Jim Minge, CEO, Texas Trust Credit Union

Invest: met with Jim Minge, CEO of Texas Trust Credit Union, to discuss its achievements, challenges, and vision for the future, emphasizing its commitment to community engagement, innovation, and personalized financial services in the competitive North Texas market.

What have been some key highlights and milestones for Texas Trust in North Texas this past year?

Like most financial institutions, last year was challenging due to the Federal Reserve’s historic rate increases and the impact they had on our members and us as a business. We had to slow our growth a bit, and liquidity became more of a challenge compared to previous years.

It wasn’t an easy year for financial services overall, but we grew modestly and welcomed many new members. Serving them and their families remains our top priority.

One of our biggest successes last year was our focus on consumer lending. We specialize in providing affordable solutions to help families consolidate debt or access credit at significantly lower rates. For example, we’ve helped members reduce credit card rates as high as 20–25% to about half that. It’s rewarding for us and a huge benefit for our members. We also saw strong growth in our signature and credit card portfolios, which we’re especially proud of. It’s a testament to our commitment to helping members improve their financial well-being.

What is your perspective on the financial services industry in Arlington?

The financial services landscape in Arlington — and the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area — is incredibly competitive. Large banks dominate much of the market, so we focus on differentiating ourselves through personalized service and convenience. In Arlington, we have as many branches as the largest banks, allowing us to offer the accessibility people need while maintaining a personal touch.

We aim to help individuals and families save money and improve their financial situations, which sets us apart. Arlington is a fantastic and growing market with new residents and businesses, making it an exciting place to call home. We’re proud to be based here and to serve this vibrant community.

With the significant growth we’re seeing across sectors, how is Texas Trust positioning itself to support and benefit from this expansion?

We remain focused primarily on the consumer side of the business, and the influx of people and companies into our market is a major driver for us. We’re also investing heavily in Arlington. For instance, we’re partnering with the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and relocating our headquarters to a new building in Arlington, off I-30. This move represents a substantial investment in the community and reflects our long-term commitment to Arlington as a fantastic place to grow and serve residents.

Are there any specific projects or initiatives focused on financial education or community engagement within the region?

We’re deeply involved in the Arlington community. Recently, we sponsored the inaugural Veterans Day Parade, and our foundation, Texas Trust Gives, invests heavily in local schools and institutions. We also partner with the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and the Arlington Independent School District (AISD).

One of our signature efforts is providing financial education through programs like reality fairs, where students learn about budgeting, financial planning, and the cost of living by simulating real-life scenarios. This type of outreach is core to who we are as an organization. If you talk to local leaders, they’ll tell you that Texas Trust is visible and invested in the community, which is something we’re incredibly proud of.

How would you describe the talent pool in Arlington, and what is Texas Trust doing to attract and retain great employees?

The talent pool in Arlington is excellent. UTA and AISD both produce highly skilled graduates, and we often provide young people with their first professional jobs, hiring from retail or food service and helping them transition to a professional environment.

Our workplace culture is unique. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, we focus on people and purpose. Employees who stay with us beyond two years tend to stay for five, and those who reach five years often stay for a decade. Our goal is to create an environment where people feel valued and part of something meaningful.

How are you adapting to economic uncertainties?

North Texas has been more resilient, though we’ve felt some effects of inflation and high interest rates. We focus on being advocates for our members. Whether it’s offering small micro-loans to help someone through an unexpected expense or advising members to budget and stay within their means, we’re here to help.

We’ve seen a slowdown in categories like mortgages and auto loans due to high rates, but unsecured loans have picked up as members look to consolidate debt. Our goal is to continue providing accessible financial solutions that help our members weather economic uncertainties.

How is Texas Trust leveraging innovation, artificial intelligence, and data analytics to improve the customer experience?

Technology is critical for us. While we’re a people-first company, we’re also a technology company. We recently refreshed our digital platform to make it more user-friendly, enabling members to handle tasks like transferring money more efficiently.

Our data analytics team helps us identify trends, like which members might need a car loan or credit card, enabling us to provide more targeted and personalized marketing. We’re also exploring AI, although we want to balance efficiency with maintaining a personal connection. AI is an exciting area, and as it evolves, we’ll look for ways to integrate it in ways that enhance member experiences without losing our human touch.

What is your outlook for Texas Trust in the next two to three years?

The future looks bright. As interest rates normalize, we expect pent-up demand to drive growth in consumer and business lending. Texas Trust is well-positioned to capitalize on this demand, especially in our dynamic market, spanning Flower Mound to Midlothian.

Our priorities are to continue growing at a steady pace of 6–8% annually, invest in our communities, and provide exceptional service. We’re optimistic about the next few years and excited to help more families and businesses achieve their financial goals.