​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 the virtual Hike the Hill visits, credit union professionals and volunteers will meet with the entire Minnesota Congressional Delegation.

​Meetings will be scheduled on various days during the week of September 20th to allow for maximum flexibility for members of Congress to able to attend. Once meetings have been scheduled, attendees will receive a calendar invitation from Network staff with the exact date and time.

Please contact Ryan Smith, MnCUN Director of Governmental Affairs with any questions.

The Women’s Leadership Network invites female credit union colleagues to our next event on Wednesday, August 18th from 10:30 am – 2:00 pm at the Holiday Inn & Suites Duluth-Downtown. The event will feature an in-person luncheon, panel discussion and networking event, plus an optional golf outing in beautiful Duluth.

​​We are kicking off a new series – Credit Union Superwomen – with a panel discussion highlighting several of Minnesota Credit Union’s Top Women in Finance recipients. Discussion topics include career journeys, surviving the pandemic, why a career in credit unions, and more. Our panelists include: 

• Alisha Johnson, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer, Ideal Credit Union
• Deb Almirall, CEO, Minnesota Power Employees Credit Union
• Christine Cordell, Senior Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness, Hiway Credit Union
• Mary Hansen, CEO, Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union
• Sue Palen, Executive Vice President, Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union
• Mara Humphrey, Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer, MnCUN
• Jenna Taubel, CREW Ambassador, First Alliance Credit Union, Facilitator

There will also be an optional 9-hole Golf Event following the luncheon at Grandview Golf Links, with tee times starting at 3:00 pm.

Registration is now open and the deadline is August 13th. We hope you can join us for an engaging conversation, and reconnect with your Women’s Leadership Network colleagues.

This will be the first event in a hybrid series titled Credit Union Superwomen, which will feature female industry experts both locally and nationally. Watch for more information and registration for upcoming opportunities coming soon! 
​
For more on the Minnesota Credit Union Women’s Leadership Network, visit the group page online.

​With questions, please contact MnCUN Director of Engagement Ben Hering by email or call at (651) 288-5519.

Advance your credit union career with Trailblazers  Executive Readiness Training. This 12-month program is designed to accelerate executive level leadership skills and build credit union specific knowledge needed to succeed in our industry.

​Having high-potential leaders in the pipeline is critical for credit unions and the industry. Designed by Minnesota Credit Union professionals – the program is intended to prepare emerging leaders for executive level positions. Topics include Leadership Skills, Credit Union Financials, Credit Union Operations, and Strategic Planning & Growth. Courses will be facilitated by both experts in the field and current credit union leaders. Upon completion participants will receive a Minnesota Credit Union Executive Leadership Certification.

The deadline to apply is Friday, July 23. With questions, contact Mara Humphrey , Andrea Molnau or Ben Hering.

​For details about prize-linked savings, please contact Director of Engagement, Ben Hering, via email. More information about WINcentive Savings, including a list of participating credit unions, can be found at wincentivesavings.org.

As your state trade association, the Minnesota Credit Union Network works to ensure the success, growth and vitality of our member credit unions by creating a positive public environment through leadership, political advocacy, education, awareness and regulatory assistance.

​​We value our members’ continued trust in us, and we appreciate the opportunity to be able to serve credit unions throughout the state. We are pleased to share our efforts on behalf of credits unions for the first half of 2021.

Advocate

• Lobbied and tracked nearly 60 pieces of legislation in the Minnesota legislature.
• Worked with Senator Smith and Congressman Emmer to introduce legislation in both Congressional bodies to allow for federal credit unions to expel members for cause without requiring a full vote of their membership. 
• Submitted eight comment letters regarding regulatory matters of interest to credit unions.
• Responded to 309 compliance and legal questions.
• Passed state charter enhancement legislation to give parity to state-chartered credit unions to allow them to open accounts for people that have had previous accounts forcibly closed within 12 months.
• Prevented legislation that would have created a group to study credit unions acquiring bank assets from getting a committee hearing.
• Posted 73 stories to the Credit Union News Channel and influenced 37 earned media mentions. Earned media efforts include Financial Wellbeing, Economic Inclusion, and Elder Abuse Prevention.
• ​14.6 million digital ad impressions the first and second quarters of 2021, delivered to Minnesota consumers through OTT Streaming Ads, Social Media, Banner and Video Pre-roll. Click through rates and engagement at or above benchmark ranges for the various platforms ads are placed.

Collaborate

• Offered 117 education sessions and webinars; including major events IMPACT Week at the Capitol, Virtual GAC, and the new Ctrl.Alt.Innovate Conference, a partnership with eight Midwest credit union leagues.
• Held virtual events for P2P sessions, Women’s Leadership Network, and the CREW Young Professionals Group – including a new Coffee with the Crew format.
• Launched new leadership development opportunities: the Tristate Mentorship Match and Trailblazers Executive Readiness programs.
• Established new Credit Union Foundation Peer to Peer group.
• Offered CUNA Enhanced Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) in partnership with Mark Lynch and CU Difference for the fourth year.
• Honored six CU Builders.
• Launched financial inclusion education series and offered Exploring Why and Financial Wellbeing for All Minnesotans.
• Recognized 9 credit unions with 21 awards via the Marketing Awards program.
• The Foundation Scholarship Council awarded $16,000 in scholarships to sixteen Minnesota credit union members.
• The CU4Kids committee hosted the 26th Annual Minnesota CU4Kids Golf Tournament and raised $27,172 - the highest recorded amount.
• Formed a tri-state collaboration with the Wisconsin and Montana league service corporations to maximize resources and collectively negotiated several vendor agreements.

Accelerate

• Debuted online DEI Resource Center and incorporated DEI content within programming each quarter.
• Launched new jobs board for members with significant improvements in user experience and enhanced ability to share job postings. 140 positions at credit unions have been posted since launch in mid-May.
• Enhanced the offering of the Minnesota Credit Union Employee Benefits Plan by adding ancillary benefit options through Guardian Life, and have grown it to 15 participating employer groups.
• The WINcentive – Minnesota program has reached $10 million saved milestone with over $40 million saved in TruLync managed PLS programs across the country.
• Working to expand PLS nationwide with the Montana and Wisconsin leagues.
• Offered Partner Education webinar series for five Strategic Alliance/VIP partners.
• Launched the new Data Education Program, certifying 12 credit union staff as data transformation specialists.
• Added Eltropy as a Strategic Alliance to help credit unions compete in today’s financial environment.
• NetGiver has welcomed 9 more credit unions and launched a “guest pass” for credit unions to get non-members on the program. 
• Sold TruLync’s item processing services to Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union to keep that line of business in the credit union system and ensure a high level of service for Minnesota credit unions.

We look forward to continuing to serve our member credit unions for the second half of 2021!

Golf tournaments are back for 2021! Join an upcoming Credit Union Chapter Golf tournament in fellowship with the credit union movement  and to support Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare. 

​​Lakes & Pines Chapter of Credit Unions Golf Tournament & Steak Fry 
Proceeds to Support Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare. Register as a foursome to guarantee teammates! 
Registrations due by July 30th by email or mail. Contact Jaime Preshiren by email: [email protected]

Friday, Aug. 6, Hoyt Lakes Golf Course
4099 Allen Jct Rd.,
​Hoyt Lakes, MN 55750
​$70.00 / Golf & Steak (Includes cart)
$30.00 / Person for the Steak Fry only

​​​Golfing Details

• 9 Hole
• 1:00 PM Shotgun Start
• 4 Person Scramble

Twin Cities Chapter of Credit Unions Best Ball Scramble Golf Tournament
​Please come support the Twin Cities Chapter of Credit Unions with proceeds benefiting Credit Unions For Kids and CUPAC. NEW discounted price for CREW members: $85 registration fee which includes golf, cart, box lunch, and one drink ticket.

Monday, August 9, 2021.
Forest Hills Golf Club
7530 North 210 Street,
Forest Lake, MN 5502

Registrations are due July 28.

Cost: $110–includes golfing, cart, box lunch and prizes

Sponsor the Twin Cities Chapter Golf Tournament

ViClarity (fka PolicyWorks, LLC) updated its Ability to Repay/Qualified Mortgage Policy as of June 30, 2021. The updates are described in the comments on the document and include updates for changes to the General Qualified Mortgage category as well as the addition of the Seasoned Qualified Mortgage category. PolicyAid is available to credit unions as a benefit of being a member of the Minnesota Credit Union Network. 

​​If you have any questions regarding PolicyAid, please contact MnCUN General Counsel, Tim Tacheny.  

​The Minnesota Credit Union Network 2021 Session Summary is now available. This publication provides an overview of relevant legislation introduced this year and includes MnCUN's position on the legislation, the outcome, and its impact on credit unions.