Last updated 5/14/2026Kim Sponem has been CEO/President of Summit Credit Union, Wisconsin’s largest credit union, since 2002. She has led Summit’s growth from $200 million in assets to over $8.4 billion with more than 279,360 members. A renowned thought leader, Sponem paved the way for addressing challenges through innovative programs, including Summit’s Equity in Money initiative, which addresses the many factors that contribute to a retirement savings gap among women.

Under Sponem’s leadership and background in consumer behavior and marketing, Summit Credit Union is known nationally for its commitment to helping women and their families build financial security. Summit is the number one mortgage lender in Wisconsin, and the number one provider of Small Business Administration loans among credit unions in the state for more than a decade. Their branch network has expanded from four locations to over 58 across Wisconsin, including four in Madison high schools and one charter middle school.

Sponem’s commitment to financial education and workplace culture has led Summit to win four Governor’s Financial Literacy Awards, including the Legacy Award, and to be recognized as a Top Workplace and Best Place to Work in the Madison area, Milwaukee and the USA. Summit is locally, nationally and internationally recognized with ratings such as “best financial,” including the Forbes 2025 best-in-state credit union, Newsweek’s 2026 Best Regional Credit Unions and a BauerFinancial five-star rating. In 2025, Summit was named Large Business of the Year by In Business magazine.

Sponem has been inducted into America’s Credit Union Museum and the CUES Hall of Fame. In 2024, Sponem was recognized by the Wisconsin Credit Union League Foundation as a Legend of the Movement for her service, commitment and impact on the credit union movement.

In 2025, she was named a Wisconsin 275 leader by BizTimes Media and a Notable Credit Union Leader in 2025 from BizTimes Milwaukee. In 2024, she was recognized as Cornerstone Advisors’ GonzoBanker of the Year for credit unions. In Business Magazine named Sponem a Power 100 Leader in 2025 and 2024, one of Madison’s 25 Most Influential People, recognized her with the Best of Business award and named her a 40 under 40 Alumni award recipient. Madison Magazine awarded her the Brian Howell Excellence in Innovation Award in innovative financial education. Sponem has received the Wisconsin Idea Alumni Award from UW-Madison School of Human Ecology (SoHE), the Edgewood College Alumni Award for Ethical Leadership and Outstanding Community Service as well as the Cooperative Builder Award from the Cooperative Network.

Sponem serves on several boards including the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce as treasurer and past chair, TruStage Insurance, Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS) Corporation as vice chair and the United Way of Dane County. She proudly served as the chair of the 2025 United Way Campaign for Dane County.

Recent prior board service includes Society Insurance, Origence, the Advisory Board of the Chicago Federal Reserve (CDIAC), Chair of Corporate Central Credit Union, Chair of CUES (Credit Union Executive Society), Chair of America’s Credit Unions World Affairs Committee and the World Council of Credit Union Foundation.

In 2018, Sponem was selected by America’s Credit Unions (CUNA at the time) to testify before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit in a hearing about the importance of data security.

She champions Summit’s and others’ support of Black-led initiatives like the Center for Black Excellence and Culture, the Black Business Hub, Boys & Girls Club teens trade school (McKenzie Center), One City Schools as well as Centro (Dane County) to create better and more vibrant communities. She is also a committed champion that women and people of color secure board positions.

Sponem earned a B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Consumer Behavior and MBA from Edgewood College. She has over 35 years of financial sector experience.Mail:
Summit Credit Union CEO/President
P.O. Box 8046
Madison, WI 53708-8046