Vancouver, WA–Columbia Credit Union announces the hiring of Brad Bauges as the credit union's new SVP/Chief Operations Officer. "We are pleased to have Brad on board to oversee our operations and position the credit union for future growth," said Steve Kenny, President/CEO. "His skill set and experience make him a great addition to Columbia."

Prior to joining Columbia Credit Union, Bauges was the Vice President of Branch Services for Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU), where he managed retail operations for the $1.4 billion asset credit union. There he assisted TDECU with the task of growing its retail services network, integrating an overflow call center, developing a disaster recovery plan, and enhancing the product and service offerings to the membership. Prior to his time at TDECU, Bauges served as the Regional Vice President in Oak Harbor, Washington, for Alaska USA FCU.

"I am excited to work for an organization that places a high value on member service," said Bauges. "I look forward to making contributions that will benefit members and advance Columbia's strategic goals."

Active in the community, Bauges plans to continue his volunteer efforts while at Columbia. His past commitments include stints with Junior Achievement, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, hurricane clean-up and economic development. Most recently from Richwood, Texas, Bauges originally hails from Wofford Heights, California. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, sightseeing, and spending time with family.

About Columbia Credit Union:
Established in 1952, Columbia Credit Union has $752 million in assets and 12 Clark County, WA locations. Columbia serves more than 64,000 members with a 2009 satisfaction rating of 95.9 percent - an industry benchmark. Columbia is nationally recognized by PBS and Associates as a "Best Place to Work" and was voted the 2009 "Best Financial Institution" in Clark County. Columbia is a top local lender for auto and home loans, and is a top-10 SBA lender in the Portland/Vancouver metro area. Committed to sustainability, Columbia built Clark County's first financial institution branches to strict LEED standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council. Individuals and businesses in Washington State are eligible for membership. For more information visit www.columbiacu.org.