JACKSONVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas FCU has reached outside the credit union but within the credit union industry for its new president/CEO to succeed Hank Klein who will retire the end of June. San Antonio FCU's SVP/Lending Division Manager Walter L. (Larry) Biernacki, 53, will occupy the corner office at Arkansas FCU starting June 13. Biernacki has over 26 years experience in the financial services industry. An eight-year veteran of SAFCU, Biernacki was hired by the credit union in July 1996 as SVP Houston Regional Manager in charge of the CU's lending operations there. He continued in that position for four years before moving to the CU's San Antonio headquarters in his current spot. Biernacki's prior credit union experience includes working as president/CEO of Western Horizons FCU, Mesa, Ariz. He was hired by NCUA to head up the CU that was on the agency's Troubled List at the time. Biernacki has also worked in various positions on the banking side, as well as with Consumer Credit Counseling Services, Phoenix, Ariz. "Hank is a fine gentleman and Arkansas FCU has done so much under his leadership. He's set the table so wonderfully for me, he's going to be a very tough act to follow. Hank is well known in the credit union industry and built a dynamic cooperative. I am very excited to be joining such a distinguished institution as Arkansas FCU," says Biernacki. -

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