Jane Duerre Announces Upcoming Retirement

​The CEO of Norstar FCU in Britton, SD will be starting a new adventure at the end of May, and her replacement has just been announced! 

Jane Duerre

by Shawn Marie Brummer, Communications Specialist

Jane Duerre, CEO of Norstar Federal Credit Union in Britton, South Dakota, has announced her upcoming retirement, effective May 31st, 2023. Since 2010, when she returned to her home state of South Dakota from Arizona where she lived for more than 25 years, Jane has been leading this credit union.

“I have been fortunate to work with a staff that is established and talented,” stated Duerre. Her previous job was with the National Bank of Arizona, where she was Senior VP of the Executive Banking Group, and prior to that, she had worked as a mortgage lender and as a branch manager for Wells Fargo. 

Under Duerre’s leadership, Norstar FCU has been continually growing and prospering, in addition to doing more and more outreach in their community. Originally established as Britton Federal Credit Union in 1942, the credit union changed their name to Norstar Federal Credit Union in 2006. Their field of membership extends to the counties of Marshall, Day, and part of Brown in South Dakota, as well as Sargent County in North Dakota. Even though they are located in a town with a population of about 1,200 people, the credit union has nearly 2,800 members and assets exceeding $68 million.

Jane says she will miss the friendly atmosphere of the credit union network, as well as the many friends she has made over the years. “I have met so many other CEOs, volunteers, and people in the credit union industry that I consider dear friends,” she shared.

Jane doesn’t intend to trade her life in rural South Dakota for anywhere else right now, except spending January through April in Arizona. She plans on having more time to enjoy her lake home with her husband, Kent, as well as golf, traveling, and her other volunteer work. Perhaps she will even fulfill her longtime dream to attend culinary school, as she loves to entertain!

Meanwhile, following an extensive search, Norstar FCU’s board of directors is excited to announce that Jay Kruse, Chief Advocacy Officer for Dakota Credit Union Association since 2015, has been named the next CEO. Jay will begin working at Norstar on May 1st alongside Jane until her official retirement date. He and his wife, Teri, are currently shopping for a home in the area that will accommodate them and their rather large family of three dogs – and will be moving permanently as soon as possible.

While staff at the association is sad to lose such a quality credit union advocate and friend, we are also excited for this career opportunity for Jay, and sincerely wish him all the best. Once he is settled into his new location and job, we will have a Memo Spotlight feature.

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