​​Nearly 400 credit union employees, board members and exhibitors will participate in MnCUN's biggest event of the year, April 21 & 22 at the Radisson Blu MOA. These 2 days will feature guest speakers, educational sessions, networking, the state’s largest tradeshow and opportunities to support great causes. 

Social: Have something to share about the event? We’ll be using #ACCELERATE22 on social media. Be sure to follow MnCUN on Facebook (@MinnesotaCreditUnions), Twitter (@mncreditunions), and Instagram (@mncreditunions).

Event App: Attendees will have exclusive access to the conference mobile app, which will include schedules, speaker and session details, attendee engagement and information about our supporting partners! This is also where we will post speaker presentations and surveys.  Download the app by visiting the app store and searching for the "Minnesota Credit Union Network."​

​Covid-19 Safety Guidelines
MnCUN is committed to the wellbeing 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) Community Level Recommendations that are in effect at the time of the conference. The community level of COVID-19 in Hennepin County is low; therefore, the CDC recommendations are to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if you have symptoms. Attendees may choose to mask at any time, however at this point they will not be required. We do ask those with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19, not attend the event. 

Is your credit union looking to leverage Multicultural Opportunities in your market? Please join us for a series of webinars that connect the MnCUN Multicultural Opportunity Report with actionable examples for your credit union and your communities to grow and prosper.

​​Presented by Coopera, a full-service multicultural analytics and consulting firm, the series will include three, one-hour virtual sessions: April 26th; June 22nd; and August 10th. All sessions will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. You may sign up for individual sessions or for the entire series. Further descriptions of each session are noted below. Follow this link to register.

April 26: Financial Wellbeing from a Multicultural Perspective
This session will provide a high-level overview of what financial wellbeing means from various cultural perspectives, using data from our recent survey.

​​June 22: Opportunities for Credit Unions to Serve Growing Multicultural Populations in MN
This session will provide a further “deep dive” into the financial needs of Mexicans, Hmong, and African Americans – which are the largest growing ethnic groups in Minnesota. We’ll share practical examples of how credit unions can meet those needs via products, community outreach, staff, and more.
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August 10: How can we do better? Addressing and closing the Wealth Gaps in Minnesota
Our final session will focus on the current wealth gaps in Minnesota. We’ll take a closer look at our own bias around lending, branding, and risk; and explore practical ways to overcome those biases to improve financial wellbeing for all.
Cost: $49 per webinar; or $129 for the series

The Minnesota Credit Union Network is excited to announce returning and incoming members of the CREW.

​The CREW is a group for young professionals – under 40 years old - working in the credit union movement in Minnesota. MnCUN hosts special sessions for CREW members at major MnCUN events as well as standalone Crew education sessions, happy hours, and volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

​The CREW Ambassador for 2022 is Abbie White with Wings Financial Credit Union! Abbie has been on the CREW Advisory Group for three years now and is actively involved with planning several aspects of CREW programming. She has never hesitated to jump into subcommittee meetings, lead Coffee with the CREW groups or help brainstorm around new ways to reach young professionals.

​2022 Crew Ambassador – Abbie White, Corporate Partnerships, Wings Financial Credit Union​.

Advisory Group Members Joining in 2022:

• Sarah Hom, Deposit Product and Rewards Specialist, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
• Hannah Jones, Mortgage Servicing Assistant, Hiway Credit Union
• Isaac Barten, Branch Manager, Magnifi Financial Credit Union
• Anna Nelson, Corporate Trainer, Members Cooperative Credit Union
• Anneissa LeChevalier, Member Service Representative II, Northern Communities Credit Union

Returning Crew Advisory Group Members:

• Caitlin Barrineau, Branch Manager, Anoka Hennepin Credit Union
• Melissa Gehl, Chief Marketing Officer, Fulda Area Credit Union
• Rick Kelm, Business Analyst, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union
• Travis Neidecker, Payment Systems Manager, SouthPoint Financial Credit Union
• Cory Ouellette, AVP-Member Experience, Minnesota Power Employees Credit Union
• Alyssa Strukel, Mortgage Servicing Specialist, Royal Credit Union
• Kailey Tillung, Marketing & Business Development Assistant, MY Credit Union
• Abbie White, Corporate Partnerships, Wings Financial Credit Union

Thank you to those stepping down from their seat on the group!

Departing Group Members:

• Logan Edwards, Finance Manager, Novation Credit Union
• Ben Littler, AVP/Branch Manager, TruStone
• Jodi Maus, Training & Development Manager, Central Minnesota Credit Union
• Maria Corradi Haines, Operations Manager, Northern Communities Credit Union
• Jenna Taubel – Director of Brand and Digital Member Experience, First Alliance Credit Union

Thanks to Jenna Taubel for serving as CREW Ambassador this year! Jenna has been an exemplary leader for the group, keeping our meetings focused yet engaging and always finding ways to evolve CREW programming. 

​Join the upcoming Innovation Peer-to-Peer (P2P) on Thursday, May 19 starting at 1:00 p.m. via webinar and video conference. 

​The first Innovation P2P of the year will begin with a panel of experts who are leading innovative initiatives and projects in their credit unions. Our panel will include*: 

Debra Hurston 
Executive Director | ABEP/Village Financial 

Lisett Comai 
Director of Retail Member Experience | First Alliance Credit Union 

​Chad Merrihew
President & CEO | Fulda Area Credit Union

*Further updates regarding panelists to come!

We will continue the session with a facilitated conversation with your peers around current trends in innovation, unique products and services and new ways to serve members. This event is meant to be an opportunity to meet and share with one another.

This event will be made only via webinar/conference call. Webinar and call in instructions, along with session materials and resources, will be provided to registered attendees.

For a list of all P2P sessions, visit our Peer-to-Peer (P2P) webpage. With questions, please contact MnCUN Director of Engagement Ben Hering by email or by phone at 651-288-5519.

​Join the upcoming Credit Union Foundation Peer-to-Peer (P2P) on Tuesday, May 17 starting at 1:00 p.m. via webinar and video conference.

​The first Credit Union Foundation P2P of the year will be a facilitated conversation with your peers and experts. This event is meant to be an opportunity to meet and share with one other around topics and issues facing foundations established and operated by credit unions.

P2P sessions will continue to be held as virtual roundtables, providing open forums for credit union staff throughout Minnesota, for knowledge sharing, resources and connections. This event will be made only via webinar/conference call. Webinar and call in instructions, along with recordings, session materials and resources, will be provided to registered attendees.

**Stay tuned for speaker updates!**

For a list of all P2P sessions, visit our Peer-to-Peer (P2P) webpage. With questions, please contact MnCUN Director of Engagement Ben Hering by email or by phone at 651-288-5519.

Join the Minnesota Credit Union Network along with Strategic Alliance Partners, The Baker Group, for the Interest Rate Risk and Investment Strategies Seminar on Tuesday, May 3.

Two years after the pandemic left financial institutions drowning in excess liquidity at historically low interest rates, the industry faces a new challenge… rising interest rates. The Fed has quickly pivoted from supporting the economy to fighting inflation and credit unions are now facing the first rising rate environment in years. Regulators have watched with concern as loan and investment durations extended to record highs in a search for yield and will have a renewed focus on the Investment Portfolio and Interest Rate Risk Management. Portfolio managers can no longer be reactive, but must be proactive in managing their investment portfolio and balance sheet in the face of rising rates and a flattening yield curve. This seminar will examine all of these concerns and present actionable strategies to better prepare your institution for the uncertainty ahead.

Join us for an in-depth discussion of the following topics:

• Economic and Market Update — Review of current economic conditions and the outlook for growth, inflation, and interest rates
• The Powell Pivot — Update on rate hikes, tapering, and the outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy
• Interest Rate Risk — How to ensure you are prepared for the heightened regulatory focus coming in the years ahead
• Liquidity Risk Management — Best practices for managing liquidity risk as rates rise
• Investment Portfolio Strategies — Adapting your strategy and finding the best relative value for rising rates and a flattening yield curve
• MBS/CMO Market — Balancing prepayment and extension risk in an uncertain mortgage rate environment
• Municipal Market Update — The latest on managing municipal credit risk and finding the best relative value

For more details, view the event flyer.

Minnesota credit unions are engaging and advancing financial well-being for all Minnesotans of all ages during the month of April. Highlights include: 

•  ​Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold visited Hiway's student run branch at Como Park High School to celebrate Financial Capability Month. Three students run the branch during their lunch hour. They talk with their peers and about the importance of saving, how to budget, monitoring spending, understanding credit and the tools available to help them manage their money.
• The Minnesota Credit Union Network hosted "Briefing on Building Economic Equity for Minnesota" that debuted on Facebook. The briefing included:
  • Credit Union Initiatives 
    • ​Fulda Area Credit Union – Culturally Connected Services
    • First Alliance Credit Union– Community Engagement Initiatives
    • Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union– Citizenship Loans and Bank Dora
    • Association for Black Economic Power/Village Financial Credit Union
      
      
  • Public Driven Initiatives: Rep. Agbaje – HF4269 First Generation Homebuyers Down Payment Assistance Fund
  • Coopera – A Snapshot of Shifting Minnesota Demographics​

Upcoming Opportunities
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NCUA and FDIC Host Webinar for Youth Workforce Practitioners & Financial Institutions on April 14
Register Now for Account Access and Financial Education for Youth Participating in Employment Programs (Part III): Factors and Tools that Influence Youth Financial Behavior

The National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will co-host a webinar focused on credit union officials, bankers, and workforce providers who help young people (ages 16–24) toward financial stability on Thursday, April 14, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Register Now
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On Minnesota April 19, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Minnesota Jump$tart will welcome an engaging panel of educators and community partners for a conversation focused on financial education requirements in the K-12 curriculum. The conversation on the importance of financial education for Minnesota youth will be based on a remarkable student-led survey conducted in the winter of 2021, showing 74% of students surveyed would like to see it as a requirement in the curriculum.

More information and to register: Minnesota - Jump$tart Coalition (jumpstart.org)

Education and Engagement - Financial Capability for all Minnesotans
Thurs., April 28, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Hosted by the Minnesota Department of Commerce: 
Topic: How lifelong education and the support of communities and cities can help close the wealth gap and provide more opportunities for all Minnesotans.  

Register Now

Continue to share your financial education initiatives and activities for the month of April with MnCUN, by emailing Director of Communications Julia Miller. ​

​The Minnesota Credit Union Network again worked with Fluence Media and American Strategies to conduct our biennial public opinion poll. The poll is designed to better understand Minnesota consumers’ perceptions of financial institutions and gauge their attitudes and knowledge of credit unions. The study tested attitudinal trends, public affairs opinions, and several aspects of the consumer awareness and consideration efforts. A survey of over 600 Minnesotans was conducted February 8 - 10, 2022. 

Key findings include: 

• ​Interest in joining a credit union has ticked up during the pandemic. Two-fifths (41 percent) of non-credit union customers say they are likely to join a credit union in the future, up from 35 percent in 2019. After learning more about credit unions, that number jumps to half of non-credit union customers who say they are likely to join a credit union in the future.
• Minnesotans overwhelmingly, broadly, and consistently support credit unions maintaining their tax-exempt status.
• Credit unions are thought of more as a positive force in the community than banks. A majority of people say that investing more in the community, being honest and trustworthy, offering low-interest rate loans, and making it easier for low-income people to get a loan more closely describes credit unions than banks.

A webinar was held April 6th to share the results, and a recording is available in our Member Portal. The full 2022 Consumer Poll Results are also posted online. Please note a MnCUN log in is required.
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With questions, please contact Vice President Communications and Engagement, Andrea Molnau, via email.