Landmark Credit Union CEO Timothy Mackay details expansion strategy

Timothy Mackay describes a multi-pronged, acquisition-led regional growth strategy focused on deepening Landmark Credit Union’s presence in key Wisconsin markets and selected Illinois communities, leveraging indirect lending strengths and bolt-on bank/branch deals to add deposits, loans, and full-service member access.

Core elements of the strategy
Use targeted acquisitions, not large mergers. Landmark is buying specific banks and branches (e.g., American National Bank–Fox Cities in Northeast Wisconsin and a North Shore Bank branch in McHenry, Illinois) to add roughly hundreds of millions in assets and tens of millions in deposits while controlling integration risk.

Follow existing indirect lending demand. Mackay emphasizes that Landmark already has strong indirect lending activity in areas like McHenry County and Northeast Wisconsin, and is now adding branches to convert those borrower relationships into broader primary banking relationships.

Build out strategic geographies. The Fox Cities deal is framed as deepening a long-term commitment to Northeast Wisconsin, while the Illinois branch deal extends Landmark’s reach in markets where it already serves consumers through lending but lacks full-service retail presence.

Prioritize deposits and full relationships. The bank and branch acquisitions bring in established deposits and local teams, which Mackay views as critical for funding growth and increasing member retention and profitability over time.

Maintain “people helping people” positioning. Mackay repeatedly ties the expansion to Landmark’s cooperative mission, stressing local teams, continuity for acquired customers, and cultural fit as criteria for “the right” acquisitions.

How Mackay frames “the right” deals
Aligned with priority geographies (Northeast Wisconsin, Illinois communities where Landmark already has meaningful activity).

Add scale in key business lines and/or deposits rather than just raw asset size.

Come with existing customer relationships and staff that can be folded into the Landmark platform with limited disruption.

Leadership lens
Mackay was selected specifically for a track record of exceeding growth objectives, running integrations, and using technology to improve efficiency and product delivery, and he presents this expansion as an early execution of that mandate.

He positions the current deals as part of a longer-term, disciplined regional build-out rather than a one-off push, signaling an ongoing pipeline of similar opportunities if they fit Landmark’s geographic and strategic filters.