SF Fire Credit Union names new CEO following Kathy Duvall’s retirement.
The $1.6 billion California credit union turns to its former finance chief after longtime leader Kathy Duvall stepped down, as the institution looks to build on decades of steady growth and community service.
San Francisco Fire Credit Union has named Robert Kassab its new president and chief executive officer, formalizing a leadership transition that follows the retirement of longtime CEO Kathy Duvall.
The announcement places Kassab, who joined the credit union as chief financial officer in 2022 and most recently served as interim CEO, at the helm of a financial cooperative with approximately $1.6 billion in assets.
His appointment comes three months after Duvall concluded a 30-year career in the credit union industry, including nine years leading SF Fire Credit Union. In a LinkedIn post announcing her retirement, Duvall described serving as CEO as “one of the greatest honors of my career” and said she was proud of what the organization had accomplished alongside its employees, members and community partners.
Founded in 1951 by San Francisco firefighters seeking a member-owned financial institution, SF Fire Credit Union has evolved into a full-service credit union serving residents throughout San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties while maintaining ties to its public-service origins. According to American Share Insurance data, the institution today serves roughly 73,000 members.
The board’s decision to elevate Kassab follows a period in which he played a central role in strengthening the organization’s finances and helping shape its long-term strategy. As chief financial officer and later interim CEO, he worked closely with directors on initiatives intended to position the credit union for future expansion while maintaining its cooperative mission.
“SF Fire Credit Union was built on the idea that people who serve their community deserve a financial institution that serves them back,” Board Chair Brook Baker said in announcing the appointment.
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“Robert embodies that commitment,” Baker said. “He came into this organization, assessed what needed to be done, and delivered a transformational financial position that has strengthened every member’s confidence in this institution.”
Kassab said his focus will be on building upon the groundwork established over the past several years rather than changing course.
“SF Fire Credit Union has a 75-year legacy of doing right by its members, and I take that responsibility seriously,” he said. “We’ve spent the last several years building a financial foundation that allows us to grow and serve our members in even more meaningful ways. Now we get to build on it. I’m proud of what this team has accomplished, and I’m excited about what will come next.”
SF Fire Credit Union’s recent financial performance illustrates both the opportunities and challenges facing midsize cooperatives. The institution reported net income of approximately $959,000 during the first quarter of 2026. That followed full-year 2025 earnings of $8.2 million, reflecting a period in which management sought to reinforce the credit union’s financial footing while continuing to invest in member services.
For Duvall, the transition marks the close of a career spent largely within the cooperative financial sector. In her retirement announcement, she reflected on the relationships and shared sense of purpose that defined her time in the industry, writing that the experiences had shaped her both professionally and personally and expressing gratitude to those who had supported her journey.
The succession also highlights a broader trend among community financial institutions, many of which are choosing experienced internal leaders to guide organizations through an increasingly competitive landscape rather than pursuing outside executives.
“[Kassab] has earned the trust of this board and the respect of this organization, and we have no doubt that he is the right leader to carry SF Fire Credit Union into its next 75 years and beyond.”
– Brook Baker
Board Chair
San Francisco Fire Credit Union
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.
