Basel Farhat

Basel Farhat is the Chief Executive Officer of Adirondack Regional Federal Credit Union, appointed to the position in October 2024. With a forward-looking vision and an unwavering commitment to financial integrity, Basel leads the credit union in advancing its mission to deliver exceptional value, innovation, and stability to the members and communities it serves.

Since joining Adirondack Regional FCU in early 2020, Basel has been a catalyst for transformation. As former Vice President of Finance and Risk, he led key initiatives in enterprise risk management, strategic financial planning, and operational efficiency, laying a resilient foundation for long-term growth. Under his leadership, the credit union continues to strengthen its position as a trusted and agile financial institution in an evolving economic landscape.

Basel brings a rare blend of academic excellence and industry credentials. He holds a Master’s Degree in Data Analytics from Clarkson University and a triple major in Accounting, Finance, and Economics from SUNY Plattsburgh. He is a NAFCU Certified Credit Union Compliance Officer and a Certified Credit Union Investment Professional (CUIP), demonstrating his deep knowledge of regulatory frameworks and investment strategy.

His dedication to continuous professional development has been nationally recognized. In 2022, he was awarded the Emerging Credit Union Leader Scholarship to attend the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference, a distinction reserved for rising executives shaping the future of the credit union movement. During his undergraduate career, he was honored with the Roger E. Merriam Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement and the Academic Achievement Award in Accounting.

Basel is also a published researcher, with academic work focusing on the macroeconomic impacts of inflation across African economies. Having spent his formative years living throughout the African continent and traveling to more than ten countries, he brings a truly global perspective to leadership that values cultural intelligence, inclusive growth, and purpose-driven service.

Fluent in French and deeply committed to ethical leadership, Basel is focused on building a modern credit union that is data-informed, community-centered, and relentlessly member-first.

I spent most of my childhood in Africa, and I’ve visited more than 10 countries.

Oui, je parle français!