The Minnesota Credit Union Network and the Credit Union National Association are pleased to announce that applications for the annual Dora Maxwell, Louise Herring and Desjardins Financial Education recognition programs are now open. Submitted projects should have primarily taken place during 2021.
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​The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 25.

Risk Alert – Infringement Claims on Biometric Identification Patents
CUNA Mutual issued a Risk Alert regarding letters some credit unions have received claiming patent infringement.  

Minnesota Credit Union Network Submits Comment Letters on Several Topics
It’s been a busy 2021 so far for the Regulatory Review Committee. To date, eight comment letters have been submitted with input from the Committee. 

As more credit unions in Minnesota develop their own community foundations, MnCUN is happy to leverage our ability to connect and  share resources among this emerging group of professionals.

CU Foundation P2P: We are excited to launch a new P2P opportunity to provide networking and educational opportunities for those who manage, lead, or are launching a foundation associated with their credit union. Our first virtual event will take place on Wednesday, June 2 from 1-3pm, and will primarily be an open forum to connect with each other, ask questions on foundation topics, and gather feedback on additional topics the group is interested in. Register today.
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Event Calendar: We are also extending an invite to foundations of credit unions affiliated with the Minnesota Credit Union Network to submit their events to be added to our event website and calendar. To take advantage of this opportunity, please submit the event information by email to Samantha Marks.

Stay Up to Date: If you are interested in receiving communications about future opportunities to network with other credit union foundations, please update your Member Profile and select “CU Foundation” under the Department section of the Profile Update.

With questions, please reach out to Andrea Molnau, Executive Director, Minnesota Credit Union Foundation.

Evolution is the only constant in the future of digital marketing. The world has become increasingly digital-centric since the pandemic - and digital marketing, specifically as it pertains to targeting, is changing alongside the ever-shifting online advertising landscape.

We are excited to welcome Digital marketing experts Bill Hurley, Digital Sales Manager of TEGNA/KARE 11, and Max Rymer, President of Nativ3, who will share perspectives on two big trends: OTT – The Future of Buying TV Ads; and Understanding Big Changes to Social Media Regulations. 

Webinar: The Future of Digital Target Marketing,
Date: Tuesday, May 18 
​Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Cost: $39.00

MnCUN Strategic Alliance, FIS, w​orks to deliver banking and payment technologies to credit unions worldwide, FIS and its sales and customer service partner, CSCU, together are the credit union industry's advocate, partner and leader in total payment solutions. 

Evolving Financial and Payments Solutions, May 20
Join the Minnesota Credit Union Network's partner, FIS, Thursday, May 20 at 10 a.m. for an open format presentation and conversation on how credit unions can evolve banking and payments solutions to meet the needs of members.

Webinar: FIS - Evolving Financial and Payments Solutions
Date: 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 20, 2021
Presenter: FIS

FIS stays ahead of how the world is evolving to power businesses, across merchants, banking and capital markets, to outpace today’s fast-changing competitive landscape and help our clients run, grow and achieve more for their business.
The webinar is free and will be recorded, however we do ask that you please register. Please provide us your questions in the registration form. Registered attendees will receive webinar and call-in instructions prior to the session. 

​With questions, please contact Director of Business Development, Kris Jacobsen, via email. 

Beyond 2020: People, Product, Process, Technology, Experience, May 25

FIS is excited to host Sundeep Kapur from Digital Credence for a complementary one hour engagement on May 25th at 1:00 pm
This inspirational discussion will highlight the key challenges we face, provide anecdotal case studies from around the world, and provide us with the right questions to ask as we define our roadmap for success.

Registration - Beyond 2020: People, Product, Process, Technology, Experience  

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.

In total, 79 individuals have been designated as Credit Union Builders over the past nine years. 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.
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​​Contact Andrea Molnau, Executive Director of the MnCUF with questions.

Save the date for CU Forward Day 2021 on Monday, October 11! CU Forward is the state-wide initiative of credit unions collaborating to support their communities through spreading kindness to demonstrate the cooperative principles and the credit union difference. 

​Despite the challenges of 2020, 53 Minnesota credit unions and industry partners continued the CU Forward tradition last year in the form of meal preparation and food packing, cards to seniors and frontline workers, care packages, food and clothing drives, contributions to nonprofits, and small, in-person volunteering events. In total, over 3,300 volunteers dedicated approximately 6,250 hours of giveback related to this initiative on CU Forward Day 2020.

Beginning later this month, credit unions and partners will be able to confirm participation, gain access to the CU Forward Day toolkit and begin planning activities for this year’s kindness day.

Please visit the CU Forward webpage for updates and further details.

In order to sustain and increase the political prominence and influence of Minnesota credit unions, it is imperative to have a strong and sustainable fundraising program for our state and federal political action committees. To achieve this objective, MnCUN’s Political Involvement Committee (PIC) has endorsed the Fair Share plan, which challenges each credit union in the state to financially support political fundraising initiatives. Earlier this year, the Network’s Political Involvement Committee (PIC) voted to keep the Fair Share goal for our member credit unions at $30 a person.

“The Fair Share program was developed to encourage every credit union employee to help protect their industry in the halls of government and has resulted in contributions from hundreds of people across the state,” MnCUN Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Mara Humphrey said. “The small dollars raised from so many people demonstrate the depth and breadth of support from credit union staff and we want to thank each and every one that contributed to helping to further the mission of Minnesota’s credit unions.”

The following credit unions have met, or are projected to meet, their Fair Share as of May 1:

• City & County Credit Union
• Co-Op Credit Union of Montevideo
• Embarrass Vermillion Federal Credit Union
• First Alliance Credit Union
• HBI Employees Credit Union
• Hiway Credit Union
• Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union
• Minnco Credit Union
• Minnesota Credit Union Network
• North Memorial Federal Credit Union
• Red Wing Credit Union
• Riverview Credit Union
• United Employees Credit Union

Contact Ryan Smith, MnCUN Director of Governmental Affairs by email with questions.

The spring Commercial Services & Lending P2P will be a facilitated roundtable discussion around challenges and successes over the past year as well as hot topics and trends around credit union commercial services and lending in 2021. This session will include large group sharing and a small, breakout room conversation.

​Topics include: post-pandemic practices for credit unions, PPP and SBA lending, industry opportunities and participations, technology and vendors, small business support and community outreach.