by Rachel Witkowski
Staff Writer
There are two things John Hirabayashi never imagined he would do in his life — become the CEO of one of the top credit unions in Jacksonville and handle the aftermath of an armed robbery at one of his branches.
Hirabayashi has been president/CEO of Community First Credit Union of Florida for 10 years. He was hired directly into the position under Community First’s previous name, Educational Community Credit Union. Ever since Hirabayashi stepped through the door of Community First, the credit union has experienced more changes than just in its name. Since 1996, the credit union’s totaled assets jumped from $200 million to its current $1.5 billion worth, according to Hirabayashi.
“Most of our growth is through the people who come in to join because they heard by word of mouth,” he said. “There’s a lot more power in that type of referral. But that takes a lot of things.”
A good, supportive board of directors and a good workforce are among the biggest assets of a successful credit union, according to Hirabayashi, who said he knows by name about 90 percent of the approximate 270 employees.
“What employees really want to feel the most is that their organization cares about them,” he said.
But as Community First continued to grow in members and staff, the criminal element began to manifest.
In December 2001, several men walked into the Edgewood branch with automatic weapons and robbed Educational Community. Everyone in the building was forced to lay on the floor and though no one was killed, a police officer was shot in the leg as the robbers fled the scene. Hirabayashi went to the branch as soon as he received the phone call.
“By that time, the branch was surrounded, a cop was shot and helicopters were circling the building,” he said. “The worst part was that we didn’t know if everyone was OK.”
Though no one was hurt inside, many were traumatized, especially with the effects of Sept. 11 still lingering, he said. Hirabayashi talked with the employees and brought in professional counselors to offer further assistance. A month later, two brothers were found and charged with the robbery. Hirabayashi never received the stolen money, but half of the employees from that branch continue to work for Community First and the credit union hasn’t stopped growing.
“We definitely are the fastest growing (credit union in Duval),” he said. “I think our service is better and we’ve definitely got the best employees.”
Community First ranked second, next to VyStar Credit Union, for having the highest area deposits in 2004 and 2005. By December 2004, the area deposits totaled $762 million, a $72.7 million jump from the year before.
It took 10 years of banking experience, a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in business, before Hirabayashi became CEO of a credit union. And he has come a long way from unloading trucks at an air base in Japan at 16 years old to CEO of a credit union in Berkeley, Calif. and Jacksonville. He’s currently president over 17 Community First Credit Unions in Florida, 11 of which, are in Duval County. And though Hirabayashi said he never thought an average student would end up a CEO, he’s passionate about his career.
“I love doing what I’m doing. I like to see people grow and develop,” said Hirabayashi. “If people think highly of the credit union and if people think highly of us as an employer, then my role as a CEO — if I can keep a focus on those two things — I can’t really ask for more than that.”