NAFCU President/CEO Fred Becker, who announced his upcomingretirement this week, said he plans to leave the credit unionindustry for good later this year.

“There's nothing worse than an 'ex' anything,” Beckersaid.

Instead, Becker said he may pursue a teaching gig at a communitycollege. Becker's interest in education isn't new: he taught parttime during his first career in the Navy, and also taught somebusiness law classes for the University of Maryland. The outgoingleader wouldn't reveal where he will settle in retirement, onlythat it will not be in Washington.

As he reflected upon his time at NAFCU, Becker said he's mostproud of how he beefed up NAFCU's already strong education andregulatory affairs services, and further increased the tradeassociation's presence on Capitol Hill. That effort included thehiring of Executive Vice President of Governmental Affairs DanBerger, he said, who will take over as NAFCU's president/CEO onAug. 1.

Camden Fine, president/CEO of the Independent Community Bankersof America, had glowing words for the departing NAFCU chief. Fine,who represents NAFCU's direct competition on Capitol Hill, calledBecker “one of the genuinely good guys I've worked with, and youcan't always say that about everybody in Washington.” He also addedthat Becker is a fierce competitor, but has integrity and is honorable.

Fine said he was surprised to hear about Becker's retirement,but said the financial crisis and Dodd-Frank legislation “reallytook a lot out of everybody” working in financial services.

NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz said she's appreciated how Becker hasalways kept the big picture in mind as NAFCU leader, includingsupport for NCUA's efforts to protect the share insurance fund frompreventable losses. Matz also credited Becker for his “invaluable,thoughtful comments” as the NCUA has modernized its regulatorystructure post-financial crisis.

Cutler Dawson, president/CEO of the $51.5 billion Navy FCU, saidhe's known Becker for many years, as fellow Naval Academygraduates, on active duty in the Navy, and during Dawson's tenureas a NAFCU board member. Dawson said Becker's leadership hasadvanced both credit unions and NAFCU.

Frank Pollack, president of the $15 billion Pentagon FCU, calledBecker's retirement “both a happy and sad occasion for us.” Theoutgoing NAFCU leader has also been someone PenFed could turn towhen faced with an industry issue, Pollack said.

Jan Cowell, president/CEO of the $246 million Parsons FCU ofPasadena, Calif., said she's liked Becker from the very beginning,when she first heard him address NAFCU members during an annualconference in Hawaii. Cowell praised his energy and how heincreased communication from NAFCU to its members during hisadministration.

“He strikes me as the kind of individual who throws himself intohis job, believing completely in what he is doing and representing;in this case, the credit union movement. He works himself very hardand deserves time with his family,” she said.