WICHITA, Kan.-Despite shifting from an SVP role into the CEO's chair and moving his family more than 500 miles north, James Nastars says the transition to CEO at Meritrust CU here has been an easy one.
After spending 16 years at University FCU in Austin, Texas-most recently as SVP of lending-Nastars said he came to Meritrust looking not only for the next stage of his career, but ideally one that he can stay in until retirement. He will count on a management philosophy he said crystalized during his time at University Federal and which is based around "servant leadership."
"My role in the organization is to lift up those around me, to develop our team to reach their maximum potential, and to allow them to grow within the positions they hold or to find new and challenging roles for them," he said.
Nastars added that one thing he learned during his time in Austin was that while his job description was to run the lending department, "the bigger job is to grow the organization and make decisions that are organizationally focused, and not just in my particular area."
Nastars admitted that he has joined Meritrust during an auspicious time. It is the largest CU in Kansas, holds a strong capital position, is well known in the Wichita community and has begun expansion into other markets in the state.
The $838-million, 73,000-member CU already has a branch in Lawrence and plans to open one in Manhattan in 2014, but beyond that, Nastars said he does not expect much branch expansion in the next few years. Rather, he said, the community-chartered CU will devote its time to cementing relationships in those markets, including with institutions that drive the economy in those areas, such as the two universities and at Fort Riley in Junction City. Additionally, Nastars said there are plans to continue to invest in e-service delivery and increasing convenience for members. Meritrust recently launched a mobile deposit offering; next up will be finding ways to make loans more convenient for members.
Taking Care of Each Other
Nastars stressed the importance of a member-service-focused culture, and part of the reason the transition was so smooth, he said, is that University FCU and Meritrust share similar cultures. One thing he plans to institute in his new position, however, is to meet monthly with all new employees-not only to answer their questions, but "to demonstrate to them the importance of member service and the need to work together as a team."
"If we take good care of our employees and they deal with each other with respect and trust, then they will in turn provide high-quality service and deeper relationships for our members," said Nastars. "For me it's all about relationships with our members; if we can earn their trust as a member of a cooperative, we can earn their business."
