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Faye Nabhani
President and CEO, SAFE Credit Union
Some people seem destined for certain careers, and for Faye Nabhani, president and CEO of SAFE Credit Union, the signs were there early on.
“For my 13th birthday, I got a desk and one of those green banker’s lamps,” she says with a laugh. “I didn’t get a cooking set, right? I was always good at organizing and planning — it was just how my brain worked. I think my family realized who I was and helped nurture that.” The rest, she says, was just following her instincts.
Fast forward to today, and that foresight has paid off. After more than 20 years at KeyPoint Credit Union in Santa Clara, Nabhani joined SAFE Credit Union in 2016 as executive vice president and chief credit officer, overseeing their lending programs. In January 2023, she became the first female president and CEO in its 85-year history. “I’m really excited this year about where we are as an organization,” she says.
Nabhani’s vision for SAFE has focused on enhancing member services, improving technology and strengthening community ties — all underpinned by her passion for the mission of credit unions. “We’re starting to be able to do some of the things that are really at the heart of what credit unions do and about why I’ve committed, well, my life really to this industry and to the people that we serve.”
A California native, Nabhani was born in Southern California and raised in the Bay Area, where she earned a degree in leadership and organizational studies from Saint Mary’s College of California. Entering the typically male-dominated financial industry, she experienced some bias early in her career. “I think it’s less of an issue in today’s era than when I first started,” she reflects. “I would walk into a room, and they’d try to give me their coffee order.” In response, she worked twice as hard to learn about her field and develop her expertise so there was no doubt she belonged in the room. “I made sure I knew what I needed to know to compete in that space,” she says.
Rising through the ranks as a single mother of two has taught her invaluable lessons. To be a strong leader, Nabhani believes it’s important to be self-aware and recognize one’s strengths. “Then find people around you who can help fill in the gaps. No one person has all the answers, so diversity of thought is extremely important.”
“We’re starting to be able to do some of the things that are really at the heart of what credit unions do and about why I’ve committed, well, my life really to this industry and to the people that we serve.”
Going back to her own history of trying to find her place in a space she loved but didn’t always feel accepted in, Nabhani is passionate about empowering young women in STEM who might not have considered it as a viable career path. SAFE, she explains, has its roots in the Air Force. They’ve been a supporter of the Aerospace Museum of California in McClellan Business Park from day one, she says, where they offer a range of youth-focused programs and interactive exhibits to inspire girls to pursue STEM careers. “It’s fantastic to watch that space thrive,” she says.
On the board for the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, she’s excited about the continued growth in the Sacramento region. “And I’m excited to be part of some of those early conversations as it continues to prosper.”
View the list of honorees from 2015 through 2025.
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