David Germann

David Germann, Chief Lending Officer, Credit Union of America 

With over 36 years of experience in financial services, Credit Union of America’s Chief Lending Officer David Germann has cultivated many skills to nurture growth in his coworkers and help drive forward the organisation he now represents. Calling himself a “people person”, Germann says this is the best way to learn, “by striking up conversations”. 

These skills were borne from the belief “of getting things done”, values introduced in Germann from his childhood growing up on a farm. There were no days off for Germann growing up, with cattle to feed, horses to tend to and crops to maintain.

“Cattle are fed at night, they're fed in a snowstorm, they're fed when it's a hundred degrees. They're fed whether or not you feel good, whether you're sick. Every day you get up, every day you work, and every day you have a job to finish before you're done.” 

These values, instilled in Germann from a young age, saw him take up a role in local city government and chambers from the age of 18. It was here Germann saw the value of community services. But, being in the financial industry for 36 years inevitably comes with its setbacks, particularly when Germann lost a job he held for 25 years. 

However, change taught Germann more about himself, where after moving to a large financial institution he knew that working in a “regimented way” was not for him. Now at Credit Union of America for over eight years, Germann takes pride in “being empowered to empower others”, as he passes his life skills on to his peers.

A go-getter, Germann never liked “people complaining about a school, people complaining about their neighbourhood or their community. If you don't like your community, what are you doing to make it better?

“Run for office, make a difference, start a committee, volunteer, go to the school and read for the kids, make a difference. I think this is one of my biggest strengths in that I’ve always been the one to try and do something to make a difference.”

Read the full story HERE.