michael abraham
Chief Executive Officer
Michael has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years, serving in various roles at two community and regional banks then as a loan department lead for one of the largest financial institutions in the country. He joined the Credit Union industry in 2014 and was named President/CEO at First Financial in 2015. FFCU grew over 300% under his leadership and attracted many suitors. In 2024, he led a joint process to merge with Great Lakes Credit Union and was named the Chief Strategy Officer at GLCU following the transaction. Today he oversees numerous initiatives in areas of business development, lending, mergers and acquisitions and external growth and is the CEO of GLCU Holdings, CEO of Mortgage Forward, and CEO of GLCU Insurance, all closely held CUSOs of GLCU.
Michael serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Credit Union Foundation, the Illinois Credit Union League as Vice Chairman, Vice Chairman of Envisant, Vice Chairman of Services Credit Union and Chairman of the National Credit Union Insurance Alliance. He is also an advisor on various investment and other ventures both as a volunteer and in support of other businesses. In 2025, he was named to the Board of Directors of Aviary, an industry first AI solution which he helped to jumpstart as CEO of one of the initial investors in 2023. Beyond the four walls of finance, he helps to serve as a Board member of Synergies Seed Fund a first of its kind non-profit assisting those with disabilities in their entrepreneurial aspirations.
Past experience includes roles on the Board of Xtend in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Treasurer at Resources for Community Living in Rolling Meadows, IL. Michael is also an Adjunct Faculty Member teaching classes in Finance and Management in the MBA program at North Park University, a role he has held since 2018.
Michael received a BA from DePaul University in 2007 and an MBA in Finance in 2012 as well as a post graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin in 2016.
Michael resides in the northern suburbs of Chicago as a life long resident of the Chicagoland area with his wife Erin and their 3 children Anderson, Maddon and Gracyn. He enjoys coaching their collective youth sports teams and is an avid Chicago Bears and Cubs fan despite the heartbreak they bring in most seasons.