CUNA-League engagement by the numbers

The American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) released a survey this week highlighting the deep engagement between Leagues and credit unions across the country. In 2021, the Leagues:

• Connected 12,419 credit union advocates with policymakers through 2,567 meetings, tracked 5,281 state bills, authored 313 comment letters, and impacted 597 pieces of legislation.?
• Hosted 2,873 events featuring 2,356 subject matter experts for 70,821 attendees.?
• Secured 363 earned media interviews and 62 letters to the editor and op-eds to influence the conversation around financial well-being for all.

These are the kind of numbers that lead to bipartisan successes like the removal of expanded Internal Revenue Service reporting requirements and the credit union modernization bills, despite the increasing gridlock in Washington.

Thank you to Leagues for putting the credit union difference front and center and to credit unions for leveraging the dedication, talent, and expertise possible only within the CUNA-League system.

Credit union leaders support Ukraine

Credit unions continue to?support Ukraine as this devastating invasion continues. This week, American Heritage Credit Union President/CEO Bruce Foulke joined retired World Council of Credit Unions President/CEO Brian Branch on a humanitarian trip to meet with Polish and Ukrainian credit union leaders in Europe. Fifteen Oregon credit unions are raising funds for organizations providing direct aid to Ukraine.?Connecticut credit unions collected medical supplies to assist refugees. CUNA Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Donovan appeared on BIGcast this week to discuss the Ukrainian Ambassador’s address to the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) and what’s happened since then. We encourage those who can support the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine to donate to the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund, which is providing immediate relief in the region. To all the credit unions around the world supporting these efforts: thank you.

Donate here >

Dan Schline appointed to AACUL board

Congratulations to Carolinas Credit Union League President/CEO Dan Schline for his appointment to the AACUL board. AACUL Board Chair Jeff Olson said it best: Dan is a thoughtful, engaged, experienced leader, and we’re thankful to have his leadership on the board.

Read more here >

February Economic Update video available

In the latest CUNA Economic Update, Chief Economist Mike Schenk and Senior Economists Dawit Kebede and Ligia Vado provide a detailed look at everything from our new dataset to the latest economic forecast. They also discuss why data is an increasingly vital part of our advocacy efforts.

Watch the video here >

Issue brief details credit unions’ DEI progress

We released an issue brief this week showing the progress credit unions have made over the last two years in their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) journey. We found that 60% of credit unions are focused on DEI in 2021 (up from 37% in 2019), and 80% of credit union members now belong to a credit union focused on DEI. It’s a great look at where we stand as a movement, and where there’s room to improve.

Read the brief here >

Registration open for CUFinHealth?22

Registration is now open for CUFinHealth?22. Explore your credit union’s role in improving financial well-being and learn from credit union industry leaders about what works and how to measure it. The conference is in San Antonio, Texas, April 25 to 27.

More information here >

360-degree advocacy

• President Biden signed the Credit Union Governance Modernization Act into law as part of the omnibus appropriations bill.
• We responded to a banking trade letter to Congress, noting that the Expanding Financial Access for Underserved Communities Act would allow credit unions to reach places banks have left behind.
• Credit Union League of Connecticut President Bruce Adams spoke to Business Insider about credit union remittances.
• I met with Ginnie Mae President Alanna McCargo this week, along with CUNA staff, to discuss credit union priorities and our mutual goals.
• We wrote in opposition to legislation that would effectively ban arbitration provisions, as we believe it would remove a cost-effective, fair alternative to costly litigation for consumers in some circumstances.?
• We wrote to a House committee in support of two bills to help credit unions sustain and grow small businesses.
• We wrote to a House Small Business subcommittee on how credit unions served small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program.
• We expressed our support to help seniors avoid financial exploitation in a letter to the Senate Special Committee on Aging.