The American Financial Services Association recently held its 2018 Independents Conference & Exposition in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., an event that brings together institutions that oftentimes offer auto financing as well as other types of personal loans.

AFSA handed out its Outstanding Independent Award; an honor that went to Patrick St. Charles III, who is president and chief executive officer of Citizens Savings & Loan Corp. in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Outstanding Independent Award is given to an individual who has contributed significantly to the success of the financial services industry and the AFSA Independents Section through active involvement and participation in the community and the association. The award was presented by John Holden, chairman of Pioneer/Mariner Group in Cleveland, Tenn., the 1995 Outstanding Independent Award recipient.

St. Charles was elected to the Citizen’s Board in 1979, appointed Treasurer in 1992, CEO in 2003 and president in 2009. Citizens has been a member of AFSA since 1972. He has been actively involved in AFSA and the Independents Section for 25 years and currently serves on the AFSA Executive Committee and Board of Directors. He is also a strong supporter of the AFSAPAC and served on the Independents Section Board from 2011-2014.

In 2015, St. Charles testified for AFSA in front of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection and the Small Business Administration. He explained how the bureau’s small-dollar rule would hurt traditional installment lenders, particularly smaller lenders, and their customers.

St. Charles is also involved at the state level. He is a member of the Tennessee Consumer Finance Association, serving as president in 2014.