Helen Godfrey Smith has found a career that allows the best of her strengths and ideas to be implemented and grow. As President/CEO of Shreveport Federal Credit Union, Godfrey Smith has grown the company to unimagined success, and has used that position to better the local and regional communities. It is her passion that every citizen has the opportunity to become successful. Godfrey Smith received her double majors in Chemistry and Mathematics at the Huston-Tillotson College in Austin, TX in 1971. She joined Shreveport Federal as President/CEO in 1983, becoming a trailblazer for women in the local banking industry. In her tenure as CEO, Godfrey Smith has grown Shreveport Federal Credit Union from less than $2 million in assets to over $100 million today. Shreveport Federal Credit Union is a CDCU (Community Development Credit Union) and a certified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) with eight full service branches in Louisiana and Mississippi. There are three branches in Shreveport, one in Grambling, one in Bastrop in Louisiana; Clarksdale, Batesville and Marks in Mississippi. While all of the branches offer complete banking services, the Shreveport location on Jewella Avenue and the Marks, MS branch feature full service Financial Empowerment Centers. These centers offer financial training services to members, providing them with tools and resources to manage their money and build wealth. The centers also supply training for children in financial literacy, giving the next generations a head start in financial wisdom and planning. Both facilities offer guidance for small businesses, teaching the ins and outs of the “books” side of their business. Small business owners can learn how to make money and how to keep money through training in record keeping, tax filing, marketing strategy, and more. Godfrey Smith says, “Our goal is to help everyone in our community have access to affordable credit through prudent management. We find ways to help the people that others turn away.” Shreveport Federal Credit Union prioritizes partnering with the city and the community. The partnership with the City of Shreveport produced the Shreveport Business and Financial Empowerment Center located at the Jewella Avenue branch. Shreveport Federal also contributes time and financial support to many organizations around the city. Through the leadership of Godfrey Smith, the Shreveport Federal leadership team visits schools and various organizations to teach financial planning.
The credit union also offers seminars on identity theft and how to avoid scams in addition to investment training for seniors. Shreveport Federal focuses resources to help youths through their “Teens Headed for Excellence” club.
Banking is not the only place Godfrey Smith is blazing trails. In August 2013, she was ordained as Senior Pastor of the Greater ProVision Christian Church in Shreveport.
Godfrey Smith is also personally involved in community organizations – she is the 2014 Chair of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Committee of 100, the Southern University Shreveport Foundation, the Grambling State University Foundation and a member of the North Caddo Hospital Foundation, which is currently building a new hospital in North Caddo Parish. She says, “These boards and committees are working to increase the quality of life for people in our community.” Godfrey Smith has received several recognitions, including Credit Union Times National Credit Union Trailblazer Award; inducted into the Louisiana Credit Union League’s Hall of Fame; Lifetime Achievement Award from the African American Credit Union Coalition; Cooperative of the Year for Shreveport Federal by Alcorn State University in Mississippi and many others. Shreveport Federal Credit Union continues to grow under Godfrey Smith’s leadership. What’s next for Shreveport Federal? A possible credit union branch located in Monroe, Louisiana. The recent hiring of a new project manager for the Empowerment Center in Shreveport, will help to expand small businesses and increase employment opportunities . The FEC is working with local small businesses and is providing services through the business incubators. Shreveport Federal plans to find local partners to implement a Healthy Food program similar to the one founded in Mississippi, which would include community farming. Godfrey Smith says, “I love our philosophy as a credit union – ‘People Helping People’. I am so proud that our board of directors is strongly committed to the empowerment of people.” Godfrey Smith has truly found a perfect fit in her roles as President/CEO of Shreveport Federal Credit Union, Senior Pastor of Greater ProVision Christian Church … and a community leader. But she says her life in not separated by business, church and community involvement and everything she does adds up to being the Glory to God.
