STCU has named a new permanent president and CEO, the sixth in its 91-year history and its first woman.

The Liberty Lake-based credit union announced July 9 that Lindsey Myhre, who had been serving as the interim CEO, will now take on the position permanently.

Myhre was previously STCU’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, and she has been with the credit union for 25 years.

“While we have a deep bench of leadership talent, Lindsey stands out as uniquely prepared for the top position,” said board chair Steven Jones in a statement, noting the board’s decision was unanimous and enthusiastic.

She takes the position after the previous president and CEO, Ezra Eckhardt, left in May. He had been the president for seven years.

Myhre began work at STCU in 2000 as an accounting assistant and joined the executive leadership team in 2015. In 2023, she was listed as one of the 15 most powerful women in credit unions by American Banker magazine.

“I’m deeply honored to step into this role at an organization I treasure,” Myhre said. “From the day I started as an accounting assistant, I knew that STCU was committed to my development into leadership – a commitment that continues today for all STCU employees who choose that path.”

Myhre grew up in Colville and spent time working for the Colville National Forest. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration – finance from Western Washington University and an MBA through Western Governors University.

She’s also involved in community organizations, including serving as the board president for the nonprofit Partners INW; the past chair and past treasurer for Spokane’s University District Development Association and the University District Public Development Authority; and president of the East Valley Booster Club.

When Myhre started her career with STCU, the credit union had just six branches. Now, the credit union boasts 49 branches, with the 50th set to open in September at 2001 N. Columbia Center Blvd. in Kennewick.

The credit union serves 300,000 members.

In May of this year, STCU acquired Community Bank, bringing 14,000 new members and 10 new branches to STCU. That included seven eastern Oregon locations, the credit union’s first branches outside of eastern Washington and north Idaho.

STCU stands for Spokane Teachers Credit Union, though credit union membership is open to anyone who lives in Washington, north Idaho or eastern Oregon.