Credit Check

Sherod Halliburton's favorite movie is “It's a Wonderful Life,” and the character he molds himself after, of course, is aw-shucks small town businessman George Bailey.

Halliburton admires Bailey's desire to help the community through the town bank. Now Halliburton will play out the fictional movie in real life by leading a transformation of the Manatee Community Federal Credit Union. He was named president of the Bradenton-based lender in July.

Halliburton's ultimate goal: to build a $400 million-asset lender within a decade that serves people and small businesses that banks and big credit unions overlook. Halliburton also aims to boost the credit union's annual profit to $400,000 in two years and $1 million by 2020. The $25.6 million-asset credit union reported a profit of $222,120 in 2013, National Credit Union Administration data show. That's up 55% over $143,414 in 2012.