CUNA seeks answers on ADA website rules

CUNA seeks answers/solutions on ADA website rules: I've heard from many of you about an alarming increase in predatory lawsuits alleging that individual credit union websites are inaccessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act. I wrote to all credit unions this week to urge a review of whether your website follows Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0. It's kinda technical, but a good step you can take to check. Nonetheless, the door remains open for lawsuits due to a lack of clear guidance from the Department of Justice. At CUNA's urging, a bipartisan letter is circulating in the House of Representatives calling on the DoJ to issue regulations in what has become a seven-year struggle to see action. We're also working to expand legislation addressing predatory lawsuits under the ADA to include website accessibility concerns. Additional resources can be found here and questions about all this can be sent to [email protected].

We need your involvement to secure TCPA reform: Later today we'll be contacting the broader credit union community asking that credit unions provide comments to the Federal Communications Commission about the impact the flawed TCPA rules are having on your operations. I urge you to do so. The more comments the FCC receives the better. This link has resources to help. Comments are due November 6. Leah Dempsey, CUNA's Senior Director - Advocacy & Counsel is available to answer your questions.

CUNA/Leagues comment on NCUA budget improvements: Presentations from Cooperative Credit Union Association President/CEO Paul Gentile, who chairs CUNA's Examination and Supervision Subcommittee and CUNA Vice President of Research and Policy Analysis Mike Schenk were a focus of NCUA's 2018-2019 budget briefing this week. While expressing general concerns about an overall increase (2.1%), we've concluded that the agency has indeed addressed many of the issues we've raised including a 6% staff reduction, cuts to overhead by closing two regional offices, modernizing its operations, and updating the examination process. 

CUNA CEO Council convenes inaugural conference: I'm grateful to CEO Council Chair Nader Moghaddam and the CEO Council executive committee for the opportunity to speak at their council's inaugural conference this week. I updated the group on our creating credit union awareness initiative, actions CUNA is taking following the Equifax breach, pending TCPA legislation, and the risk of ADA website litigation. Seventy-five CEOs from credit unions ranging from $14 million to $17 billion in asset size shared insights and networked in a free-flowing agenda. 

Four distinguished leaders win 2018 Wegner awards: I'm proud to relay news that the 2018 winners of the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards are; Angel V. Castro, president, Castro y Asociados; Bill Hampel, former chief policy officer, CUNA; Susan Mitchell, CEO, Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates; and Chuck Purvis, president/CEO, Coastal CU, Raleigh, N.C. Congratulations one and all for being recognized for outstanding individual achievements. The Herb Wegner Memorial Awards will be presented at a fundraising gala on Feb. 26, in conjunction with the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.

ICU Day makes an impact on local communities: Credit unions around the world celebrated International Credit Union Day yesterday and made quite an impact on the communities they serve leveraging the theme "Dreams Thrive Here." Searching #ICUDay on Twitter will reveal great examples of activity that's been occurring.

SHOUT OUT: Congratulations to Dan McCue of Alaska USA FCU and the Alaska Credit Union League for his very good op-ed on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) arbitration rule. He rightly points out that CFPB's prohibition of the use of arbitration to resolve disputes isn't appropriate for credit unions given our cooperative business structure. CUNA, through our Campaign for Common-Sense Regulation, continues to push for a vote in the Senate to repeal the CFPB rule. The House passed its resolution to repeal the rule in July.

Thank you for your continued participation in and engagement with the CUNA/League system. If you have any issues you'd like CUNA to address, I encourage you to give me a call directly at 202-508-6745 or email me at [email protected]. 

All the best,  

Jim Nussle 

President and CEO