[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 10, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE CAREER AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MS. MARY ANN MELCHERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELAINE G. LURIA

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 10, 2019

  Mrs. LURIA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and 
accomplishments of Mary Ann Melchers. Mary Ann Melchers has been a 
female pioneer during the 54 years that she has been an active member 
and volunteer in the credit union movement. She began her relationship 
with credit unions as a volunteer with Norfolk Naval Base Federal 
Credit Union following a merger with Amphibious Base Federal Credit 
Union in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Today, the credit union is known as 
ABNB Federal Credit Union and is the largest community credit union in 
Southeastern Virginia.
  Her credit union volunteer career is well documented. In 1965, she 
became a member of the Credit Committee at Naval Base Norfolk Federal 
Credit Union. This was an especially significant achievement 
considering that women were unable to obtain credit in their own name 
at that time in history. Despite those obstacles, she began her 
lifelong quest to ensure that all people of modest means regardless of 
gender, race or creed have access to credit and the other vital 
financial services they need.
  In succeeding years, deregulation dramatically changed the face of 
the financial services industry. In the late 1970's, Mary Ann guided 
the credit union's evolution by recognizing and then expanding the 
growth of products and services offered to members from simple savings 
accounts and small loans to full-service financial offerings. Through 
her leadership, she also made history as the first woman elected to the 
office of Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Naval Base Federal 
Credit Union. This achievement came at a time when women were rarely 
participants in American business boardrooms let alone serving in 
leadership roles. As chair she was instrumental in successfully 
consummating the 1996 merger of Naval Base and Amphibious Base Federal 
Credit Unions, resulting in what is now known as ABNB Federal Credit 
Union.
  At ABNB Federal Credit Union, Mary Ann has held numerous leadership 
positions serving as Vice Chair of the Board from 1996 to 1998. In 
1999, she was elected Chair of the ABNB FCU Board, beginning a 20-year 
volunteer career as chair and only the second woman to hold that 
position in ABNB's history. Under her leadership ABNB grew from 32,615 
to 59,469 members and from $182 million to well over $57 million in 
assets.
  Through her stewardship, the credit union also expanded its field of 
membership from solely serving military personnel on the Naval Base and 
Amphibious Base into the largest full-service community credit union. 
Today, the credit union serves over 60,000 members across Hampton Roads 
and Northeastern North Carolina with 18 branches and 24 surcharge-free 
ATM's. In addition, she was the 2016 recipient of the Virginia Credit 
Union League's highest honor, the James P. Kirsch Lifetime Achievement 
Award. This award is given annually to recognize individuals who have 
made significant contributions to the credit union movement over the 
course of their career.
  In summary, Mary Ann was able to deliver on her promise ensuring that 
people of modest means have access to credit and other affordable 
financial services. During her 54-year volunteer career she was 
instrumental in guiding a credit union that would eventually serve 
everyone in Hampton Roads and beyond with low cost and high-quality 
financial services.

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