SERPs Gaining Steam With Credit Union CEOs

MADISON, Wis. – More credit union CEOs have supplemental executive retirement plans (SERP) than ever before, but they still dramatically lag their fellow financial services industry CEOs. That was the take of CUNA’s 2004-2005 CEO Total Compensation Survey. According to the survey, as of year-end ’03, 56% of CEOs at CUs with more than $100 million in assets had a SERP, up 11 percentage points from 2002. This is still way behind banks and thrifts, where some 86% have such plans. “As a rule of thumb, retirement income should equal 65% to 85% of one’s final pay. It is difficult to fund an executive’s retirement at this level with the caps on qualified executive retirement plans such as 401(k)s,” said Vicki Joyal, vice president of research services for CUNA. “Supplemental executive retirement plans are designed to offset these limitations and are a great tool to attract and retain top talent.” The full survey looks at all aspects of credit union CEO compensation.