Spring Peer-to-Peer (P2P) sessions will be held as virtual roundtables, providing open forums for credit union staff throughout Minnesota, for knowledge sharing, resources and connections. 

Join an upcoming Peer-to-Peer session via webinar and video conference: 
Lending P2P on April 27 starting at 1:00 p.m. 
Directors P2P on May 2 starting at 4:00 p.m. 
Operations P2P on May 4 starting at 1:00 p.m. 
​Marketing/Business Development P2P on May 9 starting at 1:00 p.m.

The spring sessions will be an open format conversation with an opportunity to meet and share with one another. The open session and forum will conclude with time to discuss questions with participants. 

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.

For a list of all P2P sessions, visit our Peer-to-Peer (P2P) webpage. With questions, please contact VP of Communications & Engagement, Andrea Molnau, by email.

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 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 and September. Upon completion, participants will receive the Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation. 

Attending the webinars live provides the opportunity to participate in discussion; however, they will also be available as a recording. On average, students should expect to spend approximately 30 minutes studying each chapter, 60 minutes participating in each webinar, and additional time as needed to review the materials before the exam. The last training session following the proctored exam is designed to help you develop a detailed vision and plan for financial counseling at your credit union.

​Cost: $479 per participating student
Registration Deadline: Friday, April 28

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

Contact MnCUF Executive Director Andrea Molnau with questions or visit the Enhanced FiCEP page.

Recently, four individuals were honored as Credit Union Builders in recognition of their service to the credit union movement in Minnesota. 

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 time of significance to acknowledge an individual’s contributions to credit unions. 

Keith Hauge was honored by Ideal Credit Union in recognition of his retirement from its Board of Directors. He has been a champion for Ideal Credit Union members for more than 40 years through his volunteer leadership on the Ideal Credit Union Board of Directors – including serving as board chair from 2014-2019.

Keith actively advocated for the credit union movement meeting with elected officials in Minnesota and Washington D.C. to educate and engage them in policies that benefit members.

Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union honored Debra Hurston, Association for Black Economic Power, as a Credit Union Builder for work leading the establishment of Minnesota's first Black-led community credit union dedicated to addressing the needs of the residents who live, work, or worship in Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

Debra is tirelessly and patiently lead all aspects of building Arise Community Credit Union: raising seed funds, recruiting board members, setting up governance, securing advocacy, creating a charter and business plan, hiring a CEO, and more. She’s partnered with dozens of local and national industry and community leaders – including Affinity Plus. She’s an emerging and significant positive force for the credit union philosophy in Minnesota. 

Tom Smith was honored by TopLine Financial Credit Union upon his retirement and President and CEO.
Tom Smith has worked in the financial services industry for over 38 years. He has been very active forging strategic direction and successfully leading various divisions of organizations within the financial services industry.

Tom joined TopLine Financial Credit Union as Chief Lending Officer in May 2008 and was appointed President and CEO in January 2014. Tom will be retiring on May 1, 2023. Tom has led the credit union with integrity, passion and vision, and over the last 9 years under his President and CEO leadership TopLine has experienced tremendous growth, fostered a culture of inclusion, kept pace with ever-evolving innovation and kept a keen eye on the betterment of our communities. 

Mark Cummins, President and CEO of the Minnesota Credit Union Network was honored in recognition from his retirement.

Under Cummins’ leadership, several programs have been established in recent years for member credit unions including WINcentive prize-linked savings, the Minnesota Credit Union Employee Benefits Plan and CU Forward Day. Minnesota was also the first state to launch the national Credit Union Consumer Awareness Initiative in 2019 and since then, has seen both increased average membership growth and consumer familiarity of credit unions.

​91 individuals have been designated as Credit Union Builders since the award's inception. The names of the recipients and the contributing credit unions are permanently displayed in the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s lobby as a tribute to those who have dedicated time and energy to building the credit union movement.

The Minnesota Credit Union Network announced today that its Board of Directors unanimously selected current Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer, Mara Humphrey, as the organization’s next President & CEO. 

“After a national search, the Board is unified in the choice of Mara Humphrey as the next CEO of the Minnesota Credit Union Network,” said Mary Hansen, Board Chair and CEO of Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union. “The Board was deeply committed to a rigorous leadership selection process and understood this to be the most important work of our board terms. Mara is a proven champion for credit unions and a respected, innovative leader in the industry. Her vision and passion will ensure the success, growth and vitality of Minnesota Credit Unions for years to come.”

​Humphrey replaces retiring President & CEO Mark Cummins, who announced his retirement a year ago.  Humphrey was chosen after a thoughtful and deliberate national search.

Since joining MnCUN in 2007, Humphrey has earned a national reputation for credit union advocacy and committed leadership in service of credit unions. She was promoted to Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer in 2020.

“As a lifelong Minnesotan and career advocate for credit unions, I've seen firsthand how the credit union advantage changes lives and empowers local communities,” said Humphrey. “I’m honored and humbled to become the next President & CEO of the Minnesota Credit Union Network.”

The Minnesota Credit Union Network is pleased to announce the hiring of Xiong Lee as Director of Engagement. In her role, Xiong will lead credit union members engagement and manage MnCUN's professional development and networking programs.

Lee graduated from Saint Catherine’s University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing Management. She has over 15 plus years of credit union experience and is a strong advocate for credit unions.

Lee lives in the Twin Cities with her husband Kou and her son Marshall. She loves traveling, spending time with family and friends, and reading a good book occasionally.

A record number of credit union employees, board members, and exhibitors will participate in MnCUN's biggest event of the year, April 13 & 14 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. 

We are excited to welcome the following General and Break-out Session speakers: 

• Laura Boyd, CEO Leadership Delta: “The Future of Work: Retaining our Talent”
• Casey O'Brien, 5 time cancer survivor, former Minnesota Gopher football player, speaker: “The Three Keys to Overcoming Adversity”
• Nick Westergaard, Marketing Strategist: “Get Scrappy: Smarter Digital Marketing for Credit Unions Big and Small”
• Ken Otsuka , Senior Consultant in the Risk & Compliance Solutions Department, CUNA Mutual Group: “Cybersecurity”
• David Reed, Attorney, author, consultant and nationally recognized trainer: "Financial Complexity and Good Governance: How Do Directors Face the New Reality?” and “Board Challenge: Building a Deeper Bench”
• Emma Hayes, Chief Culture Officer at State Employees Credit Union: “Strategy and Culture Connection”
• Tom Slefinger, Senior Vice President, Institutional Fixed Income Sales, Alloya Investment Services: “Maximizing Income in a Post-Pandemic World”

​Event App
As an attendee at ACCELERATE 23, you will have exclusive access to the conference mobile app, where you will find event materials, schedules, speaker presentations, sponsors, attendees, and much more.

Social
Have something to share about the event? We’ll be using #ACCELERATE23 on social media. Be sure to follow MnCUN on Facebook (@MinnesotaCreditUnions), Twitter (@mncreditunions), and Instagram (@mncreditunions).

Resources for Working with Law Enforcement to Address Fraud: With fraud attempts and incidents continuing on the rise, here are some helpful reminders for your credit union protect its operations and members from fraudsters in conjunction with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Join the CREW Young Professionals for the "Coffee with the CREW" on Wednesday, April 19 at 9 a.m. This series focuses on providing credit union young professionals with continued opportunities for networking and collaborating to help further knowledge and professional growth within the industry. 

​This meet-up will be facilitated by Jodi Maus, Training and Development Manager with Magnfi Financial Credit Union centered on Conflict Management. The reality is that conflict happens in the workplace and everyone approaches conflict differently. This session will help you identify the source of the conflict and tools to deal with conflict in a way that maintains relationships during difficult conversations. In this session, you will:

• Define conflict, indicators, causes and reactions to conflict.
• Learn tools to communicate openly and honestly with coworkers, managers, and members.
• Utilize conflict situations to share ideas and approaches to resolving conflict. Please bring an example of conflict you’ve experienced in the workplace.

Date: April 19
Time: 9:00 - 9:45 a.m.
Cost:  Free 

We will open up the webcams and audio lines for the group to join our facilitated discussion. All aspects of this session have been created with the intention of shared learning among facilitators and attendees. We will be asking attendees to actively participate before and throughout this session.
​
With questions, please contact Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement.

The Minnesota Credit Union Employee Benefits Plan (EBP) Board of Trustees is pleased to announce results of the 2023 contested election results for the two open seats on the Board elected by plan members.

The Board congratulates Jay Gostonczik, South Point Financial Credit Union (incumbent) and Jon Morill, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union, who were successfully elected to three-year terms on the Board. Prior to this election, Mr. Morill had been previously appointed in accordance with our bylaws to serve on the Board for the remaining term of former trustee, Daryl Doucette, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union. A special thank you to Charlie Yenni, Northern States Power - St. Paul Credit Union, for his willingness to participate in this election.

To our EBP plan members and Network membership, thank you for supporting the work of the Network and EBP Board of Trustees. We look forward to serving you and having another strong year of growth and productivity ahead in 2023.