Caroline Njau Joins AHCU’s Board of Directors; Candice Washington appointed Vice Chair

WOODBURY, Minn. — May 20, 2026 — At the Annual Meeting of Associated Healthcare Credit Union (AHCU), on April 30, the organization’s membership approved Caroline Njau, MBA, BSN-RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer & Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services at Children’s Minnesota— to AHCU’s Board of Directors.At the same meeting, Candice Washington, MBA, Director Operations Allina Health- Abbott Northwestern Hospital was elevated to Vice Chair of AHCU’s Board.

Njau and Washington join the 2026 AHCU’s volunteer board as the credit union continues to expand its impact across Minnesota’s healthcare community through innovative financial solutions, strategic partnerships and continued organizational growth. They will each serve a three-year term.

“Caroline and Candice bring valuable healthcare leadership experience, a strong commitment to community and a deep understanding of the challenges their teams and other healthcare professionals face,” said Joel Swanson, President and CEO of AHCU. “Their perspectives and passion for serving others align perfectly with AHCU’s mission to support the financial wellness of healthcare workers and their families.”

About Caroline Njau: Caroline Njau, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, has been serving as Children’s Minnesota’s Chief Nursing Officr since 2021. Bringing more than 20 years of nursing leadership experience, Njau is deeply committed to health equity, resiliency, and clinical excellence and has been recognized nationally as a Modern Healthcare Top 25 Emerging Leader.

About Candice Washington: Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s Director of Operations, Candice Washington, MBA, has been honored as a 2021 “Women in Business” by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and brings operational excellence and strategic leadership—along with her service on the AHCU Board—to her role in enhancing patient care and campus development.

AHCU Organizational Highlights: AHCU is a member-owned financial cooperative dedicated to serving the unique needs of healthcare professionals, healthcare employees and their families throughout the Twin Cities and broader 33-county region. In 2025 and early 2026, AHCU surpassed $175 million in assets, welcomed a new CEO, and joined the TriUnity Foundation that provides grants to people facing life-changing medical diagnoses. AHCU continues to expand partnerships with its founding members, Allina Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Children’s Minnesota as well as new partnerships with HCMC, M Health Fairview, Minnesota Nurses Association, Shriners Children’s Twin Cities. AHCU’s Board is chaired by Joe Clubb, MSW, LICSW, Vice President of Operations for Mental Health and Addiction for Allina Health

Earlier this year, AHCU launched a first-of-its-kind adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) program specifically designed for healthcare professionals in the Twin Cities. The new mortgage solution addresses barriers many clinicians face, including student loan debt, contract-based employment and early-career income structures. Key features of the program include:

• No private mortgage insurance (PMI)
• Up to 100% financing for qualified borrowers
• Flexible student loan treatment
• Acceptance of employment contracts for qualifying income
• Loan amounts up to $1.25 million
• Rates typically below comparable fixed-rate products