A husband and wife who each ran Richmond-based credit unions have stepped down.

The unique couple is Shirley Cooper and Randy N. Cooper.

Mrs. Cooper retired as the president and chief executive officer of the Credit Union of Richmond during the summer, while Mr. Cooper recently ended his tenure as president and CEO of the Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union.

“It’s been a great adventure,” Mr. Cooper said, “but now it’s time to let someone else take the reins.”

Rising through the ranks, Mrs. Cooper became the first African-American woman to lead the member-owned financial institution that was launched 100 years ago as the state-chartered Richmond Postal Credit Union and ranks as the first credit union in the Richmond area.

During her tenure, Mrs. Cooper led the re-branding to the Credit Union of Richmond and also secured state approval to expand the service area from the city to the entire metropolitan area, allowing anyone who works in the city or adjoining counties to become a member.

She apparently still serves on the credit union’s board and was listed as treasurer in December by the State Corporation Commission, which regulates the Credit Union of Richmond.

Mr. Cooper had held the top executive posts at member-owned Richmond Heritage since late 2016 after holding leadership posts at other banks.

During his tenure, Mr. Cooper added home mortgages to the loan offerings and used parades and trolley rides to call attention to the last Black-organized and managed financial institution in the Richmond area and the oldest continuously operated Black financial institution in the state.

A group of Black teachers secured a federal charter for the Richmond Teachers Federal Credit Union in April 1936 to serve public school educators and Virginia Union University professors.

Long based in Jackson Ward, the credit union was rebranded under its current name in 1992 after it expanded to include employees of Richmond Community Hospital.

The credit union temporarily relocated to Willow Lawn in 1992 and moved several years later to its current location at 50 W. Commerce Road in South Side.