RICHMOND, Va. (10/2/15)--Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe helped the Virginia Credit Union League unveil the new Credit Union House of Virginia this week in downtown Richmond, Va.

The project, which received financial support from CUNA, was completed last month. It will house league employees and also serve as a prime location for lobbyists and other organizations to meet.

“I’m a huge fan of credit unions,” McAuliffe said. “I ran for governor to grow and diversify Virginia’s economy and I appreciate the role credit unions play in providing much-needed credit to help us create jobs.”

McAuliffe also said that the credit union movement in the state remains strong with nearly 10 million members. He also noted that Virginia’s credit unions serve militarymembers and government employees, which makes them international organizations.

Rick Pillow, league president/CEO, said that the Credit Union House of Virginia is a cooperative endeavor that will serve each of the state’s 150 member-owned credit unions by supporting advocacy work.

“We view our presence in Richmond as an opportunity to build on our already excellent working relationships with regulators, lawmakers, state government agencies and other organizations for the benefit of the 9 million-plus member owners of Virginia-based credit unions.”

Pillow added that while credit unions continue to have to hurdle legislative and regulatory obstacles, the facility demonstrates the movement’s commitment to overcoming those challenges.

The facility also allows the league to relocate key staff members near the state Capitol, putting them closer to both lawmakers and the majority of the state’s credit unions, as three-quarters of credit unions in Virginia are headquartered in Richmond, the Greater Hampton Roads area and Northern Virginia.

The league will continue to operate its offices in Lynchburg, meanwhile.

“The mission of the league is to be our credit unions’ chief advocate in the legislative, regulatory and public arenas,” said Karen Orie, president/CEO of Hampton Roads (Va.) Educators CU, and league board president. “Credit Union House is the embodiment of that mission.”

Pictured with McAuliffe in the group photo: Joe Thomas, president/CEO, Fairfax County FCU, league secretary; Chris Williams, president/CEO, Henrico FCU, league treasurer; Rose Gilliam, president/CEO, Argent CU, league vice chair; Bishop Young Jin Cho, Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church; Gov. McAuliffe; Karen Orie, president/CEO, Hampton Roads Educators' CU, league chair; Stan Leicester, senior vice president/chief financial officer, BayPort CU, chair of the Credit Union House Project Committee; and Rick Pillow, league president. (Virginia Credit Union League Photo)