Heartland Credit Union has selected Aaron Rios to serve as its new chief executive officer. He succeeds longtime CEO Tom Lex, who spent 45 years with the organization.
“We’re excited to welcome Aaron as our next CEO,” said board chair Jane Kiel. “His extensive experience in financial services and proven leadership make him well-suited to guide Heartland Credit Union into its next chapter. We are confident he will continue the strong tradition of service while identifying new opportunities to support our employees, our members and the communities we serve.”
Rios brings more than 23 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry to the CEO position, having served in key executive roles at Citigroup, Global Bank, Midland States Bank, QCR Holdings, and most recently as chief operating Officer at Merrick Bank, where he helped lead the operations transformation. He was placed in the HCU role by executive search and leadership development firm DDJ Myers.
“I want to thank Jane Kiel and the entire board of directors for their trust and confidence,” Rios said. “My family and I are excited to make Springfield our new home, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the talented team at Heartland Credit Union. I look forward to building relationships with our employees, serving our members and becoming an active part of the community.”
Rios is married with three children. He and his wife have a son who plays golf at Upper Iowa University, their eldest daughter plays softball at the University of Illinois Chicago and their youngest daughter is a freshman at Eastern Illinois University and a member of the softball team. Rios enjoys golf, coaching basketball and supporting local youth sports.