Member Spotlight: Daniel Babcock

CUNA Lending Council
December 7, 2009 | COMMENTS

Daniel Babcock is senior vice president of lending for Otero Federal Credit Union in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Born and raised in Maine, he joined the Air Force in April 1973, serving 24 years. After retiring on December 31, 1996, Daniel began his credit union career on January 1, 1997. He graduated from WCMS in 2000 and has attended Bill Mapother's Collection and Bankruptcy School and Rex Johnson's Lending College.

Biggest challenge

Regulatory compliance—every time you turn around the rules change. It gets harder to stay ahead of the game.

Best advice

Don't be a follower—try and anticipate what may happen and plan for it; you may not always be right, but when you are, think of the time and effort you've saved!

Greatest benefit of Council membership

Sharing information, really fast. Everyone is so giving of their time and knowledge.

Best part of my job

Helping members achieve their dreams and goals.

Hardest part of my job

Having to say, “No."

Success story

We made a conscious effort to stay away from business lending and creative mortgage financing back in 2006—the best decisions we ever made.

Biggest misconception about my job

That it's just tracking numbers. They do not realize that making strategic recommendations based on that data is the real secret.

Hobbies and interests

Golf, reading.

Recent book

The Shack by John Powell.

Life goal not yet accomplished

Traveling to Ireland.

If I had an extra hour in the day . . .

I'd talk with my dad. He just passed away recently and I really miss talking with him.

Favorite quote

My father's work effort, summed up in one sentence: "I never met a job I didn't like."

If I could spend a day with anyone . . .

It would be the Pope. WOW, what a day that would be (not so much for him, but really something for me!).

How I would explain the credit union difference to a potential new member

Just look at the faces of the members as they go into and leave a credit union, anyone you want to pick. They all look like they've just been to visit their best friend.

> Connect with Dan on CUNA Councils Connect