Main St. Branch

Wade Bruendl

EVP/Chief Business Transformation Officer

Mr. Bruendl has been with Meritrust since 1995 and brings more than four decades of experience in the financial services industry. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baker University. In his current role at Meritrust, he oversees data solutions, technological infrastructure, digital solutions, information security, and strategic initiatives. Within the Wichita and Benton communities, he serves on the Board of Air Capital Aviators Club and in committee leadership at Benton Church.

Ken Boteler

EVP/Chief Human Resource Officer

Mr. Boteler has been in the credit union industry for over seven years after a thirty-year military career. He oversees human resources, workforce planning, internal communications, employee engagement, and organizational learning and development. In addition to this, he is a part of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Council. Within the local community, he stays active with local non-profits and chambers.

Jamie Harrison

EVP/Chief Growth Officer

Ms. Harrison has been with Meritrust since 2005 and in the credit union and banking industries for more than 25 years. Ms. Harrison earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wichita State University and her MBA from Newman University, and she is Design-Thinking certified. In her current role at Meritrust, she leads new customer acquisition, member engagement and loyalty programs, deposit growth strategies, product development, digital and member UX strategies, FOM and market expansion strategies, marketing, communication and brand equity initiatives, and community partnership/engagement efforts.

Within the local community she serves on the board for the WSU Widener Global Leadership Program, the WSU Barton School Marketing Advisory Council, the Greater Wichita Partnership Strategy Team, the Tanganyika Wildlife Park Foundation and as a mentor for several community groups.

Jess Howard

EVP/Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Howard joined Meritrust in 2016 and has more than 20 years of experience in various finance and accounting roles. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Western New Mexico University. In his current role, he oversees accounting and finance, financial planning and analysis, asset protection, credit, and internal audit. Within the local community, he stays active with local non-profits and serves in advisory and board capacities as a representative of Meritrust.

Joley Riley

EVP/Chief Banking Officer

Mrs. Riley has been with Meritrust for over four years and has over 25 years of banking experience. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Baker University and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking – University of Wisconsin. In her role at Meritrust, Mrs. Riley oversees all the consumer retail channels, retail branch delivery, contact center interactive teller and virtual branch teams, consumer lending, and real estate. In addition to this, she is a part of Meritrust’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Council.

Carlos Pacheco

Co-CEO

In 2025, following a strategic merger between Meritrust Credit Union and Premier Members Credit Union, Mr. Pacheco assumed the role and is currently serving as Co-CEO at Meritrust. He brings more than 35 years of financial services experience, including serving as CEO/President of Premier Members Credit Union for 14 years. He serves in a variety of leadership roles in both for-profit and not-for-profits financial sectors. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Mr. Pacheco also remains active in the community, serving on the boards of the Better Business Bureau of the Great West & Pacific, Mile High United Way, Impact on Education Boulder, as well as the Board of Directors of Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union. He also dedicates his time and talent to Junior Achievement USA Programs.

James Nastars

Co-CEO

Mr. Nastars served as CEO/President of Meritrust for 12 years and in 2025, following a strategic merger between Meritrust Credit Union and Premier Members Credit Union, assumed the role and is currently serving as Co-CEO at Meritrust. He brings more than 35 years of experience in credit unions and community banking. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Within the Wichita community, he currently serves on the board of Kansas Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Greater Wichita Partnership’s Executive Advisory Board, the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement National Advisory Board as well as the Kansas State University Institute for Personal Financial Planning Advisory Board. Within the credit union industry, Mr. Nastars serves on the Board of CU NextGen Technologies, and as Board Chair of MEMBERS Development Corporation (MDC), the credit union’s research and development consortium.

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