Bill Smith Retires After 53 Years of Volunteer Service

Coastal Credit Union board member Bill Smith has announced his retirement on May 15 after an incredible 53 years of service to the credit union. During the majority of his tenure, Mr. Smith served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the board, with terms as Vice Chair and Chair, and participated in several committees.

"Bill's commitment and contributions to Coastal Credit Union over the past 53 years have been invaluable,” said board chair Joan Nelson. “He has played an integral role in the credit union's growth and success, and his passion for credit unions and their members is second to none. On behalf of the entire board, I want to thank Bill for his years of dedicated service, and wish him a happy and fulfilling retirement."

In 1974, Mr. Smith played a crucial role in setting the tone for Coastal's future expansion and reputation as an innovator and industry leader when he convinced the rest of the board to hire Larry Wilson as the credit union's first CEO.

Outside of the board room, Mr. Smith was an energetic advocate for credit unions. He was active in the industry's annual Governmental Affairs Conference and regularly attended the National Association of Federally Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU) visits to Capitol Hill. He previously served on committees for NAFCU and the North Carolina Credit Union League, and was the chairman of the League of IBM Credit Unions for nineteen years.

In recognition of his efforts, Mr. Smith was named NAFCU Volunteer of the Year in 1993 and awarded the Order of the Longleaf Pine by Governor Cooper in 2018.

In addition to his service to credit unions and a career at IBM, Mr. Smith has also been a small business owner and an officer of the Antique Dealers Association. In his spare time, he volunteered with Junior Achievement and the Duke Children's Miracle Network.

The board has appoineted Supervisory Committee Chair A.J. Ramsey to fill the vacancy until the next annual meeting.