EXTON, PA — In case you missed it, Citadel Credit Union recently reorganized its executive leadership into eight operating divisions as the Chester County-based financial institution expands beyond Pennsylvania, enters new lending markets and manages an asset base that has more than doubled since 2018.
The restructuring places growth, banking and lending, operations, risk, human resources, wealth management, finance and technology under eight senior executives, consolidating related functions as Citadel expands its geographic reach and commercial banking activities.
Citadel now holds $7.1 billion in assets, compared with approximately $3 billion in 2018, and serves nearly 300,000 members through 25 branches.
Earlier in 2026, the member-owned credit union expanded membership eligibility throughout Pennsylvania and six neighboring states, substantially increasing the geographic market it can serve.
The expansion has been accompanied by additional investment in Philadelphia, where Citadel opened its first branch in the Overbrook Park neighborhood this year.
Two more Philadelphia branches, in Cedar Park and Hunting Park, are scheduled to open in 2027. The credit union is also renovating existing locations to modernize its branch network.
Citadel has expanded into Small Business Administration lending and larger commercial real estate transactions, including a record $50 million loan for 2000 Market Street in Center City Philadelphia.
The financing represents the largest commercial loan in Citadel’s history and reflects its growing participation in transactions beyond traditional consumer banking.
President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Brown said the organizational changes reflect the credit union’s increased size and operational complexity.
“Citadel has more than doubled in size, and our leadership model has to reflect the institution we’ve become and the one we are building,” Brown said.
The revised structure assigns Courtney Rowan, chief growth officer, responsibility for digital strategy, product development, marketing strategy and marketing services.
The consolidation places customer acquisition, product strategy and member retention within a single organization, connecting digital services with the credit union’s broader expansion efforts.
Michael Desimone, chief banking and lending officer, oversees retail banking, sales, branch expansion, commercial banking, consumer and small business lending, insurance and real estate.
His responsibilities also include commercial underwriting and the credit union’s broader lending platform, bringing consumer and business banking functions under unified leadership.
Chief Operations Officer Don Scala leads an operational organization encompassing business transformation, the call center, member experience, facilities and the processes supporting retail banking, commercial banking, payments and lending.
Scala also oversees facilities and property strategy, connecting branch expansion, renovations and property planning with day-to-day operations.
Chris Palumbo, chief risk officer, assumes oversight of information security alongside fraud prevention, compliance, collections, enterprise risk management, technology and data risk, and governance.
Chief Information Security Officer Dean Sanders now reports to Palumbo, integrating cybersecurity oversight more directly with the institution’s broader risk management functions.
The alignment comes as Citadel expands its geographic footprint and develops more complex banking and technology operations.
Bonnie Levitt, chief people and culture officer, leads human resources, talent development, enterprise communications, philanthropy, community engagement and organizational change management.
Her expanded responsibilities combine workforce development and internal communications with the credit union’s community programs.
Chief Financial Officer Anand Solanki continues to oversee financial planning and analysis, treasury, accounting, strategy and customer insights and analytics.
Solanki, who joined Citadel in 2018, also leads its credit union service organization strategy and strategic business ventures.
Through that initiative, Citadel intends to evaluate acquisitions, partnerships, investments and business development opportunities that could generate additional revenue or provide services to other credit unions.
Placing those activities under the finance organization connects potential investments and new business ventures with the institution’s financial planning and capital allocation decisions.
Sheri Perkins, chief wealth officer, oversees Citadel Wealth Management, including retirement planning services, advisor recruitment and development, client relationships and strategic partnerships.
The credit union has invested in retirement plan capabilities and advisor technology as it seeks to expand wealth management services to existing and prospective clients.
Chief Information Officer Eric Skinner leads information technology operations, infrastructure, software engineering, enterprise data, architecture and technology platforms.
His organization also includes the enterprise project management office and responsibility for developing artificial intelligence and automation capabilities.
The revised technology structure centralizes oversight of system reliability, infrastructure modernization and project execution.
Beyond its existing expansion plans, Citadel is positioning the organization to evaluate additional partnerships, investments and potential combinations with other institutions.
Brown said the credit union would assess those opportunities based on their ability to deliver member value and integrate with existing operations.
“Whether we are opening a branch, investing in a new capability, forming a partnership, or evaluating a strategic combination, the standard is not simply whether we can grow,” Brown said. “It is whether we can integrate well, preserve what communities value, and invest for long-term success.”
The restructuring establishes defined executive responsibility across Citadel’s major business and control functions as the credit union expands its branch network, commercial lending activities, technology infrastructure and regional membership base.
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