Employee Spotlight
A branch manager is a critical figure, particularly within a community lending environment. Because every community has unique financial needs from an individual, family, and small business perspective, this bank leader’s on-the-ground vantage point is invaluable.
Heather Hart is the branch manager for Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union’s (MHV) Rhinebeck branch, located at 6567 Spring Brook Avenue. A self-described “foodie,” you might catch her at one of the town’s farm-to-table restaurants. However, her main interest is connecting Rhinebeck’s 7,610 residents to financial products and services that can help them meet their goals and navigate challenges.
Road to MHV
Heather moved to the Saugerties as a teenager, so for her, the Hudson Valley is home. After several years as a visual merchandiser at clothing retailer H&M, she moved into banking. “I started with Citizens Bank,” she recalls, “and got a good foundation there in terms of training and sales, but I really fell in love with community banking.”
In 2016, while serving as a branch manager at a community bank in the Hudson Valley, she completed Leadership Ulster, an intensive leadership development program whose participants have been identified as emerging leaders.
Leadership Lens
Now, several months into her role at MHV, Heather’s responsibilities include sales, compliance, staff development, and staying abreast of the needs and concerns of Rhinebeck residents. She considers herself a “servant leader,” and sees accountability, availability, and feedback as key characteristics of her leadership style.
“I wouldn’t ask them to do anything I wouldn’t do myself,” she says regarding her five-person team. “You really have to get to know your team and what motivates them–and just be human at the end of the day.” With this leadership approach firmly in place, Heather hopes to help guide her staff in their own careers. Total assets in federally insured U.S. credit unions rose by 3.4 percent, to approximately $2.4 trillion as of late 2025, according to the National Credit Union Association. So in this growing part of the financial sector, solid career guidance can lead to golden opportunities.
Community Connection
Family takes up a large portion of Heather’s downtime–she’s married, with a two-year old son. In addition, she enjoys all that the area has to offer from a natural beauty standpoint. One example she mentions is hiking at Rhinebeck’s Ferncliff Forest, a 200-acre nature preserve that includes 12 miles of trails.
Circling back to her self-identification as a servant leader, though, “downtime” also includes getting to know Rhinebeck residents and businesses and hearing from them what’s top-of-mind. Whether you need a business line of credit to offset the ebb and flow of tourists during the slower months; want to streamline paying vendors; or are looking for a partner to help grow your business, Heather is ready to help and she’s excited to brainstorm answers to these needs and more.
Looking Forward
As she settles into her role, Heather is also eager to identify board and volunteer opportunities. “I’m passionate about financial literacy, given that I didn’t grow up in the most income-stable home,” she says. MHV will be a great fit, considering its firm commitment to financial literacy, Community Partnerships and the variety of online resources it makes available. Her other areas of interest include running and animal welfare – especially spending time with her rescue dog, Bowie.
If you have a question for Heather about MHV’s products or services or would like to share your favorite farm-to-table spot, she looks forward to talking with you.