Here’s something you don’t see every day: Black Hills Federal Credit Union just launched Black Hills Trust Company, LLC—and it’s officially the first Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) trust company in South Dakota.
Think of it as the credit union’s way of leveling up from helping you manage your checking account to helping you manage your entire legacy.
This isn’t just a new department with a fancy name. BH Trust is built to handle the serious stuff—trust administration, estate management, court-appointed fiduciary roles like conservatorships, and various agency and custodial services. The team behind it? South Dakota-based professionals with credentials longer than a CVS receipt and decades of combined experience in fiduciary work.
More Than Just Another Financial Service
Black Hills FCU has been operating under an “Improving Lives” mission for years, and this move pushes that philosophy into new territory. BH Trust exists to give people and families what they’re really looking for when planning their estates: clarity, confidence, and the assurance that things will actually work out the way they’re supposed to.
Here’s the interesting part—while BH Trust grew out of the credit union, you don’t need to be a member to use their services. They built it to serve anyone navigating those big financial life transitions, whether you’ve been banking with BHFCU for decades or you’ve never walked through their doors. It’s fiduciary support without the velvet rope.
And unlike trust companies that operate from some distant corporate tower, BH Trust keeps everything local. Trust administration, legal oversight, audit readiness, compliance—it all happens under South Dakota governance and within the state’s legal framework. Local roots, local leadership, local accountability. The whole operation stays right here.
Meet the People Actually Running the Show
Leading BH Trust is Alexa Stulken, CTFA®, AFIM®, who holds the title of Chief Wealth & Trust Officer along with 26 years of professional experience and over a decade focused specifically on fiduciary leadership. Her reputation centers on principled oversight, making complicated things understandable, and genuinely caring about the families she works with.
She’s backed by a solid team: Lori Burmeister as Wealth & Trust Officer, Kelsey Halderman as Wealth & Trust Relationship Administrator, and Cara Thoma as Wealth & Trust Operations Administrator. All bring serious backgrounds in trust administration, documentation precision, and client care—the kind of expertise you want when dealing with matters this important.
Playing Nice With Your Other Advisors
One thing BH Trust made clear from day one: they’re not here to elbow out your attorney, CPA, or investment advisor. They designed their approach to work alongside these professionals, not replace them. The goal is executing your estate plan exactly as you and your advisors designed it, with clean coordination and respect for everyone’s role.
Frank Bettmann, Chief Risk Officer & General Counsel at Black Hills FCU, put it this way: “Today marks an important milestone for our organization and the communities we serve. Black Hills Trust Company extends our mission of Improving Lives into fiduciary stewardship, honoring intent, protecting legacy, and supporting families for generations to come.”
Alexa Stulken added her perspective: “Whether you’re navigating the estate planning process, refining wealth directives, or exploring legacy options, we’re here to simplify the complex and offer lasting peace of mind, every step of the way.”
Translation? If estate planning feels like trying to read legal documents in the dark, BH Trust is here to turn the lights on—and stick around to help you understand what you’re looking at.
Related:
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BHFCU Supports Student Success with $45k in Donations