Mike Hamby

With his retirement at the end of December 2024, Mike Hamby, president and CEO of the Temple Santa Fe Community Credit Union (TSF), can look back on a successful career that focused on customer service.

Mike started his career with Texas Partners Federal Credit Union and quickly worked his way up. - as a teller, member services representative, loan officer, and branch manager. He opened branches in Copperas Cove and Temple. He was with Texas Partners for 22 years.

Mike came in as TSF president in 2013 and immediately faced some major challenges. “We had a big challenge when we first got here.” After a review, Mike says, state and federal examiners recommended that TSF should merge with a “stronger” credit union.

“We decided that was not going to happen …we took a look at everything and fixed what was broken,” Mike says.

With a renewed focus on lending, good management, and streamlining processes for customers, Mike charted a path to success. “We’ve been very successful over the last 11 years. This past examination that we have from the state and federal government was the best we've had in the 11years I’ve been here.

“The main thing I wanted to do is make it easy for customers to do business with us,” Mike says. “And I think we’ve accomplished that.”

Part of Mike’s emphasis on customer service is the fact that his personal cell phone number is on his business card. And, on occasion, he’s had members call during non-business hours.

An example was when a longtime TSF member called Mike’s cell number from a car dealership. It was on the weekend, and the dealership wouldn’t release a vehicle without drafting instructions from the credit union. Mike and his wife were on the way to Austin, just a couple of exits from the member’s location. Mike stopped at the dealership, wrote the drafting instructions on the back of his business card and the member was able to complete the deal.

While the credit union has adopted the latest technology and a range of online services, Mike says many members still want to come in to visit with TSF staff in person. “The staff that I have here is the best staff I’ve ever had. Everyone understands the objective, and we’re all pulling in the same direction to make it work.”

In advance of his retirement, Mike worked to implement a succession plan. A little more than two years ago, he recruited Lathe` Owens, who was the chief accountant at the Temple Daily Telegram, to come in as CFO, learn the business, and lead TSF into the future.

Mike and his wife, Peggy, plan to travel and spend time at a favorite area outside Branson, MO. It’s a place where Peggy can shop and Mike can “go fishing.”