Hubert Hoosman is the Chairman of the Missouri Credit Union Association (MCUA). Nationally, he was appointed Board Member of the National Credit Union Foundation. He is on the World Leadership Committee of the World Council of Credit Unions and the Filene Advisory Committee. He is a charter member of the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) and serves as Treasurer of the AACUC Board of Directors. He also serves as a Board member of the Consumer Federation of America and spearheaded the AACUC MLK Foundation Build a Dream Initiative where he led the credit union movement to raise $1.2 million for the MLK Memorial in Washington, DC.
Mr. Hoosman is President/CEO of Vantage Credit Union with over $562-million in assets. Helping Take Vantage CU to New Heights
A native of East St. Louis, IL, Hoosman graduated from high school with a full basketball scholarship from the University of Missouri- St. Louis, and in 1982, he landed his first job as a teller for Educational Employees Credit Union (the credit union changed its name to Vantage Credit Union in 2002). Until his retirement in 2013, Hoosman has held several management positions while climbing the credit union ladder, including Loan Department Manager, Branch Manager, Vice President of Operations, Executive Vice President, and President/CEO of the credit union since 1994. When Hoosman started his career at the credit union in 1982, the asset size of the credit union was $34 million. Today, Vantage Credit Union is the fourth largest credit union in Missouri, with assets approaching $700 million.
Making an impact in the community because of the high level of poverty that still exists in East St. Louis, Hoosman has been constantly attentive to the programs for East St. Louis that have had his credit union’s support. Creating Opportunities for youth and young adults, in addition to numerous other endeavors in area schools, Hoosman also led the efforts to partner with East St. Louis High School officials in providing job opportunities. Students from select schools are afforded job-related work experience while acquiring financial education. The program has been extended to North County Technical High School where employees of Vantage CU participate with students in mock job interview exercises, providing interviewing skills and job leads for students seeking employment after high school graduation. Additionally, Hoosman has helped many students from the nearby University of Missouri- St. Louis by offering them internships at Vantage Credit Union. He was also able to offer full summer internships for college students through the African American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) “Reaching Toward the Future” program.
Hoosman has been honored as a positive role model for minority youths, receiving the St. Louis Sentinel’s “Yes We Can” award and was also recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the most influential minority business leaders in 2006.
Leading the CU Charge to Honor a National Hero Hoosman took the lead nationally with credit unions in helping to recognize Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by raising funds for a national monument which now stands in Washington, D.C. In 2006, Hoosman’s own credit union, Vantage Credit Union, donated the first $50,000 dollars. Hoosman then led the charge in organizing credit unions across the country to raise funds for the memorial. Working with AACUC, Hoosman was able to secure the support of 134 credit unions, 13 credit union leagues, 3 corporate credit unions, industry trade associations, and 6 credit union service organizations across America.
Leading locally, nationally and internationally, Hubert Hoosman has served in several capacities in various organizations, such as AACUC (as one of the original founders and board treasurer), Chairman of the Missouri Credit Union Association from 2004 through 2006, the Consumer Federation of America, a member of the World Leadership Committee for the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), a member of the Filene Research Institute Advisory Committee, and as a member of the capitalization committee for the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions. Hoosman also served on the board of the National Credit Union Foundation. Hoosman has been a longtime supporter of America’s Credit Union Museum and was instrumental in collecting and providing important data about African-American involvement in the development of credit unions in this country.
Hoosman has also worked with WOCCU in the Caribbean, Kenya, Australia, Rwanda, Gambia, and Swaziland. Vantage Credit Union continues to host many groups from Africa in support of the WOCCU International Development Education Program. Following the hosting, Hoosman often becomes a mentor for the individuals.