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My name is Barrington, and I am CUES.

My first job in the financial services industry was in 1981 when I joined the staff of the National Housing Trust of Jamaica as manager of marketing and benefits. My first credit union job was in 1994 as general manager of the C&WJ Credit Union in Kingston, Jamaica, where I’m currently employed.

I joined the credit union without specific knowledge of credit union operations or philosophy. I was experienced, though, in lending, corporate finance, savings and risk management, but had little knowledge of cooperative governance and the policy framework which governs credit unions.

Since becoming CEO in 1994, the credit union grew from $1.75 million in assets to $50 million in assets in 2011, and membership increased from 6,000 to 32,000 during the same time period. 

I first became aware of CUES in 2001 when I attended a World Council of Credit Unions Conference. Following that conference, I decided to join CUES after realizing that I needed a source of information about international development in credit union best practices.

I was helped a great deal by the “Members Share” section of the CUES website where model policies and procedures in finance, administration, operations, human resources development and product and services design are offered. 

I also benefited immensely from being a member of CUES Net™ and participating in the daily discussions with CEOs and executives about issues affecting their credit unions. I started attending CUES conferences and I was particularly impressed by the CUES marketing conference that was held annually. 

I also enrolled my board of directors in CUES and they began to benefit as well from the many development services. Our credit union has used CUES’ Self-Assessment for Credit Union Boards in our annual board assessment and several of our directors and executives have attended CUES seminars and leadership development programs.

Over several years, my president and I have attended CUES Symposium: A CEO/Chairman Exchange and have benefited tremendously from those activities. CUES has also provided—through my attendance at these functions—an opportunity to meet with many of the CEOs and leaders of the major credit unions in North America. On these occasions we were always made to feel that any issue that our credit union encountered, we could always reach out for assistance from these acquaintances.

In fact, one of our CUES acquaintances developed in to a partnership with the former Sarasota Coastal Credit Union, and its CEO at the time, Tom Randle. The relationship with that credit union was helpful in the modernization of operations at our credit union.

A occasion when Tom Randle was particularly helpful was when we wanted to alter the role of our credit committee from direct approval of loans, to one of an oversight function. Randle was helpful in convincing our board and credit committee that loan approval was best handled by the staff as it provides a faster turn around for our members.

We are the fourth largest credit union in Jamaica in assets. My goal for our credit union isn’t to be number one in assets; it’s my ultimate career goal that our credit union achieve the reputation of being the number one credit union in Jamaica—and indeed in the Caribbean—in member value delivery.

It is my view that for credit unions to continue to be relevant they must deliver a value proposition that is far superior to banks. The continued association with CUES and the access to the wealth of technology, management, financial and governance information will go a long way in assisting me to achieve that goal.

My name is Barrington Whyte from C&WJC Credit Union in Kingston, Jamaica, and I am CUES.