U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced interchange legislation for the 118th Congress today - the Credit Card Competition Act. CUNA, Leagues, and credit unions strongly oppose the legislation, and kept it from moving forward in the last Congress. We are still waiting on the Bill numbers for both the House and Senate 2023 versions. Watch for an action alert and more information coming soon.

As grocers are visiting Washington, D.C. this week, CUNA Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer Jason Stverak wrote to Congress Monday that Credit unions urge members of Congress to oppose any legislation affecting the security and efficiency of the interchange system.

Minnesota Credit Unions are encouraged to submit entries to the Dora Maxwell, Louise Herring and Desjardins Financial Education recognition programs. Submitted projects should have primarily taken place during 2022. ​The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 23. 

​​​Links to the individual award applications are below. Those who enter will compete with other credit unions in the same asset category. 

Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award recognizes credit unions that promote social responsibility. In particular, the focus of the award is to draw attention to external credit union projects and activities that benefit the community. 

​Louise Herring Award for Philosophy-in-Action focuses on the internal programs and services of a credit union. Credit unions who received the award have demonstrated the practical application of the credit union philosophy within the actual operations of the credit union. 

Desjardins Youth and Adult Financial Education Awards recognizes the leadership of individual credit unions and chapters on behalf of youth and adult financial education. Activities eligible for consideration include those that raise awareness and marshal resources on behalf of financial literacy.
Award entries are judged by the Dakotas Credit Union Association Awards Committee to ensure unbiased results. The winners in each award category will advance to CUNA’s national contest where they will compete with credit unions across the country, with judging to take place this fall. 

Full program details and FAQs are available on the MnCUN Awards Page. Contact Julia Miller, MnCUN Director of Communications with questions by email at [email protected].

Minnesota Credit Union Network President & CEO Mara Humphrey and Vice President of Communications and Engagement Andrea Molnau participated in the 1-to-1Woman Mentoring Program’s most recent cohort, sponsored by the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL). The 1-to-1Woman Mentoring Program pairs white C-suite, executive-level women with rising Black women professionals. 

"MnCUN embraces mentorship and diversity, equity and inclusion as cooperative principles and as a way to build and sustain the credit union movement," said Mara Humphrey, MnCUN President & CEO. "We are proud to participate in the first League System Mentorship cohort." 

The mentees in the cohort included:

• Chelsea Best, Callahan & Associates
• Bethaniy Brown, Zeal Credit Union
• Jasmine Lovelace, Zeal Credit Union
• Brittany Ortiz, SchoolsFirst FCU
• Annisha Rose, SchoolsFirst FCU
• Tamara Slaughter, Zeal Credit Union
• Shayla Tanner, Civic Credit Union
• Lydia Hartley, SchoolsFirst FCU
• April Williams, Congressional Federal Credit Union

​These mentees were paired with the following League Mentors:

• Kristi Arrington, League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates
• Laura Auxter, Ohio Credit Union League
• Mara Humphrey, Minnesota Credit Union Network
• Beth Ellis, Wisconsin Credit Union League
• Melia Heimbuck, Credit Union Association of New Mexico
• Emily Leite, Ohio Credit Union League
• Tena Lozano, Richard Myles Johnson Foundation
• Andrea Molnau, Minnesota Credit Union Network
• Courtney Moran, Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation

​1-to-1Woman Mentoring Program facilitates conversations between the mentors and mentees about gender bias and racial disparity in the workforce. 1-to-1Woman aims to form relationships between otherwise unlikely connections with the goal of fostering a space where mentors and mentees serve as both teachers and pupils.

​To learn more, read the full news release from the American Association of Credit Union Leagues.

NCUA Proposed Rule on Expanding Chartering and FOM: The NCUA proposed rule is designed to streamline field of membership and simplify application requirements for community-based federal credit unions by providing a standard form for both business and marketing plans. 

Chief Examiner Shares Priorities and Concerns: The Minnesota Credit Union Network staff met with the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Chief Examiner, Aeton de Long-Hersh, to discuss regulatory and examination concerns.  

The Pandemic Health Emergency is Over: What's Next? The National Institute of Health (NIH) declared in a press release the official end of the pandemic on May 11, 2023. 

Hike the Hill provides credit union representatives with an exciting opportunity to meet with federal legislators and talk about top issues that credit unions in Minnesota are facing. During Hike the Hill visits, credit union professionals and board members will meet with the entire Minnesota Congressional Delegation. 

Hike the Hill will take place September 26 -28. Attendees should plan to arrive by early Tuesday afternoon, September 26 and prepared to meet for legislative and regulatory briefings at CUNA’s offices. Meetings with legislators will be scheduled throughout the day on Wednesday, followed by group activities in the evening. Assuming availability of staff and/or Board members, NCUA meetings will take place Thursday morning and attendees can plan to fly out by Thursday afternoon. Please provide the home address for each attendee in the registration for this event.

Please contact Ryan Smith at [email protected] with any questions. For lodging information and to register, visit the event page for Hike the Hill.

MnCUN is excited welcome Dave Brown, Director of Insurance Services for our newly formed Trulync Medicare Advisors. After a successful pilot with TopLine Financial Credit Union, Dave and Trulync are in the process of developing a Medicare Insurance program for credit union members. Medicare can be an overwhelming and confusing process. And with 20% of credit union members aged 65 or older, we are excited about this opportunity to provide trusted guidance through this new program.

For 15 years, Dave has loved working with clients in the Medicare space. He is a seasoned veteran in assisting and advising others with finding a Medicare plan that best suits their needs. Dave served two terms as a Minnesota State Senator from 2011 – 2016 and was a strong supporter of credit union policy and legislation. Dave first became a credit union member while he was a senior in high school. Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, two daughters and son-in-law, and really loves time with his first grandson.

​Please join us in welcoming Dave to our team, and watch for more information about TruLync Medicare Advisors coming this Fall.