Charter Oak Promotes Two To Assistant Vice President

Waterford, CT – Charter Oak Federal Credit Union has promoted Sonya Armstrong and Michael Ballirano to Assistant Vice Presidents and Regional Retail Managers of the credit union's expansive branch network in eastern Connecticut.

“Sonya and Michael have extensive experience managing some of our busiest and largest branches and that will serve them well as they take on their new responsibilities managing our regional branch system,” said Brian A. Orenstein, Charter Oak’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Their strong service and sales skills, along with their combined years of experience here at Charter Oak, will benefit our branch teams throughout our 16-branch network,” he said.

Since 2013, Charter Oak has aggressively grown its retail banking network by opening four new branches in strategic locations within New London and Windham counties, creating one of the largest and most convenient branch networks of any financial institution in eastern Connecticut.

Armstrong, who has been with the credit union since 2005, had served as the Branch Officer of Charter Oak’s Dayville, Willimantic and Killingly High School branches. She began her career with Charter Oak as a teller and continued on as a Member Service Representative and Work Leader before being promoted to Branch Manager in April 2008. Armstrong was promoted to Branch Officer in June 2014. She is a graduate of the Credit Union League of Connecticut’s Executive Education Program and is the President of the Eastern Chapter of the Credit Union League of Connecticut. She also serves as the Coordinator of the Eastern Connecticut Financial Reality Fair. In addition, Armstrong serves as Treasurer of the Brooklyn Cub Scout Pack 44 and is a member of the Killingly Business Association.

Ballirano, who joined Charter Oak in 2011, had served as the Branch Officer of the Mohegan Sun Branch. He began his career with Charter Oak as a Member Service Representative and was promoted to Branch Supervisor in September 2012 and then to Branch Manager in December 2013. In 2017, he was promoted to Branch Officer. Ballirano is a graduate of Keene State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management. In addition, he is a graduate of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut’s Leadership Program and serves as Secretary/Treasurer of The Lou Stefanski Foundation, Inc. Ballirano also is the President of the Thames Valley BNI, Chairman of the DeMond Fund, and a member of Young Leaders United, which is affiliated with the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. He currently is attending the Credit Union League of Connecticut’s Executive Education Program.

Charter Oak is eastern Connecticut’s largest credit union with assets of $1.1 billion as of September 30, 2018. For more information about Charter Oak’s range of products and services, please visit any of our convenient branches, or visit our website at CharterOak.org, or call our Contact Center at 860.446.8085 or 800.962.3237. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender.   

Charter Oak Federal Credit Union is like a bank, just better! We've been proudly serving eastern Connecticut since 1939 and we offer great checking, deposit, lending, insurance and investment products. And because we're a credit union, we're owned by our members, not by shareholders. So we can offer lower rates on loans and higher rates on deposits. It's easy to become a Charter Oak member: simply live, work, worship, learn, or volunteer in New London or Windham counties. So join today and see why Members Bank Better at Charter Oak!