NCUA Media Advisory

Fryzel Meets with Illinois Credit Unions

December 14, 2009, Alexandria VA. – NCUA Board Member, Michael E. Fryzel recently met with Illinois based credit unions in Springfield, IL.

Mr. Fryzel began his trip with a visit to Heartland Credit Union, based in Springfield, where he met with President/ CEO Ed Gvazdinskas and Keith Sias, Director of State and Governmental Affairs for the Illinois Credit Union League (ICUL), along with other credit union and ICUL officials.

“Heartland Credit Union, under the leadership of Ed Gvazdinskas, is clearly a model for a sound financial institution that puts its member’s interests first and provides them with the services they need,” commented Fryzel.

After visiting Heartland Credit Union, Fryzel addressed a group of Illinois credit union representatives at an event sponsored by the Illinois Credit Union League.

“Talking with credit unions and hearing what members are saying is important for a regulator. Having a clear understanding of the challenges consumers are facing aids in the decision making process as we work with credit unions throughout these difficult economic times,” Fryzel stated.     

Heartland Credit Union is a 180 million dollar institution with nearly 25,000 members. Members have access to the credit unions 4 branches in the Springfield area as well as 6,300 credit union service centers across the U.S.  The credit union currently serves Sagamon, Montgomery, Macoupin, Morgan, Cass, Menard and Logan counties, members of any Laborer’s local belonging to any District Council which is part of the Midwest Region, Laborers International of North America, and employees of the United States Government and of former Life CU. 

Pictured from right to left: Ed Gvazdinskas, CEO, Heartland Credit Union and NCUA Board Member Michael Fryzel

The National Credit Union Administration is the independent federal agency that regulates charters and supervises federal credit unions. NCUA, with the backing of the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, also operates and manages the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, insuring the deposits of over 90 million account holders in all federal credit unions and the majority of state-chartered credit unions.

- NCUA -