In the CEO Spotlight: Steve Streier from Area FCU

The new CEO of Area Federal Credit Union  in Aberdeen, SD has returned to serve the members and the community he loves.

Editor’s note: Last August, we announced that Steve Streier had been named the new CEO of Area Federal Credit Union. Back in 2019, we profiled Steve when he was the VP of Lending at Area FCU (then named Aberdeen FCU.) We are revisiting his previous profile piece along with his updated information in today’s CEO Spotlight!
 
by Shawn Marie Brummer, Communications & Social Media Specialist

Steve Streier grew up on a farm near the small town of Eden, population of about 100, located in the northeast corner of South Dakota. Because the family operated a dairy farm, they never traveled or took a family vacation. However, they did have frequent visits from relatives, especially in the summertime. Steve and his two older brothers all pitched in to help their parents keep the farm running, and to this day, he finds it difficult to sit still for very long.

“My parents and grandparents all had an impact on me,” he stated. “Growing up on a dairy farm, the whole family had to help out. My dad worked hard and was still always willing to help out neighbors when they needed assistance. I don’t think he ever did anything thinking of himself first. My grandpa was still building barns when he was 80 years old. My mom also gave me a strong family focus – whether that was making every holiday meal for every relative in the county, or giving Thanksgiving dinner to the milk truck driver, she was always trying to make everyone happy, usually with food,” he recalled.

He attended school in Roslyn, where he graduated in a class of about 15 students. He enjoyed sports, and also acted as photographer for the school yearbook. Then, he made his way to Northern State University in Aberdeen where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. While still a college student, he began working as a part-time teller at an area savings and loan. He continued working there after graduating, as a loan processor and as a real estate loan officer. He later worked for Norwest (Wells Fargo) as a collector.

One of the sports he had always enjoyed was softball, and Guy Trenhaile, CEO of Healthcare Plus (then known as Lil Lukes FCU) played on an opposing team on the same league. Even though Steve’s team frequently got the best of Guy’s team, Guy offered him a job as the assistant manager. Once he began working at Lil Lukes in 1997, he helped with consumer lending, member services, and even human resources.

When a new opportunity arose in the year 2000, Steve applied and was hired as the VP of Lending at Area FCU where he worked for more than 20 years before departing for a brief time, returning in August of 2022 when the board of directors offered him the CEO position. As a 35-year resident of Aberdeen with 25 plus years of credit union experience, he is well positioned to lead the organization as they continue to improve their members’ lives.
 
“Whether it is co-workers or members, I enjoy seeing them succeed at their job and in life,” he says. “Area FCU is a part of many big events in people’s journeys. That’s not just helping employees grow in their job, but how we handle an employee’s changing life situation – such as a death in their family, or the birth of their children. When it comes to the members, it may be that first car, or a dream home that we help them obtain,” he adds.

Steve’s volunteer work has included serving on the Golden Pheasant Chapter Board, as well as serving on boards for the Red Cross, and The First Tee. He volunteered to run a charity golf event for the American Cancer Society for several years, and is a current member of the Knights of Columbus.  

In his personal life, Steve has been married to his lovely wife, Debbie, for 27 years. She is the CEO of Avera in Marshall, MN.  “Living apart after 27 years of marriage has been a big change - it feels kind of like dating again.  I’m sure my wife is happier as she only has to put up with me on the weekends.”  They have two adult children: Zach, son, is a Laboratory Scientist with the Avera Institute for Human Genetics in Sioux Falls; and daughter Megan is attending USD in Vermillion, where she is studying for a degree in early childhood development. Rounding out the family is Louie, a Bassett Hound, and Oakley, a Golden Retriever.

When he is not working, Steve enjoys golf, hunting, wood working, and watching the Minnesota Vikings lose. The family enjoys spending time together, along with their extended family. Finally, with the holiday season upon us, Steve really hits his groove. It seems he has a knack for cooking, baking, and decorating – something he learned from his mom after all the years she hosted family get-togethers. “My mom loved doing all that, and I guess it rubbed off on me,” he shared.

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