"Diversify your mentorship bouquet; each mentor adds a unique fragrance to your path."
With 30 years of experience in the financial industry, Kathy Jumper brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to Orange County’s Credit Union.
Named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions by American Banker last year, Jumper most recently served at $7 billion in assets Members 1st Federal Credit Union, where she oversaw operations, digital channels, 60 branches, contact center, wealth management, and loan servicing.
As CEO, Jumper will lead the Santa Ana-based financial services provider, which has over 135,000 Members and over $2.5 billion in assets.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Kathy Jumper: With over 30 years of experience and having served in chief officer roles in financial services, I am now honored to lead Orange County’s Credit Union, a cornerstone in Southern California’s financial landscape since 1938, with assets exceeding $2.5 billion. Our not-for-profit ethos is at the core of our operations, ensuring that we prioritize our Members’ needs over profits.
This commitment is reflected in our lower fees, competitive loan rates, and a suite of innovative products and services.
From essential banking solutions like savings, lending, and wealth management to comprehensive services such as mobile banking, and retirement planning, we’re dedicated to meeting the individual financial needs of our Members.
In the past year, what is the greatest business achievement you’d like to celebrate with your team? Please share the details of that success.
Kathy Jumper: While celebrating our 85th anniversary in Orange County, another achievement that stands out this year is the launch of our upgraded Mobile Banking platform.
Equipped with advanced digital banking features, it empowers our Members to effortlessly manage their finances anytime and anywhere.
From managing travel notifications to simplifying transfers and more, we’ve improved the security and user experience.
What advice do you wish you had received when you started your business journey and what do you intend on improving in the next quarter?
Kathy Jumper: The need to provide women and underrepresented talent with stretch opportunities and development programs that will not only unlock their true potential but also accelerate their growth. It’s essential to build a strong network.
Surround yourself with mentors, advisors, and sponsors who can offer guidance, support, and valuable insights. If your company doesn’t have a formal program, don’t let that stop you. Seek out someone, be open to advice, and get more than one mentor.
In the upcoming quarter, our focus is to intensify our efforts to nurture our internal community. By fortifying the sense of connection and shared purpose among our team members, we naturally extend this strength to our external community.
Online business keeps on surging higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for the year to come and how are you capitalizing on the tidal wave?
Kathy Jumper: As we look to the months ahead, our aim is to expand our reach within our field of membership in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. To capitalize on this digital wave, our strategy focuses on enhancing accessibility and providing more personalized, convenient services.
Beyond the functionalities of our Mobile Banking platform, we’re expanding our digital touchpoints. We’re amplifying our online presence with financial wellness campaigns, providing educational content that empowers our Members to make informed decisions.
We’re also diversifying the ways Members can reach our contact center, introducing multiple channels beyond traditional phone calls, ensuring ease of access and responsiveness.
By embracing these initiatives, we aim to not only meet the current digital expectations but to set new standards for Member service and engagement in the financial sector.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as THE real challenge right now?
Kathy Jumper: Our enhanced security framework is designed to be robust and adaptive, employing cutting-edge technologies and strategies to stay ahead of potential threats. Alongside these technical measures, we recognize the power of education in fraud prevention.
Therefore, we’ve intensified our efforts to provide both our Associates and Members with the knowledge and tools they need to identify and avoid fraudulent schemes.
By fostering a culture of awareness and proactivity, we aim to not only protect our Members from existing threats but also anticipate and mitigate emerging risks.
Our commitment is to ensure that our Members can trust us with their financial wellbeing, confident in the knowledge that their assets and information are secure against the evolving landscape of fraud.
Years 2020-2023 threw a lot of curve balls into businesses on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past years, how can businesses thrive in 2024? What lessons have you learned and what advice would you share?
Kathy Jumper: The high-impact black swan event that occurred between 2019 and 2022 necessitated swift adaptation, which we accomplished effectively. Effective contingency planning helps mitigate the impact of unforeseen challenges but also saves valuable time and resources when swift action is required.
Moreover, a well-thought-out contingency plan can significantly bolster client trust and loyalty. In times of uncertainty, customers gravitate towards businesses they can rely on — those that demonstrate foresight, stability, and a commitment to their wellbeing.
At Orange County’s Credit Union, we’ve developed strategic practices that ensure our Members’ financial security and service continuity, regardless of the economic climate. This commitment to preparedness and Member-focused planning is a cornerstone of our strategy to thrive in 2024 and beyond.
What does “success” in 2024 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Kathy Jumper: I’ve always been open to challenges. Whether it was running a startup bank or taking a role in a new division. I’ve found that I learn the most when venturing into uncharted territory.
Success means empowering the team at Orange County’s Credit Union with opportunities for growth while simultaneously fostering trust and driving expansion through the integration of emerging technologies.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Kathy Jumper for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Kathy Jumper or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
