Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union is proud to share that President & CEO John Holt is one of 12 finalists for the 2026 Credit Union Times Luminaries Awards in the Executive Leadership – President/CEO ($1 Billion & Below) category.

Presented by Credit Union Times, the awards recognize the people and organizations changing cooperative financial services for the better. Credit Union Times named 230 finalists across 27 categories, chosen from several hundred submissions. Winners will be announced on November 5ᵗʰ at the awards dinner in Orlando, Florida.

This recognition is important because the awards go beyond size and financial performance to honor measurable impact, leadership, and efforts that strengthen the communities credit unions serve. Being named a finalist puts that kind of work in front of the entire industry.

John was nominated for pairing growth with a people-first culture. Over the past year, he led Nutmeg through a series of mergers, culminating in the largest credit union merger in Connecticut history. The integration of CrossPoint Federal Credit Union is a key example of how he approached it: with open communication and a commitment to keeping Nutmeg’s culture strong. Under his leadership, the team hosted town halls for employees and members, creating space for questions and honest conversation at every step. Today, Nutmeg serves more than 66,000 members and is approaching $1 billion in assets.

That growth is matched by purpose. Nutmeg’s 2Gen strategy connects financial services, education, and community partnerships to help families build financial wellbeing across generations. Nutmeg has also removed non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees, the charges some financial institutions apply when an account doesn’t have enough money to cover a payment, and invested in employee wages. Both reflect the same commitment to eliminating barriers for the members the credit union serves and the employees who serve them.

As John puts it:

“People helping people is not just something we say at Nutmeg. It is how our team shows up for each other and for our members every day. I am honored to be a finalist, and grateful to be part of a team that makes that true.”

That idea guides the credit union every day. This recognition belongs to the entire Nutmeg team, whose work makes that promise real, and to the members who trust the team with their financial futures. Together, the work continues.

Read more about this year’s finalists in the Credit Union Times Luminaries Awards coverage.