Meet the 2025 Board
of Directors Candidates
In
accordance with the Bylaws, members
are elected to the Board of Directors
by ballot submitted online or by mail.
All members of the Credit Union who
are at least 18 years of age by the
date of the meeting are eligible to
vote. Ballots will be counted prior to
the Annual Meeting and the results
will be announced at that
meeting.
Voting will open on Thursday February 20, 2025 and close on March 20, 2025.
More
information on the Annual Meeting
and Board of Directors
Election
As required
by the Bylaws, the following
candidates are presented in random
order. The views and opinions
expressed below are those of the
candidates and do not necessarily
represent the views or positions of
the Credit Union.
The Nominating Committee has selected the following candidates:
Admir
Mehinagic
Background:
Credit Union Member for 1
year
Location: USA
Current Job Title and Employer: Audit Supervisor in Group Internal Audit Department, World Bank Group
Learn
more about Admir
Mehinagic
Relevant Work
Experience:
With a decade
of experience in
European Banking
Supervision and three
years in audit,
including as Head of
Risk in Internal
Audit, I bring
leadership and robust
strategic and
financial expertise. I
have supervised major
European banks across
three central
banks—European,
Austrian, and
Irish—strengthening
governance, financial
stability, and risk
frameworks. As a
former software
engineer and tech
university alumnus, I
combine technological
savvy with innovative
problem-solving, a
vital asset
for
BankFund’s
tech development. My
experience aligns with
BankFund’s commitment
to member focused
solutions, improving
service
quality,
fostering
accessibility, and
safeguarding financial
sustainability through
forward-thinking
strategies.
Candidate’s
Statement of Desire
to Serve: I
am eager to serve on
the Board of Directors
as I am eager to serve
you. Members deserve a
credit union that not
only meets their needs
but anticipates them
—delivering simple,
secure services and
forward-thinking
solutions. Standing
firmly for member
interests, I bring a
fresh perspective and
a strong commitment to
innovation, ensuring
accessibility,
sustainability,
and exceptional
service remain at the
forefront. I consider
it a privilege to have
gained 13 years of
experience serving the
community by
safeguarding
governance, ensuring
financial
sustainability, and
overseeing risk and
capital management
frameworks for
regional and
international
financial
institutions. Combined
with my expertise in
digital innovation and
a collaborative
mindset, this
positions me to help
BankFund thrive in a
rapidly changing
world. By safeguarding
BankFund’s financial
stability
and
embracing
forward-thinking
strategies, I aim to
shape a future where
BankFund continues to
excel as a trusted
partner for all
members.
Answer 5
Vipul Bhagat
Background:
Credit Union Member for 34
years
(BankFund
Board Member from 2019
to
present)
Location: USA
Current Job Title and Employer: CEO/Founder, VB EM, LLC; impact-focused investment and advisory firm, Self-Employed (Since 2020); Ex-International Finance Corporation (IFC) Senior Staff; Currently serving on BankFund Board of Directors
Learn
more about Vipul
Bhagat
Relevant Work
Experience:
I presently consult
and sit on Boards.
This includes a large
Asian bank (where I
also Chair the Risk
Committee); Sr.
Advisor to a leading
US-based AI-enabled
fintech for
KYC/AML/
Regulatory
and compliance; and
Chair the board of the
largest social
enterprise for
health/eyecare in
developing countries.
I was a Sr. Advisor to
UN Women on
Sustainable Finance.
My IFC work on
investing/advising for
almost 30 years was
focused on the
financial sector with
increasing levels of
senior responsibility
culminating in a
global senior
relationship
management role
largely for FIs and
PE
firms. I remain
a CFA and a
CPA.
Candidate’s
Statement of Desire
to Serve: I
have been a Member of
the BankFund Board for
almost 2 terms (6
years), starting while
I was at IFC.
Currently, I am a
Secretary on the
Board, serve on the
Finance
Committee
and Member Services
& Technology
Committees (also
served on the Human
Resources Committee).
Since early retirement
from IFC in 2020, I am
engaged with Boards,
Advisory work
and
Academia, all
directly aiding the
work of BankFund. My
Computer Sciences and
Finance background
have been particularly
helpful on two key
areas of technology
and finance for
BankFund. I am an
active
Board
participant and have
undergone several CU
related trainings and
seminars to assist the
institution. My aim in
the next term is to
keep the BankFund’s
leadership position,
serving ALL member
needs
with
products and services
AND ensuring the right
balance between loan
pricing and deposit
rates while
maintaining a
financially sound
balance sheet.
Answer 5
Femi Akinrebiyo
Background: Credit Union Member for 18 years
Location: USA
Current
Job Title and Employer:
Global Manager,
Manufacturing
Investment
and Trade Supplier
Finance, International
Finance Corporation
Learn
more about Femi
Akinrebiyo
Relevant Work
Experience:
I have been a
staff of IFC for over
18 years, serving in
various investment and
managerial roles, and
have had the privilege
of representing IFC on
the board of
companies. Board
Experience: Served on
the boards of: (i)
Helios Towers (now
listed on the London
Stock Exchange): (ii)
Lekela Power; and
(iii) Actis
Energy
Fund.
Strategic Planning:
Supported the
formulation of
strategy,
organizational design,
and staffing plan for
IFC’s approach to
creating markets.
Management: (i)
20-years’ of
experience managing
teams and resources;
and (ii) overseeing
more than $5 billion
annual investments in
manufacturing and
trade supplier
finance.
Candidate’s
Statement of Desire
to Serve:
For 18 years,
BankFund has been my
trusted provider of
banking and financial
services. During this
time, I have observed
with keen interest the
operations of the
Credit Union and the
needs of the wider
community of WBG and
IMF employees it
serves. This
experience has
deepened my
appreciation
for
BankFund’s essential
role in our
multicultural
community. Motivated
by a sense of
responsibility, I am
eager to utilize my
skills in the service
of our community. My
experience in
financial management,
prior board roles and
dedication to
community service
equip me to contribute
effectively. If
elected, I will work
with other Board
Members to enhance
customer service,
leverage technology
for innovation, and
help strengthen
BankFund’s credit
culture. I am
committed to ensuring
that BankFund
continues to meet the
evolving needs of its
members while
upholding its core
values of integrity
and service.
Caroline Galvan
Background: Credit Union Member for 2 years
Location: USA
Current Job Title and Employer: Operational Strategy Lead, IFC/ World Bank Group
Learn
more about Caroline
Galvan
Relevant Work
Experience:
I look
forward to leveraging
my
20 years of
experience at the
European Commission,
EBRD, and World
Economic Forum. As
macro-financial
economist at DG ECFIN,
I worked on financial
market stability in
CEE. I served as Chair
of the Audit and
Finance Committee at
the Future Society—a
non-profit to advance
the Governance of
AI—where I oversaw
setting up the
organization’s
governance processes.
As Associate Director
to EBRD’s CFO &
COO, I oversaw the
day-to-day of the
Finance and
Operations
Group
(Financial Strategy
Planning, Budget, Loan
Syndication,
Treasury), and
developed EBRD’s
annual business plan
and corporate
budget.
Candidate’s
Statement of Desire
to Serve: I
deeply believe in the
value of Credit
Unions—to me BankFund
epitomizes the values
of the WBG by enabling
shared prosperity, in
this case staff
ownership and
stewardship. With a
German-South Korean
background, having
worked and lived in +
8 countries and as a
forever expat as so
many of us are, I have
experienced many times
the complexities of
opening
a bank
account/using banking
services in a foreign
country. I appreciate
how easy BankFund has
made it by comparison
and am motivated by
giving back and
contributing to its
growth. I enjoy taking
a bird’s eye view,
whilst equally going
deep when needed and
would look forward to
serving on the Finance
Committee, leveraging
my work experience
mentioned above.
Heidi Hennrich-Hanson
Background:
Credit Union Member for 37
years
(BankFund
Board Member from 2016
to
present)
Location: USA
Current Job Title and Employer: Retired from World Bank Group (2015); Currently serving on BankFund Board of Directors
Learn
more about Heidi
Hennrich-Hanson
Relevant Work
Experience:
Board
Director since 2016;
served on all
committees and as
Board Secretary;
currently Chair of
Human Resources
Committee overseeing
strategies and
programs for employee
and executive
compensation; active
member of Membership
Services and
Technology Committee
overseeing technology
upgrades and
continuous adaptation
and enhancements of
services; 30 years of
professional and 15
years of managerial
experience in
Operations, Finance
and IT at WB; proven
strategic planning,
organizational,
finance, and people
management skills;
managed large budgets
and trust funds as CAO
and led modernization
of IT systems as
Director CIO; advised
organizations on
finance and IT after
retirement.
Candidate’s
Statement of Desire
to Serve:
As a Member of the
BankFund Board for 9
years, I have worked
towards continued
improvements in member
services, implementing
digital banking
solutions, maintaining
financial strength,
and attracting and
retaining qualified
staff and executives.
As part of the Member
Services and
Technology Committee,
I have particularly
supported BankFund’s
digital and cyber
security strategies
and investments to
keep BankFund
relevant, efficient,
and secure. As chair
of the HR Committee, I
have pursued measures
to keep up BankFund’s
competitiveness in
attracting the right
skill sets in an
evolving labor market.
I believe in the
critical role BankFund
can play in meeting
the
financial
services needs of its
membership. If elected
for another term, I
would be committed to
use my expertise to
ensure BankFund’s
continued resilience
to changing financial
markets, labor
markets, and
regulations, and its
accelerated
implementation of
innovative
technologies to
maximize the value
members receive.
Diann Martin
Background:
Credit Union Member for 36
years
(BankFund
Board Member from 2019
to
present)
Location: USA
Current Job Title and Employer: Retired World Bank employee; Currently serving on BankFund Board of Directors
Learn
more about Diann
Martin
Relevant Work
Experience:
30 years at
the World Bank, with
the last position of
Director of Treasury
Operations.
Responsibilities
included accounting
policy, financial
reporting, internal
controls, and all
operational aspects of
the Bank’s cash flows,
investment portfolio,
bond issuance, and
derivatives
portfolios. Ensured we
had the right people,
systems, and controls
in place to ensure a
safe and
well-functioning
operation. Served on
many Bank committees
including the
Operational Risk
Committee and the
Information Technology
Steering committee.
Before joining the
World Bank, I was a
senior
manager in
KPMG’s audit practice.
Primary clients were
financial institutions
including credit
unions.
Candidate’s
Statement of Desire
to Serve: I
am honored to have
served on BankFund’s
Board since 2019 and
would like to continue
contributing to
BankFund’s ongoing
strength and success.
I am currently Chair
of the Finance
Committee, serve on
the HR Committee, and
previously served on
the Member Services
and Technology
Committee. My
experience with
accounting, treasury
operations, internal
controls, operational
risk, information
security and the
relationships I
developed with other
financial service
providers serve the
credit union well. I
have the time and
energy to serve on
the
Board with
enthusiasm and will
drive to ensure the
credit union’s
continued success.
Adam Schwartzman
Background: Credit Union Member for 21 years
Location: USA
Current Job Title and Employer: Senior Advisor, Risk and Finance Vice Presidency, International Finance Corporation
Learn
more about Adam
Schwartzman
Relevant Work
Experience:
I bring 24
years of investment
and risk management
experience, at the
IFC, WB and in
government. I am a
member of the US
National Association
of Corporate
Directors, with a
strong interest in
corporate governance.
My IFC career has
included 8 years in
management and 5 years
in senior advisor
roles to IFC’s CEO,
Investment Head and
Risk and Finance VP,
covering financial and
non-financial risks.
As a director in the
South African
Treasury, I supported
the G20 establishment
of the current global
financial stability
infrastructure.
Candidate’s
Statement of Desire
to Serve:
What do our members
expect of the
BankFund—our
“community” bank?
Competitive products
tailored to our
specific needs, strong
and friendly client
service, an excellent
digital platform, data
security and
unquestionably safe
financial management.
For BankFund to
continue to offer
this—as a small bank,
in an increasingly
complex environment—is
a tall order. Among
other things, it
requires ongoing best
practice corporate
governance—that is,
how the bank is
managed, how its
management works with
the Board, and how it
assesses and responds
to risks… all of which
has to evolve over
time. If elected to
the Board, this is
where I would hope to
focus my contribution,
bringing my experience
at the World Bank,
IFC, the scores of
companies I’ve
invested in, and in
supporting IFC’s own
journey in this
evolution.
Alexandru Chitic Patapievici
Background: Credit Union Member for 18 years
Location: USA
Current Job Title and Employer: Financial Officer, World Bank Group-IBRD
Learn
more about Alexandru
Chitic
Patapievici
Relevant Work
Experience:
18 years of work
experience at the
World Bank Group, of
which 12 years in IFC
Treasury, with
relevant
applicable
expertise
in managing
transactions and
modeling new trades
(bonds and swaps). My
focus was on
developing domestic
debt markets to
enhance the capacity
for long-term local
currency investment.
In my current role, I
am the representing
the Bank as Trustee
for the most extensive
portfolio of Financial
Intermediary Funds
(FIFs) in DFI. I
provided a
comprehensive range of
financial services,
including
receiving,
holding, and investing
contributed funds, and
transferring them as
directed by the FIF
governing
body.
Candidate’s
Statement of Desire
to Serve: I
am eager to serve on
the Board of Directors
of BankFund to support
its mission of
delivering accessible,
member-focused
financial services. I
am inspired by
BankFund’s dedication
to inclusivity,
integrity, and
community engagement.
I am eager to join the
Board of Directors of
BankFund to apply my
financial expertise
and international
perspective to
support
its
member-centric
mission. As a
Financial Officer at
the World Bank, I
manage over USD 10
billion across various
global funds and
provide customized
financial innovations.
This experience has
honed my skills in
financial stewardship,
strategic oversight,
and innovation in
complex economic
environments. Serving
on the Board would
allow me to give back
to an institution
supporting a diverse
membership, offering
solutions that meet
our members’ evolving
needs. I look forward
to contributing my
skills and dedication
to advancing
BankFund’s mission and
supporting our
members’ financial
well-being.
Taoufik Benjelloun Touimy
Background: Credit Union Member for 1 year
Location: USA
Current Job Title and Employer: Independent member of Steering and Investment Committees for pension funds; Self-employed
Learn
more about Taoufik
Benjelloun
Touimy
Relevant Work
Experience:
With 30 years
of governance and
senior executive roles
across banking and
insurance, I have
guided risk
management, regulatory
compliance, and
strategic initiatives
on boards and
committees for pension
funds, banks, and
insurance companies,
managing portfolios
totaling up to $15
billion. My experience
includes overseeing
financial strategies
and operational
leadership in diverse
markets, requiring
adaptability and
strategic insight. I
have led efforts in
finance, asset
management, solvency
and capital
management, and
actuarial functions,
ensuring financial
institutions’
resilience and
sustainable growth.
This breadth of
expertise equips me to
support BankFund’s
goals of delivering
secure, transparent,
and effective
financial
solutions.
Candidate’s
Statement of Desire
to Serve: I
am honored by the
opportunity to serve
on the BankFund Board
of Directors. With 30
years of governance
and operational
leadership experience
in banking and
insurance, I am deeply
committed to
supporting
institutions that
prioritize stability,
transparency, and
member-focused
service. My
professional
background includes
guiding risk
management, financial
strategy, and
regulatory compliance
on boards across
multiple countries.
These roles have
strengthened my
ability to oversee
complex financial
operations, address
challenges
proactively, and
support sustainable
growth. As a newer
BankFund member, I
bring a fresh
perspective inspired
by the Credit Union’s
strong legacy of
trust
and
dedication to its
members. If selected,
I will fully dedicate
myself to the
responsibilities of
this role, actively
participating in
meetings, committees,
and strategic
initiatives. My goal
is to contribute sound
governance and
strategic value to
ensure BankFund
remains a secure,
resilient, and
innovative financial
partner for its
diverse membership.