Education FirstCredit Union announced this week that its board has appointed aformer state regulator as its new leader.

MichaelWettrich, who has been named as the credit union'spresident/CEO, previously served as the deputy superintendent forcredit unions for the Ohio Department of Commerce Division ofFinancial Institutions, according to a press release announcing hisnew appointment.

“Mike is exceptionally knowledgeable about the credit unionindustry and he brings a deep wealth of knowledge about ourbusiness,” Norman Landry, chair of board of directors at the $87million institution based in Westerville, Ohio, stated in the pressrelease.

“Our board searched long and hard to find the best fit we could,and we believe we found the ideal person to lead our credit unioninto the future,” Landry said. “Mike has a profound respect foreducators and his personal philosophy fits hand in glove withours.”

Prior to becoming deputy superintendent for credit unions,Wettrich was chief examiner and acting deputy superintendent forcredit unions for two years and served as chair of the board ofNASCUS, the press release said.

Wettrich is a Certified Credit Union Examiner, Certified CreditUnion Supervisor and a member of the Association of Certified FraudExaminers.

Wettrich said he is pleased to have been tapped to leadEducation First.

“The opportunity to lead such a progressive and committedorganization really appealed to my vision of what a modern creditunion should be to its members,” he stated in the press release.“At Education First we are dedicated to serving our members'financial best interests by providing them with affordable andcomprehensive products and services, with a level of personalattention and care that is second to none.”