Outgoing CUNA CEO Bill Cheneytold CU Times he is not running away from CUNA, butinstead found an opportunity too good to turn down at the $9.8billion SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in Santa Ana, Calif.

“There are very few opportunities that would interest me, giventhe position I have now. I spent 19 years at credit unions. I spenteight years in the trade association world – four in California andNevada and now four at CUNA,” Cheney said during an interview on Tuesday. “I certainly wasn'tlooking to leave. I think we've had great accomplishments at CUNAbut this was an opportunity I just couldn't turn down.”

CUNA and SchoolsFirst announced the decision March 12. Cheneysaid he will leave CUNA for California in June.

CU Times asked Cheney if a return to SouthernCalifornia played a part in his decision to leave CUNA for the CEOposition at SchoolsFirst.

“My wife Christine and I love D.C., we love living there, wehave a home on Capitol Hill. We love that neighborhood. I likebeing close to the office. There's so much about D.C. that welove,” he said. “I enjoy the advocacy part of being at CUNA so it'snot anything we're running away from, but it was just too good foran opportunity to let slip by at this stage in my career.”

However, Cheney noted there are some frustrating aspects ofworking in the District.

“It's part of the job. It's not just frustrating for me. I thinkjust about everyone who works in D.C., including the lawmakersthemselves, and policymakers – this inability for them to agree onanything to move the country forward is very frustrating and it'ssomething that's going to have to be resolved,” Cheney said.

“I don't think it's going to be resolved before the votersresolve it by finding people who are willing to come to Washingtonand compromise for the good of the country. Now that wasn't afactor in my decision, just a factor of everyday life inWashington,” he added.

Read more of CU Times' interview with Bill Cheney inour March 26 issue.