GoWest Board of Directors Spotlight: Dan Thurman, Frontier Credit Union CEO

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on March 25, 2026

Dan Thurman’s path in the Credit Union Movement is rooted in curiosity, connection, and a deep belief in the power of People Helping People. What began 24 years ago as a role as a loan officer quickly became a lifelong commitment to a movement he now champions as CEO of Frontier Credit Union. Today, his leadership reflects both that early sense of discovery and a seasoned understanding of how credit unions can create lasting impact for members and communities.

A Journey into Leadership and Service

Dan’s involvement with association leadership began in Idaho, where he served on the Idaho League Board first as a young professional (YP) then in an advisory position. As discussions around merging with the Northwest Credit Union Association unfolded, he had a front-row seat to the evolution of a stronger, more unified regional association.

“I was excited about Idaho credit unions joining a best-in-class association,” Dan said. When the opportunity came to serve in a voting capacity, he was honored to step in.

Since then, he has remained actively engaged. “I have been involved ever since then, and I can honestly say it has been a privilege and honor to serve with so many amazing credit union leaders and to work with the world-class association that we are all a part of.”

Driven by Purpose and Impact

Dan’s passion for the Credit Union Movement is deeply personal. “I didn’t even know what a credit union was when I first started,” he said. “But I quickly fell in love with the movement.”

What continues to motivate him is the tangible difference credit unions make in people’s lives.

“I love the Credit Union Movement and all that it does to build better lives for our employees, our members and the communities we serve,” he shared. “It is amazing to me how even in a time when things are becoming more and more digital that credit unions are still finding ways to have meaningful and lasting impacts with our members on an individual basis.”

Advocacy as a Catalyst for Progress

For Dan, advocacy is both a responsibility and an opportunity.

“Advocacy is key to ensuring credit unions have a competitive and modern regulatory environment,” explained Dan, who was honored with GoWest’s 2024 Summit Advocate Award for his commitment and leadership to credit union advocacy. “There has always been a focus from credit unions to defend things like our tax-exempt status. One thing I absolutely love about GoWest is that we aren’t just defensive, but we are pushing to modernize each of our state charters and the federal charter.”

His own advocacy journey began with some uncertainty. “I remember how overwhelming and intimidating it felt at first,” Dan remembered. “The GoWest team provided amazing training, and then they were there right beside us as we began to exercise our advocacy muscles.”

Over time, that experience transformed into confidence and meaningful relationships. Today, Dan engages with elected officials at every level — from local city leadership to state and federal representatives.

“I now consider many of our elected officials friends,” he said. “I’m able to pick up the phone and talk with them when we have an important issue, and I’ve had many of them reach out to me to find out how certain things they were considering would affect credit unions.”

His advice for others looking to get involved is simple and practical: “If you really want to get to know one of your elected officials, volunteer to go knock doors with them, I can promise you it will be valuable and well worth your time.”

Leadership Across the Movement

In addition to his service on the GoWest Board, Dan is actively involved in several key industry groups. He serves on the Idaho Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC), where he has held both Chair and Vice Chair roles. He has also served on the GoWest Foundation Board, participates on the America’s Credit Unions (ACU) Advocacy Committee, and serves on the Painted Hills CUSO board.

In 2025, Dan was inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders. Known as the “epicenter of advocacy,” the Credit Union House’s Hall of Leaders honors those who have made long term, positive impacts on the Credit Union Movement.

His service and recognition reflect a strong commitment to strengthening the credit union movement through advocacy, collaboration, and innovation.

A Lasting Commitment to the Cooperative Spirit

At the heart of Dan’s leadership is a belief in the cooperative spirit that defines credit unions. He sees the movement not only as a financial services model, but as a force for good — one that continues to evolve while staying true to its purpose.

“I’m so proud not only of Frontier Credit Union but the industry as a whole,” he concluded, “and I can’t wait to see how we help everyone in our communities improve their lives.”

Posted in Advocacy, Board of Directors, GoWest Association, Idaho, Leadership, Regional Member News, Top Headlines.