Detroit’s east side once ran on trust. Folks leaned on each other before any bank would give them a second look. That kind of community-first mindset is what built One Detroit Credit Union. Ninety years later, that foundation still matters. And now, with new leadership in place, the credit union is aligning its next chapter with the same principles that started it.
Stephanie Peoples has been named Chief Operating Officer of One Detroit Credit Union. She brings more than 20 years of experience in financial services and a clear mission—expand access, strengthen internal systems, and build solutions rooted in the financial realities of Black Detroiters.
Peoples steps into this role during a major transition for the credit union. Portia Powell, the organization’s first African American woman CEO, was recently appointed to lead the institution. With both women at the helm, One Detroit is positioning itself for stronger outreach, bolder innovation, and a sharpened commitment to financial equity.
“I was drawn to One Detroit because of its mission. It’s not just about banking. It’s about being present in the community, solving real problems, and changing lives,” said Peoples.
Her words come with weight. At JPMorgan Chase, she spent 21 years holding key leadership positions, including district manager and senior business consultant under the Minority Entrepreneur Program. She worked across Michigan to help small business owners—especially those long shut out of lending pipelines—secure capital and build infrastructure.
Her experience matches what One Detroit stands for. This credit union wasn’t built for people with unlimited wealth. It was built for folks who were overlooked by mainstream institutions. Peoples understands that. Her approach focuses on operational soundness, business lending growth, and stronger partnerships with community educators and nonprofits.
She sees her leadership through five principles: members, employees, processes, productivity, and profitability. She names these as her “People Principles,” but they’re not corporate buzzwords. They’re rooted in structure, discipline, and empathy—traits she brings from years of managing teams and mentoring business owners.
Peoples does not treat community engagement like a side task. It’s central to her role. She plans to expand the credit union’s footprint through programs that reflect actual household needs. That includes promoting financial literacy, supporting youth savings accounts, creating access to consolidation loans, and offering affordable life insurance products.
Peoples said she is especially motivated by opportunities to drive lending solutions and member-focused innovation. That means strengthening the internal systems that serve Detroiters directly—not outsourcing responsibility or masking problems behind corporate language. She is focused on what she calls long-term, high-impact results.
Her arrival was met with confidence by Powell, who leads with her own vision of member-first strategies. “I am thrilled to have Stephanie Peoples as the Chief Operating Officer of One Detroit Credit Union,” Powell said. “She brings an energizing blend of industry knowledge, operational focus, and a true heart for the community. I’m confident her leadership will help us deepen our impact and elevate the member experience.”
Together, Powell and Peoples reflect the kind of leadership Detroit needs—experienced, unapologetic, and rooted in values. This isn’t a symbolic appointment. It’s a deliberate move toward accountability, and a recognition that access to wealth-building tools must be led by those who understand both the barriers and the solutions.
As COO, Peoples will take charge of implementation across the credit union. Her focus includes expanding core services, increasing team performance, and building structures that support institutional growth. Her leadership style blends process with people. She describes herself as a servant leader, a perfectionist, and someone who leads with both structure and empathy.
That approach is critical. Detroit’s financial landscape is still shaped by the consequences of discriminatory lending, redlining, and disinvestment. The gaps are real. The stakes are high. Peoples knows that equity isn’t achieved through one-time workshops or public-facing promises. It takes daily operational decisions that prioritize underserved communities. That’s where her focus will stay.
She isn’t approaching this moment as someone who’s checking boxes. She is bringing her whole leadership identity into a space that demands both clarity and care. Her personal motto, “Be the change you want to see,” echoes her purpose-driven leadership style. She leads with intention. Her efforts reflect a deep understanding of the challenges facing Black households trying to build wealth in a city still navigating systemic inequities.
One Detroit Credit Union’s history stretches back to 1935. It began with city workers pooling funds to help one another buy homes, manage debt, and build savings. That kind of mutual aid approach is still needed now. As the city continues to change, so must the institutions that claim to serve its people. With Peoples stepping into this leadership role, the credit union signals that it’s not coasting on legacy—it’s investing in real change.
The next phase of this work will require more than financial products. It will take outreach that feels real. Programming that meets people where they are. Lending models that don’t penalize people for having been excluded from the financial system. Peoples understands how to build those systems because she’s done it before.
Her track record across Michigan is marked by an emphasis on sustainability—not just startup funding. She focused on entrepreneurs who needed more than capital. They needed mentorship, systems, and access. That same lens will now guide how One Detroit serves its members.
There’s no single solution to economic exclusion. But this leadership shift makes one thing clear—One Detroit is doubling down on the work. Not by waiting for outside forces to dictate change, but by creating change from within.
This is what institutional power looks like when rooted in purpose. It listens before it leads. It builds systems that reflect the needs of real people. It moves with intention—and it stays grounded in service.
As One Detroit Credit Union prepares to mark 90 years, it is not just remembering where it came from. It is re-committing to where it needs to go.
And that road forward now includes a COO who knows how to walk with the people—and work for them, too.