$2.9B Pinellas credit union names first new CEO in nearly two decades

Achieva Credit Union recently announced its first incoming CEO in 17 years. Eric Jenkins joins the Dunedin-based credit union, replacing longtime leader Gary Regoli, who is retiring. 

"We are thrilled to welcome Eric Jenkins as our new President and CEO," says Janet Cantees, chairperson of the board at Achieva Credit Union, in a statement. "With his extensive expertise in the credit union industry — spanning advocacy, operations, lending, marketing, product development, finance, and human resources — we are confident in his ability to guide Achieva into its next chapter."

Courtesy image

Jenkins previously served as CEO at SRP Federal Credit Union in North Augusta, South Carolina and at Education Credit Union in Amarillo, Texas. Additionally he worked as chief deposit services officer at Georgia United Credit Union and other executive financial roles in a career spanning three decades, the release states. 

Regoli, meanwhile, led the credit union during several notable periods. He was named CEO in 2008 amid the 2008-09 housing recession, when the institution had just under $1 billion in assets. The challenge of running a credit union at the time was so acute, an Achieva board member asked Regoli if he regretted leaving the credit union he ran in Wichita, Kansas, for this gig.

Then, in 2015, Regoli led the credit union through a unique experience: It acquired Charlotte County-based Calusa Bank in a $23 million deal that was the first-ever whole bank acquisition by a credit union in Florida. That kicked of a major trend, as credit unions bought multiple banks in Florida and nationally over the next five years. 

Achieva Credit Union was founded in 1937 in Pinellas County. Today, it has more than $2.9 billion in assets and over 26 branches serving more than 194,630 members across Florida.