VyStar Credit Union Welcomes Katie Averill as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer

Experienced credit union leader will strengthen risk and compliance to support responsible growth and lasting member trust
 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - VyStar Credit Union announced that Katie Averill has been named Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, effective Nov. 2, 2026. In this role, Averill will lead VyStar’s Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance and BSA/AML functions and report to Lance Davies, Chief Legal Officer.
 
Averill brings extensive experience spanning credit union operations and regulatory oversight. She joins VyStar after nearly a decade as Iowa’s Superintendent of Credit Unions, where she led the state’s credit union regulatory division and oversaw the safety and soundness of an industry serving more than 1.6 million members. First appointed in 2017, she was reconfirmed for a third term by a unanimous vote of the Iowa Senate.
 
“Katie’s combination of regulatory expertise, strategic leadership and operational experience makes her an outstanding addition to VyStar,” said VyStar President/CEO Brian Wolburg. “As VyStar continues to grow, her leadership will help us further strengthen our risk and compliance framework while remaining focused on serving our members and communities.”
 
Averill has also held national industry leadership roles, including Chair of the Regulator Board of the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors and Chair of the NCUA-State Joint Supervision Working Group. These roles provided her with a broad perspective on state and federal credit union supervision.
 
“Katie Averill has served Iowans with distinction for nearly a decade, ensuring a safe, fair, and thriving regulatory environment for our state’s credit unions. I’m grateful for her leadership and wish her well,” said Governor Kim Reynolds. “I look forward to working with Deputy Superintendent Kevin Gorman as he steps in as interim Superintendent of Credit Unions to ensure continuity of service to the industry during this transition.”
 
Before entering public service, Averill spent 10 years as Senior Vice President at Citizens Community Credit Union in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She oversaw branch operations, member service, marketing and business development and served as staff liaison to the board of directors.
 
“VyStar’s commitment to its members and communities is evident in the way the organization approaches growth and service,” Averill said. “I look forward to working with the team to build on that strong foundation and help VyStar continue to manage risk thoughtfully and responsibly.”
 
Averill holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Iowa State University, is a Certified Credit Union Executive and is a graduate of CUNA Management School. She is also the founder of the JOY of Reading Program, which promotes childhood literacy.
 
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About VyStar Credit Union 
VyStar Credit Union is the second-largest credit union headquartered in Florida, with 80 full-service branches across Florida and Georgia, more than 1 million members and assets of over $14 billion. VyStar is a major employer in the region with over 2,200 employees across the communities it serves. VyStar membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the 49 contiguous counties of Central to North Florida, 29 Georgia counties, as well as past and present military members and their families all over the world. Members benefit from convenient access to over 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs worldwide.  VyStar has earned national recognition from Time Magazine, Fortune, USA Today and Forbes for excellence in financial services, innovation and customer service, reflecting its commitment to delivering value and exceptional experiences to members. For more information, visit vystarcu.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram,  X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.