When you’re hiring someone to lead technology at a credit union that’s been around since the Hoover administration, you need more than just a tech whiz. You need someone who gets that behind every transaction, there’s a real person trying to pay their bills, save for a vacation, or buy their first home.
That’s exactly what Credit Union of Denver found in Bobby Matthis, their newly appointed Chief Technology Officer.
“Throughout the search process, Bobby consistently demonstrated a clear understanding that technology is ultimately about people, our members and the employees who serve them,” says Chris Wallace, President and CEO of Credit Union of Denver. “His experience leading large-scale technology modernization efforts, combined with his collaborative leadership style and personal connection to our community, made him a standout candidate.”
Matthis isn’t just another tech executive parachuting in from somewhere else. The Lakewood native is bringing more than 25 years of credit union technology experience home—over 20 of those years spent in leadership roles. Most recently, he served as Chief Digital Officer for Blue Federal Credit Union, where he’s built a resume that reads like a greatest hits of modern tech leadership: digital strategy, IT operations, cybersecurity, software engineering, business intelligence, AI, and enterprise project delivery.
But here’s what makes this appointment particularly meaningful: Matthis actually grew up in the community that Credit Union of Denver has been serving since 1931.
“That legacy is a responsibility, and my job is to make sure technology strengthens the member relationships this credit union has spent 95 years earning,” Matthis explains. “Technology should adapt to those that we serve, and I’m excited to keep raising the bar together through collaboration.”
If you’re wondering whether Matthis takes his craft seriously, consider this: the guy already has an MBA focused on IT Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Business and IT Management from Western Governors University. And because apparently two master’s degrees aren’t enough, he’s currently pursuing another one in advanced software with an emphasis in AI engineering. Self-described tech geek? That tracks.
On the personal side, Matthis is a Colorado native who met his wife over 20 years ago when they were both credit union peers (talk about a meet-cute for the financial services world). They have four kids and spend their time exploring national parks across the country, with Rocky Mountain National Park holding a special place on their annual rotation.
The search for Credit Union of Denver’s new CTO was conducted by DDJ Myers, and Matthis had some pretty glowing things to say about the experience: “Their process was the most thorough and thoughtful search experience I’ve participated in. They weren’t matching a résumé to a job description, they went deep on fit, values, and what both sides genuinely needed to succeed.”
For a 95-year-old institution looking to modernize while staying true to its community roots, landing a hometown technology leader with both the technical chops and the collaborative mindset seems like the kind of perfect fit that doesn’t come around every day.