Hispanic Heritage Month with JC San Pedro: SVP of Loan Administration at Amplify CU

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month with us! We asked our Hispanic and Latino team members to reflect on their careers, accomplishments, and what Hispanic Heritage month means to them. Throughout September and October, we’ll be highlighting their answers on our blog and social media channels.

This week we’re interviewing JC San Pedro, Senior VP of Loan Administration at Amplify Credit Union. A driven and experienced leader, he produces consistent, goal-supporting results—all while innovating loan administration at Amplify.

JC San Pedro has a formidable 25 years of experience in consumer, mortgage lending, commercial lending, and loan servicing. From operation oversight to foreclosure & bankruptcy in mortgage lending, JC’s career has spanned many roles and responsibilities.

For the past four years, he has overseen Amplify’s loan administration teams, growing the portfolio of loans serviced for others more than 4x, which have added more than $700M of high-quality earning assets to the balance sheets of credit unions around the country.

We asked JC some questions surrounding his career and his thoughts on Hispanic Heritage Month.

Why did you choose your profession?

I grew up in South Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. My mother was in banking and I developed an interest in the profession at a young age. My father was a high school teacher and we belonged to Harlingen Area Teachers’ Credit Union because of his profession. Even though my mom worked at San Benito Bank & Trust, this bank was not our primary financial institution. Our local credit union, a nonprofit cooperative, had lower loan rates and higher savings rates. I went on to work for HATCU (now RGVCU) while I attended college, and moved to Austin after I graduated in 2002. I developed an affinity for credit unions and knew that I wanted to continue to work in the credit union industry because I saw firsthand how we helped members achieve financial success.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love who I work with. We are all working together to improve the financial health of our members all while helping Amplify Credit Union achieve its financial goals. Having our members best interest at heart is what separates us from institutions who only care about profits.

What’s your favorite Mexican restaurant in Austin?

Cisco’s on East 6th.

Tell us about someone Hispanic you look up to and why.

I look up to my grandparents and parents who were migrant workers as kids. Who started every school year late in Texas because they spent their summers picking vegetables, fruits, and cotton in the northern part of the United States.

“So many people before me sacrificed so much so I could have a clear path to being successful.”

So many people before me sacrificed so much so I could have a clear path to being successful.

Do you have a mentor?

I have had a few mentors over the course of my career – Laurie, Erica, Elizabeth, and Fran. One of my most notable mentors was Fran, who passed away last year. I knew her for 15 years. She was a tough Asian American woman who had quite the career in banking – working on Wall Street for Goldman Sachs and later working in London. I met her at a bank I worked at for 11 years. Even after my employment was over, we kept in contact. She taught me not only about asset management, but taught me how to stand up for myself. I can recall a time early on knowing her—she called me after a meeting and asked me if I was a doormat. I said, well of course not, and she said that is what I appeared to be because of the way I allowed someone to talk to me in a meeting – never again. It was then that I learned that we teach people how to treat us.

What do you wish you could tell your younger self?

Believe in yourself. Everything happens for a reason.

Any advice to young Hispanics who want to succeed in your field, industry, or just in general?

Seek out informational interviews with individuals in the respected fields you are interested in. People love telling their stories. Learning about positions (even when there are not current openings) may just help you land a future job at a company you are interested in learning more about.

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?

People work for people. As a manager it’s important to recognize the needs of your employees. Do your best to treat them in the same manner you would want to be treated because if you don’t give them a reason to stay, they will most certainly leave.

How are you breaking barriers faced by Hispanics in your field?

My mother worked at a bank for over 25 years and as a kid I used to visit her at work during the summer break from school. There were pictures hung of the executives at the bank and their promotions were announced in the local newspaper, The San Benito News. I often looked at their pictures and the executives were always the same, much older white men. Not once a woman and especially not a woman that belonged to a minority class.

“The phrase “If you can see it, you can be it” resonates with me today.”

The phrase “If you can see it, you can be it” resonates with me today. At Amplify Credit Union, I have broken a barrier that my mother was never able to overcome. I am able to bring my authentic self to work as a gay Hispanic man. When I’m in a meeting with the other executives and we are talking about spouses, significant others, and our families there is no difference when it’s my turn to speak. I feel seen because there is a sense of diversity and equity here that I know does not exist at all financial institutions.

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

To me it means a time of year to celebrate the contributions, cultures, and histories of American citizens who are of Hispanic descent.

Supporting Our Team

Join us over the next few weeks as we continue to celebrate and highlight more of our team members. We invite you to listen, share, and support them!