New York credit union chief to retire after 26 years.
William J. Mellin will leave the New York Credit Union Association at year-end after presiding over a period of sharp growth in the state’s credit union sector.
William Mellin, who has led the New York Credit Union Association for 26 years, plans to leave the trade group at the end of 2026, closing a 32-year career with the organization during which the state’s credit unions expanded to more than $133 billion in assets and nearly 7.5 million members.
Mellin will remain president and chief executive through Dec. 31, focusing on succession planning and the transfer of responsibilities. Chris Pajak, the association’s chief operating officer, will oversee day-to-day operations of NYCUA and its affiliated organizations until a permanent successor is appointed.
The association represents 270 credit unions across New York. During Mellin’s tenure as its leader, total credit union assets in the state grew from $36 billion to more than $133 billion, while membership increased from 4 million to nearly 7.5 million.
NYCUA’s influence within the state’s credit union industry has also grown. The association said about 86% of New York credit unions are now members, compared with roughly 70% early in Mellin’s tenure.
Mellin became president and CEO in 2000. Over the years, he also helped oversee NYCUA’s affiliated organizations, including OwnersChoice Funding, UsNet Shared Branching and the New York Credit Union Foundation.
Ryan Roberts, NYCUA’s board chair and president and chief executive of Great Meadow Federal Credit Union, credited Mellin with strengthening the association while maintaining its focus on the credit union cooperative model.
“Since 2000, Bill has led NYCUA with vision, integrity, and an unwavering belief in the power of the ‘people helping people’ philosophy,” Roberts said.
The association also cited a recent employee survey in which all Association and affiliate staff agreed that the organization was “a great place to work.”
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Mellin’s leadership has extended beyond New York. Earlier this year, he received the 2026 Eugene H. Farley League Leadership Award from the American Association of Credit Union Leagues, recognizing his relationships and collaborative work with credit union league leaders nationally.
The transition comes as credit unions across New York operate in an increasingly complex financial services environment, a challenge NYCUA said will remain a priority as leadership changes.
The association said its advocacy work, education and professional development programs and support for credit unions will continue during the transition. Its affiliated organizations are also expected to maintain their operations.
The board plans to establish a search committee in the fourth quarter to find Mellin’s successor. NYCUA expects to provide additional details about the search in the first quarter of 2027.
Pajak’s temporary role is intended to provide continuity while the search proceeds. The board said it has confidence in his experience and institutional knowledge after many years on NYCUA’s senior leadership team.
Mellin’s departure marks the end of one of the longer leadership tenures among state credit union trade associations. He began his career with NYCUA more than three decades ago and spent most of that time as its top executive.
The next chief executive will inherit an association representing a substantially larger credit union system than the one Mellin took over in 2000, along with a membership base that now reaches millions of New Yorkers.
“Since 2000, Bill has led NYCUA with vision, integrity, and an unwavering belief in the power of the ‘people helping people’ philosophy.”
– Ryan Roberts
Board Chair
New York Credit Union Association
Ken McCarthy is manager of marketing communications at Tyfone, where he monitors the credit union industry and contributes to conversations shaping its future. He previously covered credit unions and community banking for American Banker and S&P Global Market Intelligence. He holds a journalism degree from Point Park University and has more than 15 years of experience covering financial services. He is also the author of three literary fiction novels.
