When I was hired as the President and CEO of Gulf Winds over 20 years ago, the Monsanto plant was downsizing and opportunities for growth seemed limited. Our team worked to transition the credit union into a modern community organization while continuing to keep our rates competitive and providing our members with excellent service. Thanks to your loyal patronage, we’ve been successful in achieving this goal.

In the last two decades, we’ve grown from 20,000 to almost 80,000 members. We’ve opened numerous branches and a contact center, and instituted a growing range of digital banking services. We’ve modernized our products, introduced investment and retirement services, expanded our reach to three states and created the Gulf Winds Foundation to give back to our communities. While a lot has changed over the years, we remain true to the spirit of service on which we were founded. Our members are more than an account number, they’re a part of the Gulf Winds family.

I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. My role serving you as President and CEO has been a rewarding experience, and this coming October, I’ll be retiring. Rest assured, the credit union has been planning for this change and is well-prepared to make a seamless transition. Gulf Winds will continue to follow the path we’ve always taken — the one that puts members first and offers a modern way of banking with a personal touch.

Thank you for being a loyal member and trusting us as your financial partner. It’s been an honor to serve you, and I hope that the next twenty years will be as good as the last twenty.

Chris J. Rutledge,
President & CEO