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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE CAREER AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MS. MARY ANN MELCHERS
______
HON. ELAINE G. LURIA
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Mrs. LURIA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and
accomplishments of Mary Ann Melchers. Mary Ann Melchers has been a
female pioneer during the 54 years that she has been an active member
and volunteer in the credit union movement. She began her relationship
with credit unions as a volunteer with Norfolk Naval Base Federal
Credit Union following a merger with Amphibious Base Federal Credit
Union in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Today, the credit union is known as
ABNB Federal Credit Union and is the largest community credit union in
Southeastern Virginia.
Her credit union volunteer career is well documented. In 1965, she
became a member of the Credit Committee at Naval Base Norfolk Federal
Credit Union. This was an especially significant achievement
considering that women were unable to obtain credit in their own name
at that time in history. Despite those obstacles, she began her
lifelong quest to ensure that all people of modest means regardless of
gender, race or creed have access to credit and the other vital
financial services they need.
In succeeding years, deregulation dramatically changed the face of
the financial services industry. In the late 1970's, Mary Ann guided
the credit union's evolution by recognizing and then expanding the
growth of products and services offered to members from simple savings
accounts and small loans to full-service financial offerings. Through
her leadership, she also made history as the first woman elected to the
office of Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Naval Base Federal
Credit Union. This achievement came at a time when women were rarely
participants in American business boardrooms let alone serving in
leadership roles. As chair she was instrumental in successfully
consummating the 1996 merger of Naval Base and Amphibious Base Federal
Credit Unions, resulting in what is now known as ABNB Federal Credit
Union.
At ABNB Federal Credit Union, Mary Ann has held numerous leadership
positions serving as Vice Chair of the Board from 1996 to 1998. In
1999, she was elected Chair of the ABNB FCU Board, beginning a 20-year
volunteer career as chair and only the second woman to hold that
position in ABNB's history. Under her leadership ABNB grew from 32,615
to 59,469 members and from $182 million to well over $57 million in
assets.
Through her stewardship, the credit union also expanded its field of
membership from solely serving military personnel on the Naval Base and
Amphibious Base into the largest full-service community credit union.
Today, the credit union serves over 60,000 members across Hampton Roads
and Northeastern North Carolina with 18 branches and 24 surcharge-free
ATM's. In addition, she was the 2016 recipient of the Virginia Credit
Union League's highest honor, the James P. Kirsch Lifetime Achievement
Award. This award is given annually to recognize individuals who have
made significant contributions to the credit union movement over the
course of their career.
In summary, Mary Ann was able to deliver on her promise ensuring that
people of modest means have access to credit and other affordable
financial services. During her 54-year volunteer career she was
instrumental in guiding a credit union that would eventually serve
everyone in Hampton Roads and beyond with low cost and high-quality
financial services.
____________________
