Jeff Meshey is the president and CEO of Desert Financial Credit Union — a full-service, Arizona-based financial institution founded in 1939. Desert Financial currently operates 47 branch locations throughout Maricopa, Pinal, Gila, Coconino and Yavapai counties.
Meshey is a certified public accountant and launched his career with Ernst & Young, specializing in audits of financial institutions. Meshey joined Desert Financial in 1994 and became CEO in 2017. His tenured career at commercial banks, savings banks and credit unions prepared him to lead a financial institution that’s built a culture of performance and philanthropy.
Beginning in 2018, Meshey led the credit union through a transformational rebrand and further cemented its commitment to sharing success. In 2020, the credit union expanded its service area significantly with a statewide charter, and Meshey has overseen expansion into Northern Arizona with two new offices in Flagstaff and Prescott Valley.
Under his leadership, Desert Financial’s membership growth has increased from 1% to more than 10% per year. Community giving has nearly doubled while total assets have increased from $4 billion to more than $8 billion. Desert Financial has been consistently ranked a Best Place to Work in Phoenix, has earned two consecutive wins for Angel of the Year: Business, was a winner of the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Ethics and is one of Arizona’s Most Admired Companies. Meshey was named a Most Admired Leader by Phoenix Business Journal in 2019.
A committed public servant, Meshey serves as a board member of the Phoenix division of The American Heart Association and is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership. He is also a member of Class 29 of Valley Leadership and a Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Sun Devil superfan.
About
Banker of Excellence: Jeff Meshey
Position: President and CEO
Company Name: Desert Financial Credit Union
Main Local Office Address: 148 N. 48th St., Phoenix, AZ 85034
Phone: (602) 433-7000
Website: desertfinancial.com
Number of Offices in Metro Phoenix: 45
Year Established Locally: 1939
Headquartered: Phoenix
No. of Years with Firm: 28
Industry Expertise: Corporate Leadership, Strategic Planning, Collaborative Relationship Building
