PROFILE
COO Anderson Is On a search and Rescue Mission
Nathan Anderson
MYRiaM Di gioVanni
mdigiovanni@cutimes.com
new hires here is for most compa-
nies, the goal is to create a product,
get consumers to buy it to increase
the shareholders’ wealth. Credit
unions, in general, are focused on
improving the members’ situation,
so you’re in it for a better cause.”
For Anderson, staying in neutral
has never been an option as he con-
stantly pushes himself to give noth-
ing less than 100%.
“Early in my career, I got great ad-
vice that I’ve found to be true. Don’t
worry about the next position, just
do the best in your current position.
So often people get concerned with
the politics and where they want
to be that they lose focus on where
they are. Giving your all to your
current job is the best way to con-
tribute,” said Anderson. “From my
perspective, we have an amazing
goal as an industry to serve mem-
bers and figuring out ways to help
improve their financial situation is
really what drives me.”
He takes that service philosophy
to heart, and as far as he’s con-
cerned, sales plays a big role in pro-
viding real member service.
‘The myth is that if we
treat the member well,
we’ll come out on top.
It’s not enough. We also
have to provide the
right products, services,
rates and, yes, sales are
important.’
ith the philosophy
of life being too
short to do something you don’t
enjoy, seven and a half years ago
Nathan Anderson, chief operating
officer at Mountain America Credit
Union, had an opportunity to take
his career in a different direction
and has never looked back.
A member of the Ogden, Utah-based credit union since 1995, Anderson honed his sales and leadership skills while working at Black &
Decker/DeWalt for five years and
Newell Rubbermaid for four years.
“I got tired of all the travel,” said
Anderson. “The ultimate goal at the
credit union is to serve members,
and there’s not too many opportunities out there to know that what
you’re doing improves people’s financial lives. With this industry you
get to have your cake and eat it too
by doing something that makes a
difference and you enjoy. What I tell
‘What I tell new hires
here is for most
companies, the goal
is to create a product,
get consumers to
buy it to increase the
shareholders’ wealth.
Credit unions, in
general, are focused on
improving the members’
situation, so you’re in it
for a better cause.’
Anderson. “So with our rescue loans,
we feel it’s our responsibility and our
job to take a look at our members’
loans, credit cards and if we can res-
cue them from paying higher rates or
fees. We’ve called it our search and
rescue mission. It’s been an evolu-
tion, and each year we’ve seen im-
provement. In 2011, we rescued $91
million in loans and the previous year
it was $50 million. Each year gets a
For us, at Mountain America, we’re
keeping an eye on the payments
front and doing the best we can
to stay up on how we can evolve,
change and offer as much as we can
in mobile, online channels for our
members. We’re continuing to test
and push the envelope and figure
out ways to be a part of that change.”
He added that looking ahead,
true collaboration will be key to
credit union survival in the future.
nEx T s TEPs
WATCH a video by Anderson at
CUTimes.com/T40B
