JT Keith
Ronald Johnston learned the lesson that would define his career long before he ever sat behind a desk at Artesia Credit Union.
Take care of people.
That simple idea has carried Johnston through 35 years as president and chief executive officer of Artesia Credit Union, where he helped guide a hometown institution from its roots serving school employees into a community credit union serving members across Artesia.
“We have the best members in the country, here in town,” Johnston said.
Johnston, 71, took over the credit union in 1991 after managing The Main Place men’s clothing store for 17 years. Retail clothing stores were beginning to fade, he said, and Artesia Credit Union needed someone to lead the institution.
“I could see the handwriting on the wall,” Johnston said. “The clothing industry was changing.”
A credit union built by teachers
The story of Artesia Credit Union began in 1955, when teacher Leonard Witcher applied for a $300 bank loan and was turned down. In response, teachers formed the Artesia School Employees’ Credit Union to serve school employees who needed a place to borrow and save.
Johnston’s father, Warren Johnston, a teacher at Artesia High School, helped form and manage the credit union and served as its president until 1986. Elizabeth Bach managed it for five years before Ronald Johnston took over in 1991.
Opening the doors
One of the biggest decisions of Johnston’s career came in 1995, when the credit union expanded beyond school employees and opened membership to others in the community after approval from the bank examiners.
“We wanted to grow,” Johnston said. “We wanted to offer our services to the community. There was no credit union here in town where people could join.”
Johnston said the change made Artesia Credit Union the first credit union in Artesia open to community members.
Small-town service
Johnston said small-town banking has always been personal. It means knowing members, understanding their families, and helping them reach their goals.
It also means giving people a local place to finance the things that shape their lives, including homes and vehicles.
“People are looking for somebody who will take care of them, take an interest in them and understand their families and their needs,” Johnston said.
The philosophy is simple; he said, “It is the golden rule: treat people the way you would want to be treated.”
Owned by members
Johnston said many people think a credit union and a bank are the same. The key difference, he said, is ownership. Artesia Credit Union is owned by its members and governed by a five-member board of directors.
“They (Board of Directors) have been very supportive all these years,” Johnston said. “Some of them have been on the board as long as I have been here. The board works for nothing; they don’t get paid a dime.”
The board sets policy, Johnston said. His role is to carry it out.
Growth and succession
When Johnston took over, the credit union had about $5 million in assets. Today, Johnston said, it has $172 million in assets, making it the largest credit union in southeastern New Mexico.
Johnston said the credit union has grown to 21 employees and continues to support the community, including local athletic teams.
Johnston said he expects to retire within the next five years. He said a succession plan is in place but did not name who would succeed him.
For young people interested in banking, Johnston said the path can begin as a teller.
“I would tell them to be honest,” Johnston said. “Do a good job and be committed to your institution. I think you can rise up from teller.”
His advice for young people managing their own finances is direct: Be careful with money, save when possible, borrow only when needed, and pay your bills on time.
Faith, family, and work
Johnston graduated from Artesia High School in 1972 and from Eastern New Mexico University in 1978 with a degree in social studies. From the age of 15, he began working and hasn’t taken a break since, he stated.
He attends Faith Baptist Church, where he plays the organ. Married for 49 years, he and his wife, Tammy Johnston, will celebrate their 50th anniversary in November.
The couple has three children: Leslie Johnston, 44; and twin sons Stuart Johnston, 39, an executive vice president at Artesia Credit Union, and Stephen Johnston, 39, head football coach at Los Lunas.
Johnston never played football at Artesia High School, but he was in the band and played the French horn. This year, he said, he has a special interest in the Bulldogs because his grandson, Lucas Atkins, a quarterback, is part of the football team.
Doing right by people
After more than three decades at Artesia Credit Union, Johnston said he hopes members remember him for more than loans, assets, or growth.
“I want people to feel like I was interested in their well-being,” Johnston said. “That I took good care of them.”
JT Keith can be reached at 575-420-0061 or on X at @JTKEITH1.