Andy Cox named credit union president, CEO

By Jessica Brodie

COLUMBIA—It’s official: as of April 1, Andy Cox is now the president and chief executive officer of the South Carolina Methodist Conference Credit Union—again.

Cox, a member of Chapin UMC, Chapin, who has served as the credit union’s acting president since July, fills the position vacated by the Rev. Rex Wilson, who retired in June after 14 years of service.

Cox served the credit union from 1998 to 2007, when he left to serve at Epworth Children’s Home, then went to The Oaks retirement community in 2012, becoming chief executive officer in 2015. The Oaks had been a United Methodist-affiliated senior-living home until last spring, when long-term financial issues prompted its sale to a for-profit company.

The first part of that sale was completed last March, and Cox stayed on part-time at The Oaks as CEO and president until this spring, when the second part of The Oaks’ sale—that of The PACE, Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly—was completed. That sale was final March 1.

“It’s been an interesting journey, and I’m really excited about it,” Cox told the Advocate. “As I told the board at our last meeting, I joined the credit union when I was a young teenager. My dad had been a member, I got my first car loan here and … I have a long history with the credit union and really appreciate what the credit union is and what it does for its members. I really like the cooperative spirit that really is the hallmark of credit unions.”

Credit union Board Chair the Rev. Roger M. Gramling said Cox’s official return as president “is a gold letter day for the Credit Union.”

“We are pleased beyond words to have Andy back as president, and we look forward to the leadership which his many years of experience and expertise offers for the future of the Credit Union,” Gramling said.

The credit union offers savings; certificate products; car, personal and church loans; and other services to its members across South Carolina. Under Wilson’s leadership, the credit union’s membership expanded from pastors and conference-affiliated employees to anyone who is a member of any United Methodist church in South Carolina.

Cox, the son of the Rev. and Mrs. Albert L. Cox of the South Carolina Conference, is married to De Anna, and they have one son, Tal.

Cox is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in management with honors. Prior to coming to the credit union in 1998, he was employed by the Fort Jackson Federal Credit Union (now Allsouth) and the South Carolina Federal Credit Union.

He has also been employed by Citizens and Southern National Bank and First Citizens Bank.