Notable Credit Union Leaders: Mike Brandt

President and CEO, Empower Credit Union

Under the leadership of president and CEO Mike Brandt, Empower Credit Union created Change for Charities, a program designed to make a positive impact in the community – a few coins at a time. 

The program allows members to round up their debit card purchases and donate the difference to select nonprofits. 

In 2020, Empower matched more than 100% of member contributions, raising more than $11,000 shared by Hunger Task Force and Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS). Empower also lends their space to HAWS for mobile adoption events, where members can take home a new pet right on the spot.

In less than three years as president and CEO of Empower, Brandt’s work ethic has allowed Empower to emerge as a local leader in southeastern Wisconsin. He has invested in the growth of his employees and the evolution of the credit union, all the while giving back to the community, according to Beth Gleesing, vice president of client services at z2 Marketing, which
partners with Empower in Change for Charities.

His colleagues at Empower Credit Union, his corporate partners — everyone from his board of directors to the community organizations he supports, all agree, Gleesing says. Brandt is a person of action.