President and CEO of Georgia Credit Union Affiliates (GCUA), Mike Mercer, has been selected as an inductee to the Cooperative Hall of Fame. Induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame is the highest honor that the U.S. cooperative community bestows on those who have demonstrated heroic contributions in support of the cooperative form of enterprise. As a credit union visionary leader, Mercer has dedicated over almost four decades to ensuring GCUA is an agent and catalyst for cooperation.
 
“Mike represents credit unions in everything he does,” said Hank Halter, president and CEO of Delta Community Credit Union. “He’s always advocating on behalf of credit unions and encouraging consumers to see the benefits of credit union membership. Mike is honest, he’s focused on the big picture – he’s absolutely deserving of this honor.”
 
Credit Union National Association (CUNA), American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) and GCUA championed for Mercer’s induction into the Cooperative Hall of Fame citing his innovation and clear commitment to improving people’s financial lives through credit unions.
 
“Mike is a true visionary for credit unions and cooperatives at the local, national and international level – which is no small feat,” said CUNA President Jim Nussle. “His demonstrated leadership in uniting credit unions for good has impacted the lives of many and we are honored to have him as a champion for the cooperative movement.”
 
Mercer was the founding visionary in the Poland-George Credit Union Partnership Program, which allowed citizens of Poland to benefit from the same financial service opportunities as those in the United States. Today, 53 credit unions in Poland and more than 2.5 million members are benefitting from this program.
 
In partnership with other credit union leaders, Mercer has conceptualized, promoted and implemented initiatives to advance credit unions through cooperative efforts including Credit Union House, Cooperative Services, CSCU Shared Service Centers, Credit Union Loan Source, CU Partnership, League Infosight and CU PartnerLink.