CUNA
  • Advocacy
    • Priorities we’re fighting for
    • Actions you can take
  • News
  • Learn
  • Compliance
  • Shop
  • Topics
    • Community Service
    • Compliance
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Credit Union System
    • Directors
    • Human Resources
    • Leadership
    • Lending
    • Marketing
    • Operations
    • Policy & Issues
    • Sales & Service
    • Technology
  • Credit Union Magazine
    • Buyers' Guide
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Edition
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Contact
  • COVID-19
  • Advertise
  • Awards
    • Nominate Credit Union Hero
    • Nominate Credit Union Rock Star
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Contact
Learn More about Member Value

News

Member Benefits
Learn more
Learn more about the benefits of membership.
Home » Room to run
Management CU Rock Stars 2018

Room to run

Technology CU CEO Todd Harris credits a mentor for his success.

September 27, 2018
No Comments
Todd Harris

Todd Harris exemplifies the benefits of a mentorship. He joined $2.6 billion Technology Credit Union (Tech CU) in San Jose, Calif., in 2010 as chief financial officer and chief operating officer. Six years later he succeeded Tech CU’s retiring CEO Barbara Kamm.

He quickly introduced several new programs that he’d had in mind before becoming CEO, including Card Manager, a mobile app for managing credit and debit cards, and Family Banking, an approach to help parents interact with their kids about money.

“I was able to quickly get those products up and running because my predecessor was also my mentor. She gave me a lot of room to run in, which gave me a chance to fine-tune those programs before I became CEO.”

‘We offer what credit unions have always offered: friendliness and approachability.’

Two-thirds of Tech CU’s 100,000 members come from high-tech employers. “That means we have to know how to appeal to a sophisticated market in terms of innovative, tech-based products and services we can offer,” he says. “Fortunately, we have excellent industry contacts who are a great source of information about up-and-coming financial technology. They now seek us out where before we had to go looking for them to talk to.”

CUNA News Podcast

Success in Silicon Valley with Technology CU’s Todd Harris

Harris describes how Technology CU embraces collaboration as a means to success in a competitive marketplace.

He says Tech CU’s mortgage origination program is “on par with Quicken’s Rocket Mortgage. This helps us because in this market, where mortgages have been commoditized, we offer an extremely quick turnaround. We have over 125 competitors from all parts of the financial industry, and though we can’t compete head-to-head with the size of national banks—we offer what credit unions have always offered: friendliness and approachability.”

Could Tech CU thrive in other markets? “That’s something we do think about,” Harris says. “We have a very good approach to rates in this tough market, which we know would be very welcome elsewhere.”

In his spare time, Harris likes to disengage from desk-bound tasks and work with his hands. “In college I worked during summers as a carpenter,” he says. “I learned how to frame, roof, and install windows. Ever since then I’ve worked on every house I owned, remodeling by myself.”

Meet the 2018 Credit Union Rock Stars

KEYWORDS #CUNACEOCouncil credit union Rock Stars

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Credit Union Magazine - Spring 2021

Spring 2021

Credit Union Magazine’s Spring 2021 edition features CUNA's 2021 advocacy agenda, strategic planning guidance, and labor market insights.
Digital Edition •  Subscribe

Trending

  • 4 tips for #CURockStars nominations

  • 48 credit union leaders graduate from Foundation’s virtual DE Program

  • Longer CU loan maturities could make education more affordable

Tweets by CUNA_News

Polls

How have vaccination efforts affected your remote work policy?

View Results
More

Champion of America’s Credit Unions

Credit Union National Association is the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America’s credit unions. We work tirelessly to protect your best interests in Washington and all 50 states. We fuel your professional growth at every level and champion the credit union story at every turn.

More CUNA

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Recommended Websites
  • Privacy Policy

Resources for

  • CUNA Board Members
  • Credit Union Advocates
  • Leagues
  • Press
  • Vendors