Sample social media messages and images to highlight the Working for Minnesota website and the Minnesota Credit Union Impact report are available for download to share throughout April (log-in required).

In response to the national call to support Financial Well-being for All, the Minnesota Credit Union Network will mark April as Financial Well-being Month, and will highlight the impact Minnesota’s credit unions make in millions of lives each day. 

Do you have events planned for April or want to highlight your credit union’s ongoing financial education efforts? Please share your plan or success stories with the Minnesota Credit Union Network by contacting Director of Communications Julia Miller by email.

The Minnesota Credit Union Network has created a DEI Resource Center for credit unions to aggregate partners, tools, and trainings to help further their DEI journey.

As part of our commitment to advance economic equality and financial inclusion, the page includes:

• links to industry partners
• resources attract and retain CU Employees, Board Members
• resources to improve member engagement and attract prospective members

Check back often as resources will be added and updated. Credit unions are encouraged to share ideas and suggestions. To submit a resource, email MnCUN Director of Communications Julia Miller.

The sale of TruLync’s item processing services to Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union is entering it’s next phase. Following the completion of due diligence, the purchase agreement has been signed. Alloya FCU will now work with credit union clients to set a conversion date to occur on or before October 31, 2021. Our team of professionals from TruLync and Alloya FCU will work hard to ensure a seamless transition, so that credit unions will immediately begin to realize the benefits of this strategic partnership.

TruLync has found a strong partner in Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union and is pleased to keep the item processing business in the credit union system. TruLync Services, including the business lines of Prize Linked Savings and M360 Data Analytics, will not be impacted by the transaction. 
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With questions, contact MnCUN President & CEO Mark Cummins or Chief Operating Officer John Ferstl.

PolicyAid Quarterly Update
ViClarity has updated PolicyAid with the addition of two policies and updates to two other policies.

NCUA Offering Webinar on BSA/AML Compliance
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is hosting a webinar, “Bank Secrecy Act Update,” on April 14 from 1 pm – 2 pm CT.
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Federal Agencies Seek Feedback on the Use of Artificial Intelligence
​Federal financial regulatory agencies, including the NCUA and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have issued a request for information on financial institutions’ use of artificial intelligence (AI)

Ctrl+Alt+Innovate​​ is the shortcut credit unions need to advance with fintechs and power financial growth. Position your credit union for the future!

Valuable content delivered efficiently

• Registrants get access to recorded sessions for 30 days after the event. 
• This innovative experience is available for the low cost of $99 per affiliated credit union attendee! 
• Everything is delivered to your fingertips in a convenient half-day format.

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​It's all gathered together in one place for you

• Leading innovators 
• Demos of cutting edge digital platforms and services
• Networking with credit union leaders across 10 states!

Be part of the experience
When: April 7- April 8,
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. each day

Where: Online/Virtual

Who Should Attend: Executives, Business Development, Membership Experience, Marketing, and Information Technology Professionals 

Registration Deadline: March 31

Cost: $99

Visit the Conference website for agenda and speaker information.

Contact Ben Hering, MnCUN Director of Engagement, with questions.

​The Enhanced Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) teaches credit union staff how to counsel members so they can budget better, smartly save, pay down debt and plan for the future. Obtaining the training and associated credentials allows your credit union to differentiate itself from other financial institutions and be more confident in helping members emerge from the challenges of the pandemic and build a stronger financial future.

The cohort-style training consists of 8 tutorial webinars, exam preparation, proctored exam, and program development training - taking place between June 30 through October 27, 2021. Upon completion, participants will receive the Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation. 

"Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union is excited to participate in the FiCEP certification,” said Jill Casper, CUDE, CCUFC, VP of Training & Community Relations. “We invested in sending representation from each of our branches, loss prevention, and our call center. This is a fantastic opportunity for both staff development and continuing to meet the ever-changing needs of our members and the communities we serve."

As a central part of its mission to provide resources for credit unions and communities to prosper and thrive, MnCUF has generously committed funding to help support the cost of the program for another year.  The program is provided in partnership between the MnCU Foundation, CUNA's Center for Professional Development (CUNA CPD), and CU Difference.

“The Enhanced Financial Counseling Certification Program exemplifies the Foundation’s mission of providing professional development for credit unions and supporting the financial well-being of members and communities, ” said Minnesota Credit Union Foundation Executive Director Andrea Molnau. 

Those who have obtained the Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation are required to recertify every three years to ensure that knowledge about financial counseling is current. CCUFC professionals in Minnesota have the option to receive re-certification with the MnCU Foundation. This opportunity includes a half-day refresher training provided by CU Difference on October 26th, and a copy of the CUNA Financial Counseling Certification Program Update Book, 5th Edition. 
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MnCUF will be holding an Enhanced FiCEP informational webinar on April 21 at 1:00 pm. For more information on FiCEP certification or re-certification programs, visit mncun.org/enhanced-ficep-program. 

The National Credit Union Foundation will host four online Exploring Why Workshops tailored to important audiences within the credit union movement. These workshops provide a cooperative learning environment that builds an understanding of the credit union difference and how we can leverage that difference to improve our organization's culture and service. The audiences and workshop dates are: 

Board of Directors: Thursday, May 27

Young Professionals: Thursday, June 24

CUSO Employees: Wednesday, July 14

New Employees: Tuesday, July 27

The credit union difference is about building a connection to our roots, our purpose, our values and how we live those values every day. The Foundation believes that credit unions only grow stronger when all people across the movement and within our organizations have a deeper understanding of what the credit union difference is and how they connect to it.

Using core lessons from the Foundation’s signature Development Education (DE) Program, each Exploring Why Workshop will be tailored to fit the needs of each specified audience. Workshops are delivered in a virtual one-day format with a combination of lessons, experiential group activities, and best-practice sharing.

More information is available on the National Credit Union Foundation website.

In response to the national call to support Financial Well-being for All, the Minnesota Credit Union Network will mark April as Financial Well-being Month, and will highlight the impact Minnesota’s credit unions make in millions of lives each day. 

Traditionally termed Financial Literacy Month, the concept of financial well-being moves beyond “literacy” and “capability” to encompass the whole state of a person’s financial situation, their degree of control, and how they feel about their money. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau defines financial well-being as:
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• Having control over day-to-day, month-to-month finances
• Having the capacity to absorb a financial shock
• Being on track to meet your financial goals
• Having the financial freedom to make the choices that allow you to enjoy life

According to the Financial Health Network, 167 million people in America are struggling financially. Financial health disparities have widened by race and income, and persisted across gender against the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic. Credit unions are uniquely positioned to address this challenge due to their core mission, affordable products, and member-centric service model.

“Improving financial well-being is at the heart of the mission and structure of credit unions,” said Mark Cummins, President and CEO of the Minnesota Credit Union Network. “We look forward to celebrating the difference these cooperatives make throughout the month of April and beyond.”

During April, the Minnesota Credit Union Network will highlight not only how credit unions provided economic relief to members during the pandemic but how their mission is committed to empowering the members and communities with financial education:
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• 72 credit unions participated in the Paycheck Protection Program, providing 5,955 loans with an average amount of $56,000.
• In an agreement with Governor Tim Walz, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Attorney General Keith Ellison, 27 credit unions offered mortgage relief options to members experiencing financial hardship.
• 10 school credit union branches provide money management and career skills for students.
• Credit Union employees conducted 925 financial education classroom presentations, reaching over 15,874 Minnesota students for the last reporting year.
• WINcentive® Prize Linked Savings Accounts are nearing $10 million dollars saved since 2016 with 8,400 accounts opened.

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Do you have events planned for April or want to highlight your credit union’s ongoing financial education efforts? Please share your plan or success stories with the Minnesota Credit Union Network by contacting Director of Communications Julia Miller by email by March 26, 2021.

Contributors to the 2021 Awareness campaign have access to several new benefits. To get the most from your contribution, we encourage credit unions to complete the following steps:
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• Download and share the 2020 Awareness Result Report with your credit union team
• Contributors can be granted access to administer your credit union’s listing and links on the YourMoneyFurther.com website via the self-service portal.
  • To access this feature, please designate an admin for your credit union by completing this simple form by March 31, 2021.
• Review and update your credit union listing on YourMoneyFurther.com
  • Send any updates to Branch locations to [email protected]
  • Update Links visa the Self-Service Portal (see above)
• Visit the Contributor Headquarters to review new creative assets and incorporate them into your social media and marketing calendars
• Like and Share MnCUN’s social media posts

​MnCUN held a webinar last month that detailed plans and enhancements for the upcoming year. If you missed it, the recording of the webinar is available online. With questions, please contact Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement, by email or 651-288-5527.