As a fiscal leader throughout the Triangle region, Jeanne Erwin brings deep municipal experience to her role as Board Chair, and a strong commitment to North Carolina communities.
A rewarding career
Erwin knows local government. Throughout her career she has served North Carolina in leadership capacities for the City of Raleigh, Town of Chapel Hill, Durham Public Schools, and Office of the State Auditor as fiscal manager, accounting manager/assistant finance officer, and auditor. She holds the designations of Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM).
Describing the expansive impact of working in finance, Erwin says, “I was able to work with all the different departments, whether fire or public safety, public works, or community development, and that was very rewarding, because I knew that those departments were in turn helping all the citizens in some capacity. And so I felt like I was able to help them to touch the citizens.”
In addition to her local government experience, Erwin has been a longtime advocate for the credit unions. She began her service with LGFCU in 1994 by serving on the LGFCU Supervisory Committee, where she served as Chair until being nominated to the Board of Directors in 2008. She has since served on both the credit unions’ Board and Supervisory Committees, earning the Certified Credit Union Board Member (CCUB) designation. Erwin also served with the group of founding members who organized and chartered Civic Federal Credit Union in 2018.
Erwin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration/accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a member of AGA, (formerly the Association of Government Accountants), and has served in several roles including Triangle Chapter president, senior vice president, and national treasurer.
Member focused
When asked to describe her commitment to local government in three words, she lists: fair, treating everyone the same without favoritism or discrimination; concerned, caring for the needs of our members; and responsible, capable of being trusted and morally accountable.
Erwin is especially driven by her passion for helping members feel secure in their financial futures, explaining, “I feel like I am able to help members, maybe be more optimistic about their financial well-being, and it takes some of the stress off of them.”
“I hope that we will be recognized as a leader in the credit union industry, because I know we're light-years ahead of most credit unions in what we're trying to do.”
Looking to the future
As LGFCU approaches its independence from State Employees’ Credit Union, Erwin’s confidence in our credit unions is unwavering. She explains the importance of independence, and what this change means for how our credit unions service members. “Being able to meet all the needs of our members means being able to make our own decisions and move in our own direction,” she says. “And to have our own offerings of products and services without limitations.” Erwin also recognizes how our credit unions’ unique mission and purpose help us make a lasting difference in our communities. She names Civic’s values-driven mission — putting people and prosperity first — as its strongest differentiator.
“That makes us stand out,” she says. “We’re not about profit. We’re about helping people. I’ve been to other credit unions, and I haven't felt the same culture. That sets us apart. I also love the fact that we’re helping the planet.”
Civic is an associate member of the GABV (Global Alliance for Banking on Values), and Erwin currently serves as a governance member.
Current community involvement and recognition
- Member, Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions’ Global Women’s Leadership Network
- Governance member, GABV (Global Alliance for Banking on Values)
- Finance Committee, Apex United Methodist Church
- Numerous chapter awards while serving AGA