In Brief: Tall Order for Texas League's New Chief

A 39-year veteran of the industry will take the reins of the troubled Texas Credit Union League on Jan. 16.

Richard Ensweiler, who served stints as chief executive for the Minnesota League of Credit Unions and the Illinois Credit Union League in the 1970s and 1980s, has worked with CUNA Mutual Group since 1984. He is now senior vice president of corporate relations for the mutual insurer.

Mr. Ensweiler will have his hands full. The league faces a deficit if roughly $1 million this year, largely due to funding a pension program, he said.

Also, the sale of the league's check processing facility to Southwest Corporate Federal Credit Union last year generated a storm of controversy. The two organizations share directors, and some Texas credit union officials believed the transaction was less than arm's length. The NCUA now is investigating that transaction.

"I know it's taken some heat," Mr. Ensweiler said in an interview. "I'm not bashful of going in where there's a problem."

Mr. Ensweiler didn't go into any specific plans, but said he would take a hard look at whether to cut some league services.

"There's a number of programs we'll be looking at on the service corporation side to make sure what's there is profitable," he said. "But first I need to get a good grip on what's there."

The league has been without a chief executive since John Dunagan resigned last March to take a position with CUNA Mutual.

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