News and Announcements
Newsletter - March 2025
Heartland Credit Union Retirement Announcements
President and CEO, Tom Lex Announces His Retirement Tom Lex, President and CEO of Heartland Credit Union, is set to retire in February 2026 after a distinguished 45-year career with the organization. He will continue in his role until his retirement in February 2026. Expressing his appreciation, Mr. Lex stated, “It has been a privilege to serve our members for more than 45 years. Throughout this journey, I have been fortunate to work alongside an outstanding board and dedicated staff, whose commitment and teamwork have made our success possible.”
Joining Heartland as a Teller in 1980, Lex rose through the ranks to various management positions and became President in February 2014, succeeding Ed Gvazdinskas. In recognition of his significant impact on the credit union community, Lex was inducted into the Illinois Credit Union Hall of Fame in 2023. Jane Kiel, Chair of the Board of Directors, praised Lex’s contributions, stating, “Tom’s commitment to the credit union, its staff, and the wider community has played a vital role in our success and has set us on a path for future growth. We are grateful for his dedication and wish him all the best in his retirement.”
Under Lex’s leadership, Heartland Credit Union has witnessed extraordinary growth, with assets increasing from $231 million in 2014 to over $500 million by February 2025. He has guided the organization through numerous changes and capitalized on growth opportunities, increasing membership from 26,000 in 2014 to more than 33,000 today.
Lex’s dedication to the credit union community is apparent through his extensive involvement, including board positions with the Sangamon Valley Chapter of Credit Unions, the ICUL Foundation, and the Credit Union Political Action Council. He has also served on various community boards. Reflecting on his career at Heartland Credit Union, Lex shared, “ I am thankful for the chance to serve our members and hope our efforts have fulfilled our mission to improve their lives.” Following his retirement, he looks forward to playing golf and spending more time with his wife, Tracey, children, and grandchildren.
The Heartland Credit Union Board of Directors will begin the search for the next President and CEO within the coming months.