Wade Cooper

Wade joined Corporate Central as a Financial Strategist in April 2019. His primary role is to help credit unions optimize and build a balance sheet that maximizes performance and allows them to better serve their members. Wade helps members learn about what their balance sheet needs from an ALM, risk, liquidity, and investment perspective. Once we determine those needs, he can assist credit unions with using the tools that they need to build an optimal balance sheet.

From 2015 to 2019, Wade served as the Supervisor of the Credit Union Section for the state of Illinois. At the time of his departure, there were 191 state-chartered credit unions with approximately $39 billion assets. He led an exam team of 14 examiners and three office staff. As a regulator, Wade made decisions regarding field of membership expansions, mergers, lending limit increases, disciplinary matters, legislation, and rule-making. He led the team to obtain accreditation from NASCUS for the first time. Additionally, Wade spearheaded a pilot program for an indirect investment pool which eventually became a permissible investment.

Wade brings varied experience in government and finance. From 2001 to 2007, Wade worked for the Illinois State Treasurer, Judy Baar Topinka, in the Illinois Funds which is an investment pool for public entities. In 2008, he joined the $70 million Prairie Trail Credit Union (PTCU) in Joliet, IL. PTCU would merge with the $210 million, privately insured, Argonne Credit Union, which would eventually be known as Abri Credit Union in Romeoville, IL. Following Abri, and before becoming a regulator, Wade obtained his Series 7 and Series 66 and became a financial advisor for two and half years.

Wade has a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in Ames, IA, and a master's degree from Governors State University in University Park, IL.

*The products are not insured by the FDIC/NCUSIF or any federal government agency; not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by, the depository institution; subject to investment risks, including loss of the principal amount invested.

**Cetera Advisor Networks LLC or its affiliates or divisions are not banks / credit unions, and the products we offer are not federally guaranteed or FDIC / NCUSIF insured, are not deposits or obligations of, nor guaranteed by a financial institution. Such investments will fluctuate in value and involve investment risks, including possible loss of principal.