It is with great sadness that we share the passing of former California Credit Union League Chair Charles “Chuck” Bruen.

Chuck served on the California Credit Union League board, holding key leadership roles as chairman in 1998, first vice chair in 1997, and second vice chair in 1996. In 2015, he was honored with the Leo H. Shapiro Lifetime Achievement Award, the League’s highest honor, in recognition of his tireless dedication and influential advocacy.

Chuck’s career spanned more than 50 years in financial services, and he was widely respected as an innovative leader and passionate advocate for the credit union movement. He was recognized early on for embracing emerging technologies and was among the first credit union CEOs to author a blog, demonstrating his forward-thinking approach and commitment to transparency.

From 1987 to 2016, Chuck served as president and CEO of First Entertainment CU where he helped grow the institution from $50 million to more than $1.5 billion in assets. Even after his retirement, he continued to serve on First Entertainment CU’s Board of Directors. In 2023, the credit union dedicated its Hollywood headquarters to Chuck in honor of his impact not only on First Entertainment CU, but across the credit union industry.

Chuck’s passion for credit unions lives on through his son, Eric Bruen, who currently serves as CEO of Desert Valleys FCU. Chuck’s legacy is one of service, integrity, and a lifelong dedication to the credit union mission. His impact will continue to inspire the next generation of credit union leadership.

“We are heartbroken at the passing of such an iconic credit union leader and contributor to the California credit union movement,” said Scott Simpson, president and CEO of the California Credit Union League. “Our thoughts are with Chuck’s family during this difficult time.”