Early Bird Registration Deadline: Wednesday, October 20, 2021. (Use promo code EarlyBird2021 to receive $50 off the regular registration rate)

Registration Closes: Wednesday, November 3, 2021

MnCUN is committed to the well-being of all attendees, guests, sponsors, speakers, and staff as we return to in person events. We will follow the current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state and local governments that are in effect at the time of the conference. Staff will continue to monitor the situation leading up to and at the event, and communicate any possible changes.

In addition to full conference, in person registration, we are also offering a new Virtual registration option that will provide viewing access to the conference general sessions.
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With questions, contact MnCUN Vice President of Communications and Engagement Andrea Molnau or Director of Engagement Ben Hering.

Minnesota’s 2021 Credit Union Awareness Initiative going strong. The campaign is a research-based effort to grow awareness of credit unions as the best financial partner for consumers. Digital media ads continue to drive consumers to the YourMoneyFurther.com website to learn more about the advantages of credit unions. 

Though August 31, the campaign has garnered over 44 million digital impressions through Online Video, Banner Ads, Social Media and streaming TV ads delivered throughout the state. The Video Completion Rate for online ads is 57%, and streaming TV ads are 98%, showing consumers are continuing to watch the ads. Click through rates are meeting benchmarks and delivering consumers to the YourMoneyFurther website. 

Earlier this summer, MnCUN deployed several out of home tactics to supplement the digital efforts, including:

• Greater Minnesota Bus wraps
• Digital Trucks at regional events such as Twin Cities Pride, WeFest, Bayfront Blues Fest, TC Summer Jam
• Minnesota State Fair Bathroom ads, Bus wraps, and a Kare 11 Barn sponsorship that included digital ads and a live interview from the fair.

​A result report  through August 31, 2021 is available for credit unions to review and share with their staff and Boards. Furthermore, CUNA’s Credit Union Awareness team recently released their July 2021 bi-annual research results, showing the campaign has made significant progress nationally as well. 

The Awareness initiative represents the true spirit of the cooperative movement to help more consumers understand the advantages being a credit union member. With questions, please contact Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement, by email or 651-288-5527.

Attendees and guests gathered at Madden's new Outdoor Pavilion for a barbecue on Friday night. The Golf Tournament and bingo returned and a Cornhole tournament, a new activity, debuted on Saturday afternoon.

Mark your calendars for LEAD 22, Sept. 14-16, 2022, back at Madden’s Resort. For more MnCUN events, visit the education calendar.

As Congress considers critical new infrastructure spending, policymakers are eyeing unconventional sources of revenue to fund their plans. 

One proposal under consideration would require credit unions and other financial institutions to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) how much money has gone into and out of accounts holding more than $600. 
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This unprecedented access to consumers’ personal financial data raises several alarms for credit unions and their members: 

• This proposal would violate consumers’ personal privacy by forcing credit unions and banks to provide the government with information that does not reflect taxable activity.
• Financial institutions—particularly those in rural and low-income communities—would face unnecessary and expensive regulatory hurdles that could make it untenable to serve those consumers already left behind by Wall Street banks.
• The government relies on decades-old data systems to store and secure IRS information. These systems have already been compromised in recent years, and the addition of this type of data only increases the likelihood of a future breach.

Last week, the Minnesota Credit Union Network issued a GREAT alert: Tell Congress to Oppose New IRS Reporting Provisions. If you haven't already done so, please take a minute and  to contact your Representatives and Senators and tell them not to jeopardize consumers’ personal financial privacy by allowing the IRS to access nontaxable deposit account information from credit unions and banks.

The House Ways and Means Committee will be considering this proposal in the next two weeks. MnCUN worked with Congressman Emmer’s office on a sign-on letter in opposition to financial institutions reporting to the IRS.

Additionally, CUNA issued an action alert and the Member Activation Program has templates and resources MAP credit unions can use to activate members to contact Congress. 

President Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan Could Mean Vaccine Mandates for Credit Unions: Last Thursday President Biden announced a multi-faceted plan that could mean vaccine requirements for credit unions. 

​Class Action Lawsuit over ACH Transfer Fees: The CUNA Mutual Group recently issued a Risk Alert regarding a class action lawsuit over ACH transfer fees.

Join the upcoming Data & Analytics Peer-to-Peer (P2P) on Tuesday, October 5 starting at 1:00 p.m. via webinar and video conference. 

For the second Data & Analytics P2P, please bring an example, idea or update to share regarding what you have been working on and what you will be working on for 2022. Its a been a busy year, and let's take a moment to celebrate all that we done in our respective data worlds!

​​Anne Legg, founder of THRIVE, a data education and strategy development firm, will help facilitate the learning session and will bring a few things to share as well. We will also have a deep-dive into a project currently being worked on by Novation Credit Union.
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Date: Tuesday, Oct. 5
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Webinar/Video Conference
Cost: $39

Join the Credit Union Financial Education Network (formerly known as the National Youth Involvement Board) in October for a virtual financial education conference created just for credit union professionals.

​​​From student education, adult education, high school branches and professional development, there will be something for everyone! No overlapping of sessions and you are welcome to attend as many sessions as you choose. The agenda and session topics will be coming soon! ​The cost is $200 per person with a $100 credit towards the 2022 conference registration fee.

Created in 2008, the Credit Union Builder Award honors an individual’s dedication to the success, growth, and vitality of the not-for-profit financial movement in Minnesota.

​Dedications are typically made at a special time of significance to acknowledge their contributions to credit unions.

​In total, 79 individuals have been designated as Credit Union Builders over the past nine years. The name of the recipients are permanently displayed in lobby of the state trade association, the Minnesota Credit Union Network, as a tribute to those who have dedicated time and energy to building the credit union movement.

The honorees (or their families, in the case of a memoriam contribution) receive acknowledgement from the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation, and donors are also listed online and in the Foundation’s annual report. A minimum $1,500 contribution is required to designate a Credit Union Builder Award.
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With questions, contact Andrea Molnau, Executive Director of the Minnesota Credit Unions Foundation.

Now is your chance to nominate a colleague for the 2020 Outstanding Professional of the Year or Outstanding Director (formerly Volunteer) of the Year. Nominations for the awards must be received by the Network by by 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17. 

Nominations should recognize an individual's service and achievements taken place during the 2020 calendar year. The winners of these awards will be recognized during the Minnesota Credit Union Network's annual conference - the Accelerate 21 Conference, which will take place November 18-19 at the Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington.
Nominations for the 2021 Professional and Director of the Year will open in January and recipients will be honored at the following annual meeting - Accelerate 22 Conference in April 2022.

• Outstanding Professional of the Year recognizes the notable service of one outstanding credit union professional who has selflessly given time, effort and talent to the support and promotion of the credit union mission and who has gone above and beyond to improve the credit union culture in Minnesota.

• ​Outstanding Director (formerly Volunteer) of the Year is given to one extraordinary credit union board member who best exemplifies the credit union spirit through dedication to, and belief in, the credit union movement. Grounds for nomination include involvement in the credit union movement at local and state levels and participation in other activities that support the credit union mission.
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​Complete information and online nomination forms can be found on the Outstanding Professional and Volunteer of the Year page of the Network website. Please note that only nominations completed using the online forms will be accepted.