For the past 27 years, customers at South West Slopes Credit Union Young branch have been under the guidance of general manager Steve Elsley.
As of today, that will now change.
Steve is retiring after first joining the credit union as Loans Manager in 1989.
He has spent more than half the life of the young branch, some 40 years, in the general manager’s seat.
But, after long deliberation and a tough decision, Steve is calling it a day.
He began his life in the financial sector as a junior when 16 years old in 1974 at the Rural Bank of NSW in Quirindi (where he was born) near Tamworth.
Steve spent a number of years at the Quirindi branch before he started transferring around the state.
He spent time in Kempsey, West Wyalong and Nowra before being based out of Wagga Wagga.
As Assistant Regional Manager, Steve left the bank and Wagga Wagga when Archie and Minnie Hetherington took over ownership of the two news agencies in Young.
Seeing a chance to utilise his banking experience, Steve began as Loans Manager in 1989, and has been with the South West Slopes Credit Union ever since.
“A lot has changed since I was a 16 year old kid just starting out in the bank at Quirindi,” Steve said.
“Back then it was hand-written ledgers and manual interest calculations.
“The technology has definitely advanced since then.
“Changes in compliance, especially in the latter part of my career, have been dramatic,” he said.
Steve began a three month trial as general manager on January 1, 1995, when previous general manager Laurie Brentoule passed away.
It was Laurie who had Steve travelling to Tumut for two nights a week to study Accounting at TAFE.
“It was very good insight from Laurie to know I would need some accounting background for my career to progress,” Steve said.
“I am very proud of what the organisation has been able to achieve under my reign.
“We have grown from $15 million in assets to now have more than $150 million.
“Rural Bank NSW had a slogan ‘We do more personally’ and I have tried to live by that throughout my career.
“It has been made so much easier to do thanks to the great team I have had, past and present.
“Along with the board, who have always been supportive, I have been very fortunate to work with such wonderful people.
“They have all played a key role in helping make my time at the South west Slopes Credit Union as great as it has been,” he said.
