Jim Nussle will step down as the CEO of America’s Credit Unions, the industry’s loudest voice, but exactly when remains a mystery.

Nussle did not specify an exact date for his retirement but said he wanted to give the group’s board the full flexibility to conduct a search for a CEO over the next several months.

“Serving credit unions is a deep personal privilege,” Nussle said in a press release Friday. “After a long career in advocacy from both sides of the policy making table, leading CUNA and the honor of helping to create and lead America’s Credit Unions, it is soon time for me to pursue new interests in retirement. My announcement today is intended to provide the board the time to conduct a thorough national search to find the next leader for the association.”

According to Candid, an information hub for nonprofits, America’s Credit Unions has assets of $81 million, making it the industry’s largest trade group.

Nussle was named president and CEO of the then Credit Union National Association in September 2014. When CUNA merged with the National Association of Federally Insured Credit Unions in 2024, Nussle was named the combined group’s chief executive.

Prior to that, Nussle represented Iowa’s First and Second Congressional District for 16 years.

“The America’s Credit Unions board of directors appreciates Jim’s leadership, the flexible succession timeline, and the ability to conduct a thorough national search. I believe strong candidates will emerge for consideration for this vital leadership role,” said Pat Pierce, President and CEO of City and County Credit Union and Chair of the America’s Credit Unions board, in the release.

The board selected Vice Chair Karen Harbin, President and CEO of Commonwealth Credit Union, to lead a search committee and also hired Korn Ferry to assist the committee in conducting the national search.

Part of the trade group’s mission has been advocating to protect credit unions’ tax-exempt status, which may currently be under greater pressure than ever before.

At the group’s Governmental Affairs Conference earlier this month, the issue seemed to come up in nearly every conversation and in almost all break-out sessions. In fact, America’s Credit Unions issued an action alert in support of the credit union tax status.

“My full and ongoing focus will be on our intensive credit union advocacy efforts to protect our credit union model.”

 – Jim Nussle
CEO
America’s Credit Union