Be an Equity Injector

James Hunter, CCM, not only has deep knowledge of credit union lending best practices but also a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion. In fact, Hunter says in this episode of the CUES podcast that he strives to put the two together every day—to be an “equity injector” that helps all members of his credit union be more able to live their best financial lives.

“I want to be the equity injector,” Hunter says in the show. “I want to find ways that we can creatively come up with the resources and tools to help individuals get what they need so they can stop worrying, but also have peace of mind and live their best financial life.”

A CUES member, the CUES Emerge runner-up in 2020, and a CUES Emerge mastermind in 2021 and this year, Hunter is chief diversity officer for $243 million New Orleans Firemen's Federal Credit Union. He comes to that role having previously served as a credit union chief lending officer and a senior vice president of mortgage lending, as well as a board member for Inclusiv.

In the show, Hunter talks about the importance of listening to members as a way to learn how best to serve them.

“We talk to people at different grassroots organizations,” he says of his work at New Orleans Fireman’s FCU, and ask key and sometimes difficult questions, such as, “What's hindering you? What is this impeding you from being your best financial person, your best financial future?”

Even though these can be uncomfortable conversations, Hunter says, “We ask the questions readily, and we listen for the common ground, the common themes resonate from that. We go into religious organizations, and we ask questions about … what the members want. We take every opportunity we can to find out what it is that makes a person tick. If we understand what they value, if we understand what motivates them, we understand what they are trying to achieve, we can help because we listen.

“You know, diversity is the one thing that we all share,” Hunter says. “We need to celebrate it.”

The show also gets into:

Hunter’s experiences both as a participant in and a mastermind for the CUES Emerge programProducts and services offered by New Orleans Fireman’s Federal Credit Union in response to diverse member needsHow credit unions can get started with looking at member service through a DEI lens—whether or not they have community development financial institution status or a low-income credit union designationHow to connect with diverse members through community groups and nonprofit organizations in your marketHunter’s advice about how to start a DEI team at your credit union

Links for this show

 Hunter's CUES Emerge presentation recording and slidesTranscript of this showDiversity Insight: Addressing Racial Bias in the Home Appraisal IndustryDiversity Insight: 3 Financial Challenges LGBTQ+ Community Members FaceSecondary Capital Helps Boost Financial Well-Being for Credit Union Members, Communities