application.
Try: For more information on the position of loan officer, read the entry in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Supervisor of operations

A supervisor of operations oversees the daily workflow of a certain area in the credit union. This job requires someone with superb organizational and managerial skills.
Try: Alliant Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in the Midwest, has a job description of a supervisor of operations.