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Detroit’s Sati Smith Named to African American Credit Union Hall of Fame

October 27, 2025

Sati Smith, CEO of Diversified Members Credit Union in Michigan, will become the first credit union CEO from her state inducted into the African American Credit Union Hall of Fame. The honor from the African American Credit Union Coalition recognizes her leadership in expanding financial access and opportunity. Smith's remarkable career trajectory includes starting as a teller over twenty years ago and rising to become DMCU's first African American CEO in 2023, while earning her GED, bachelor's, and master's degrees along the way.

Who is affected

  • Sati Smith, CEO of Diversified Members Credit Union
  • Diversified Members Credit Union (DMCU) and its nearly 30,000 members
  • DMCU's nearly 100 team members
  • The African American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC)
  • Michigan's credit union community
  • Communities served by DMCU in Detroit, Clawson, and Novi

What action is being taken

  • Smith is being inducted into the African American Credit Union Hall of Fame
  • DMCU is expanding its reach and commitment to the community under Smith's leadership
  • The credit union is offering financial products, services, and financial coaching programs

Why it matters

  • This recognition is significant because it celebrates leadership that has advanced financial inclusion and expanded access to economic opportunity within underserved communities. Smith's personal journey from teller to CEO, combined with her educational achievements as a single mother, serves as an inspirational model for others facing similar challenges. The honor also represents a milestone for Michigan's credit union industry, highlighting the state's contribution to advancing diversity in financial services leadership and demonstrating the credit union movement's commitment to building generational wealth and financial stability for all communities.

What's next

  • Smith will be formally honored during the AACUC's networking event on March 3, 2026, at the Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle

Detroit’s Sati Smith Named to African American Credit Union Hall of Fame