Credit Union Legal & Governance Advisory
Fractional General Counsel for Credit Unions
In-house-caliber legal and governance counsel for credit unions under $250M — without the cost, or the wait, of a full-time hire.
22 Years at a Credit Union — CEO & General Counsel
60% Asset Growth Led as CEO
Extensive NCUA Examination Experience
About Eric
Meet Your Counsel
I'm Eric Levine. I spent 22 years at Alternatives Federal Credit Union — a $165M institution serving 15,000 members — first as General Counsel, later as CEO from 2017 to 2022, during which the credit union grew its asset base by 60%. I've sat on both sides of the table: in the boardroom making the call, and beside the CEO advising on the legal and regulatory exposure behind it.
Credit Union Executive Partners exists because most credit unions under $250M can't justify a full-time General Counsel — but they face the same governance disputes, employment claims, merger decisions, and NCUA exposure as institutions three times their size. I work directly with your CEO and compliance officer as embedded counsel, on a predictable monthly basis, without taking on an executive role myself.
Practice Areas
Where I Help
Credit union legal counsel and governance advisory across the issues that most shape a small institution's risk profile.
Governance & Board Advisory
Board-CEO role clarity, real succession planning, director recruitment, conflict resolution, and executive compensation design.
Mergers, Charters & Growth
Merger strategy and partner evaluation, deal terms, post-merger integration, bank purchases, and field-of-membership/charter strategy.
Employment & HR Risk
Discrimination and retaliation exposure, senior executive terminations, severance design, and wage-and-hour compliance.
Lending, Fraud & Member Risk
Overdraft/NSF fee practice review, fair lending exposure, and fraud and Reg E dispute handling.
Regulatory & Compliance Monitoring
NCUA exam preparedness, tracking regulatory shifts, and policy review and refinement.
Vendor & Fintech Contracts
Core processor and fintech contract negotiation, de-conversion risk, and data breach/third-party risk allocation.
Why Fractional Counsel
Why Fractional, Why Now
Embedded, not episodic.
An ongoing counsel relationship, not one-off matters billed by the hour.
Advisor, not placement.
I work with your sitting CEO and compliance officer directly — this isn't an executive search or interim-CEO service.
Been in your seat.
Led a credit union through both the CEO chair and the General Counsel role, not just advised from the outside.
Predictable cost.
A flat monthly relationship instead of unpredictable hourly legal bills.
How It Works
How It Works
Initial Consultation
A conversation about your credit union's current legal and governance exposure.
Choose Your Plan
We confirm the fit, and you choose Monthly Counsel or Annual Partner.
Ongoing Counsel Begins
Monthly advisory relationship starts — board reporting, policy review, and direct CEO access.
Available When It Matters
Ongoing access for the moments that can't wait for a scheduled call.
Credentials / Track Record
Track Record
22 Years
at a single credit union, across both legal and executive roles
$165M / 15,000
institution size where this experience was built
60% Asset Growth
achieved as CEO, 2017–2022
NCUA Exams
extensive, hands-on safety-and-soundness examination experience
Pricing
Simple, Predictable Pricing
Two ways to bring senior legal and governance counsel onto your team. Both start with a consultation to confirm the fit.
Monthly Counsel
Flexible and month-to-month. Cancel anytime with 30 days' notice.
- Direct access to Eric for your CEO and compliance officer by email and phone
- One monthly strategy session (up to 2 hours)
- Response within 2 business days
- Review of board questions, policies, and vendor contracts between sessions
- Monthly briefing on NCUA and compliance changes that affect your credit union
Annual Partner
For credit unions ready to make counsel a permanent part of the team.
About $417 a month. Save $1,000 versus paying monthly.
- Everything in Monthly Counsel, plus:
- Annual governance and compliance health check (board policies, bylaws, succession plan, exam readiness)
- NCUA exam preparation review before your next examination
- Same-business-day response on urgent matters
- One virtual board meeting appearance per year
- Your rate locked for the full 12 months
Plans cover the ongoing counsel described above. Litigation and matters outside the plan scope are quoted separately. All engagements are subject to a written agreement.
Is This Right For Your Credit Union?
Is This a Fit?
Credit Union Executive Partners is built for federal credit unions under $250M in assets — nationwide, not limited to any region — with a sitting CEO who wants senior legal and governance counsel on their team. If that's your credit union, let's talk.
Request a Consultation
Nationwide Coverage
Serving federal credit unions across the United States
Federal credit unions under $250MFAQ
Common Questions
Not necessarily — I focus on ongoing governance, executive, and regulatory counsel; you may still want specialized outside counsel for litigation or highly technical matters.
No. I advise your sitting CEO and compliance officer — I don't take on executive authority or an interim role.
Primarily federal credit unions under $250M in assets — the range least likely to already have in-house General Counsel.
Two plans: Monthly Counsel at $500 a month (cancel anytime with 30 days' notice), or Annual Partner at $5,000 a year, which works out to about $417 a month. Both begin with a consultation to confirm the fit.
Request a Consultation
Ready to Talk?
Schedule a conversation below to discuss your credit union's current legal and governance needs.
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