About

Here at Direct Federal, we don't have customers, we have members. People who understand the importance and impact of a great rate, expect free and easy access to their accounts, and appreciate the little things that go into great service. Sure, we're federally insured. But more importantly, we're totally committed. Read on to learn more about our mission, history, leadership team, and more.

A couple sitting on a couch looking at a smartphone

Two Direct Federal members holding a football outside of Needham, Massachusetts branch

Group of Direct Federal employees celebrating pride month

Direct Federal employee handing a check to a community partner

A Legacy of Dependability

Starting as a local lender in 1953, Direct Federal has served hundreds of thousands of satisfied members over the years—earning a reputation as one of the most dependable banking partners in New England.

Eligibility

Membership of Direct Federal is open to anyone who lives, works (or regularly conducts business in), worships, or attends school in Norfolk or Middlesex Counties; or has an immediate family member that fulfills one of those requirements.

Not-for-Profit

Direct Federal is a not-for-profit, so any earnings are invested right back into the credit union and passed on to members in the form of lower loan rates and higher deposit rates.

our team

Senior Leadership

Meet our senior team, united by a common purpose: to brighten your financial journey, create lasting connections, and make a meaningful impact.

With over three decades of experience at Direct, Joe started as Vice President of Operations, rose to Senior Vice President of Lending, and now serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer. Joe's primary focus is ensuring that our team remains dedicated to our mission: offering members great rates, remarkable service, and easy access.

Joe Walsh

President & Chief Executive Officer

Michael has been with Direct since October 2014. He's passionate about the Credit Union’s progressive direction and unwavering dedication to its members. With over 20 years of experience in financial services before joining Direct, Michael brings a wealth of expertise. His mission is to spread the word about Direct's unique value to the community.

Michael Ferreer

SVP, Chief Member Officer

Andrew joined the Direct team in 2020, bringing over 15 years of invaluable industry experience to the table. He is on a mission to ensure our operations run seamlessly and that we're constantly enhancing our processes to provide our members with the most remarkable experience possible. In his free time, you can often find him behind the drums.

Andrew Gabriel

SVP, Chief Operating Officer

Meet Amy, our lending expert at Direct Federal. She joined us in February 2016, bringing over 30 years of experience in residential and commercial lending. Amy wears many hats here, overseeing mortgage, auto, and home equity loan originations and underwriting, all while helping us build Direct Federal's loan offerings.

Amy I. Horan

SVP, Chief Lending Officer

Kristen leads a dynamic team responsible for culture, human resources, training, development, marketing, public relations, community relations, and financial literacy. With a background in marketing, Kristen has been part of the Direct Federal family since 2016, earning numerous industry and internal awards along the way.

Kristen Johnson

SVP, Brand Experience

As CFO, Jeff's responsibilities span accounting, finance, investments, audits, budgeting, asset/liability management, and ensuring the security of our corporate facilities. With 15 years of experience at Direct, Jeff is fiercely passionate about securing the long-term financial well-being of our Credit Union and its members.

Jeff Rocha

SVP, Chief Financial Officer

Jim oversees aspects of our security program, including managing our fraud prevention efforts. With over 28 years of dedicated service to the Credit Union, Jim has worn many hats throughout his career here. Outside the office, Jim enjoys mountain biking and spending quality time with his family, including his wife, son, step-daughter, and father.

Jim Webber

VP, Enterprise Security and Fraud Management

careers

Working at Direct Federal Credit Union

Join a passionate team that celebrates everyone’s unique experiences and contributions, and recognizes the importance of work/life balance. Explore a rewarding career with exciting challenges, exceptional people, and excellent benefits.

Student Loan Pay-Down Program
Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
Generous Paid Vacation, Sick, and Personal Days.

Learn More About Careers

The Direct Promise

We are Direct Federal, a highly aligned team that unfailingly exhibits our core values of Drive, Integrity, Resilience, Engagement, Competence, and Teamwork. We view all work from our members’ point of view so as to continually increase value and eliminate waste. We focus our ideas, talent, and effort on delivering great rates to save our members money, easy access to save our members time, and remarkable service to preserve our members’ peace of mind. We do all of this to earn the privilege of being the life-long, trusted partner of more and more members as they pursue their dreams.

community

Direct Giving: Empowering Positive Change

At Direct Federal, we’re dedicated to creating positive change in the community through our DirectGiving program. Beyond financial support, this initiative looks to make a deeper, more meaningful impact by focusing on education, health, hunger relief, social justice, and more.

Volunteerism. Credit unions are founded on the philosophy of “People Helping People”, and we make sure our employees have every opportunity to volunteer their time in the community.
Promoting Financial Capability through Education. We believe in financial empowerment through education. Our resources include budgeting workshops and personalized financial guidance to help people make informed decisions and build more secure futures.
Support for Community Non-Profit Organizations. From monetary donations to scholarships, we’re proud to support a wide range of local 501(c)(3) organizations primarily focused on Education, Health, Hunger Relief, and Social Justice.

Learn More

diversity and inclusivity