Thanks for an amazing CUNA GAC!

I don’t know about you, but there’s something about the days following a successful CUNA GAC. A sense of satisfaction, inspiration, and maybe a little exhaustion.

The most exciting part for me was finally unveiling Financial Well-Being for All, which I believe is the future of the credit union movement. If you attended GAC, you heard about not only the CUNA/League commitment to financial well-being for all, but from credit union leaders who shared their journey with us.

I hope you’ll take this commitment to heart and take a good hard look at what you do every day and commit to ensuring it is working to improve the financial well-being for all whom you serve.

The good news is that’s what credit unions have been doing, what we were created to do. By putting a finer point on it through Financial Well-Being for All, we’re telling the world exactly what the credit union difference means for our members and how it advances the communities we serve.

Thanks again for a tremendous GAC, and I look forward to seeing you in person for the 2022 CUNA GAC, February 27-March 3, if not sooner!

Read the unity statement for America’s Credit Unions >

AACUC inducts five into Hall of Fame

CUNA GAC is a time to celebrate some of the best credit union leaders we have, and this year was no exception. The African-American Credit Union Coalition inducted five individuals into the AACUC Hall of Fame on Monday: Anthony Bailey, Jim Blaine, Gerald Brooks, John Pembroke, and Lynette W. Smith. AACUC Board Chairman Larry Sewell said it best when he called these five “shining examples of professional excellence” in our movement.

Foundation hosts virtual celebration

The National Credit Union Foundation also hosted a virtual 2021 Foundation Celebration in conjunction with CUNA GAC. The virtual fundraising event was an uplifting evening spent with past Wegner Award winners to celebrate the great work credit unions have been doing during the pandemic. Thanks to past Wegner winners Bill Bynum, Diana Dykstra, Larry Blanchard, Lois Kitsch, Maria Martinez, Maurice Smith, Tom Dorety, and The Cooperative Trust for sharing their insights!

America’s Credit Union Museum launches video series

America’s Credit Union Museum has partnered with Cooperative Credit Union Association to capture and produce “Moments in Credit Union History.” These segments, sponsored by CUNA Mutual Group, feature credit union professionals sharing unique memories from throughout their careers.

Amplifying our message during CUNA GAC

CUNA leaders worked to amplify our GAC message with op-eds highlighting important aspects of the credit union agenda. These include: 

• CUNA Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Donovan in Credit Union Times; and 
• CUNA Vice President of DEI Samira Salem in American Banker.

Leagues, credit unions conduct virtual Hill visits 

Credit union Leagues continue to ensure the credit union voice is heard this week with virtual meetings with policymakers. Several Leagues have been hosting virtual visits this year, and many more will meet with legislators in the coming days to help us build on the incredible momentum from this year’s GAC!

More from 360-degree advocacy

• Reps. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) introduced a bill to exempt disaster-related member business loans from the cap. 
• We wrote to the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee that a bipartisan commission to lead the CFPB would provide needed consistency.
• We wrote to Congressional leadership asking them to extend the Paycheck Protection Program through the end of the year.