Ninety years is a true milestone for any financial institution. Since our founding during the Great Depression, LBS Financial Credit Union has weathered economic storms from the Great Recession to COVID-19—always focused on stability for our Members and employees. Thanks to strong reserves and careful planning, services have remained steady through every cycle.
In our 90 years, only four CEOs—Morris Hayter, Frank Reed, Jeff Napper, and myself—have led the Credit Union, each carrying forward the mission of putting Members first. Formed in 1935, LBS Financial was among the earliest credit unions in the country. While many institutions have merged or disappeared, we remain strong and committed to serving our original groups—local schools, colleges, and the greater Long Beach community.
Looking ahead, our challenge is to continue evolving with you and supporting your financial well-being. For some Members, that means personalized service in branches or by phone; for others, it’s digital solutions that make life easier. One highly requested service—Zelle—will launch before the end of 2025. We’ve taken extra care to ensure a seamless rollout and are building the infrastructure for faster technology adoption in the future. There are business partners and multiple systems and integrations involved that have made the timeline longer than we anticipated and we apologize for this delay.
Thank you for your trust and Membership. It is an honor to serve as your President and CEO, and I look forward to the next chapter in our Credit Union’s journey.
Together ahead,
Sean Hardeman
President & CEO
