On January 2, 2020 Katharine Laud will be the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Opportunities Credit Union. Laud comes to credit union with a background in banking and non-profit finance. Most recently, she was Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration at the UVM Foundation. Kate also serves as Vice-Chair of theboard of the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants in Washington DC.
Opportunities Credit Union is a statewide, nonprofit community-based lending organization whose mission is to create wealth and promote economic development by bringing affordable capital and financial services to low-income and other traditionally underserved populations. Laud assumed the role of president at Opportunities Credit Union in September 2019.
“I am delighted to be working with an organization which supports the economy of Vermont by providing financing for small business, affordable homes and consumer loans. OCU has played a major role in lives of unbanked, low-income Vermonters by counseling them along the path to financial stability. The credit union’s 30 years of impact has woven it into many communities throughout Vermont,” notes Laud. In addition to her role at the UVM Foundation, she served as CFO for an affordable housing developer in NJ and as a director of an NYSE-traded commercial bank in NJ. She has a variety of skills including strategic planning, communication, and building relationships.
Charles Baker, president of the Opportunities Credit Union’s Board of Directors, stated that the organization is fortunate to have the benefit of Kate Laud’s experience and perspective, having managed the financial functions for nonprofit organizations as well as built the wealth management division of a commercial bank. He also noted that she “has been and continues to be committed to growing Vermont’s economy and supporting the local community, especially immigrants and low-income Vermonters.”
Kate Laud holds a Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and an MBA from The Tuck School at Dartmouth. She enjoys food and cooking in addition to hiking with her dog and exploring Lake Champlain.
Opportunities Credit Union is proud to be a CDFI-certified financial institution and 7(a) lender participating with the Small Business Administration to offer additional financing options to our business borrowers. Opportunities have received the Small Business Administration’s Outstanding Achievement Award and the SBA Award of Distinction. Founded as the Vermont Development Credit Union in 1989, the credit union has been CDFI-certified since 1997 and has received competitive awards that have enhanced its ability to meet the needs of its target market. Opportunities serve the community by participating in the FHLB of Boston’s Jobs for New England, Housing our Workforce and Equity Builder loan programs and through its Money Sense financial counseling program.
