It’s an inconvenient truth - the timing of customers’ financial needs don’t always align with balance sheet strategy or marketing campaigns. Due to the pandemic, banks and credit unions were flooded with an unprecedented level of deposits but faced muted demand for the loans that put these funds to work. 

Although no one has a silver bullet to synchronize customer needs with portfolio strategy, there may be an equation. SRM’s latest white paper, How Financial Institutions Can Boost Account Growth to Move with Changing Margins, offers a disciplined approach to being present when customers are “in-market” as well as a “growth equation” to boost account growth performance.

SRM is a MnCUN Strategic Alliance. Contact Kris Jacobsen, Director of Business Development, to learn more.

​The Foundation Scholarship Council (FSC) annual scholarship program will run from September 1 through November 30, 2021 with recipients being announced in March 2022. Applications are now being accepted for the 2022/23 Foundation Scholarship Council (FSC) scholarship program. 

​This year the council will be awarding $16,000 which includes eight $1,000 scholarships to traditional applicants and eight $1,000 scholarships to non-traditional applicants. Any member of a Minnesota Credit Union Network affiliated credit union pursuing post-secondary education in the fall 2022/spring 2023 OR is a high school senior graduating in 2022 is eligible to apply.

Applications are being accepted online with a submission deadline of November 30, 2021. Applicants are asked to answer the following essay question: How did the way you interact and communicate with businesses change during the pandemic and what would you like to see continue in the future?  From these experiences what suggestions do you have for your credit union?

The Foundation Scholarship Council (FSC) is a committee of the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation. The FSC strives to build credit union brand awareness and strengthen member relationships through their scholarship program. Since its inauguration in 1997, the FSC has awarded over $200,000 in scholarships to Minnesota credit union members.

With questions about the scholarship program, contact the FSC.

The State Fair presence comes after similar digital truck and mobile ads at other events such as:

• We Fest – Detroit Lakes
• Twin Cities Pride - Minneapolis
• Bayfront Festival – Duluth
• Summer Jam - Shakopee

 
Through July, the Awareness campaign had exceeded our impression and engagement goals for 2021 including matching or beating CUNA benchmarks on click-thru rates and CPM.

​The Awareness initiative represents the true spirit of the cooperative movement to help more consumers understand the advantages being a credit union member. With questions, please contact Andrea Molnau, VP Communications & Engagement, by email or 651-288-5527.

​The Minnesota Department of Commerce is accepting applications for Financial Institution Chief Examiner in anticipation of Marcia Lewis' upcoming retirement. This position will oversee the regulation of Minnesota state chartered credit unions. Primary responsibilities include managing the examination program, application process, and consumer complaints. The minimum qualifications include:

•  Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration or related degrees.

​AND

• 6  years of professional level work experience at a financial institution, including extensive knowledge of the state regulatory process

OR

• at least 3 years as a Financial Institution Assistant Examiner, Examiner, Senior Examiner or higher at the Department of Commerce
• Applicants who meet the above education/experience requirements, must also meet the following to be considered:
• Experience as a supervisor or manager of professional level employees.
• Communication skills sufficient to relay sensitive information to staff, the public, financial institutions, and other state agencies.

How to Apply
Click “Apply” at the bottom of this page. If you are unable to apply online, please contact the job information line at 651.259.3637.

For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.  

Contact
If you have questions about the position, contact  Amy Uhlendorf at amy.uhlendorf@state.mn.us or 651.539.1505.

NCUA Offers Webinar on Modernized Exam Tools: On Wednesday, Sept. 8, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) will host a webinar on its modernized examination tools. 

​Bureau Updates Technical Specifications for Credit Card Agreement and Data Submissions: Last Friday the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) announced new technical specifications for complying with the credit card and data submission requirements under TILA and the CARD Act (Regulation Z).

​The webinars won’t just cover the risks, they will include risk mitigation strategies credit unions can use to help protect themselves. You’ll have the opportunity to hear from, and ask questions of, attorneys and other subject matter experts with expertise working with credit unions.

The conference will take place via live webinar on Sept. 28, Nov. 10 and Jan. 11. We also want our credit union attorneys to know that they more than welcome to attend and we would love to have you. Visit the Attorney's Conference for Non-Attorneys webpage for more details and the registration links. You have the option of registering for one or two of the webinars. There is a bundle discount if you register for all three.

We also want our credit union attorneys to know that they more than welcome to attend and we would love to have you. 
If you have any questions, please contact MnCUN General Counsel, Tim Tacheny, via email or at 651-288-5517

​Hike the Hill provides credit union representatives with a unique 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, registered attendees will receive a calendar invitation from Network staff with the exact date and time. The week will kick off with a Legislative Briefing from Network staff on Mon., September 20 at 10 a.m.

Please contact Ryan Smith at rsmith@mncun.org with any questions.

The second Branch Operations P2P of the year will continue with an open format conversation with peers around credit union branch operations. This event is meant to be an opportunity to meet and share with one another. Details regarding content and presentations to come!

The Fall 2021 P2P sessions will continue to be held as virtual sessions to provide open forums for credit union staff throughout Minnesota, and to create forums for conversations conducive to credit union knowledge sharing, resources and connections. 

This event will be made only via webinar/conference call. Webinar and call in instructions 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.

Date: Tues., Sept. 14
Time: 2:00 pm
Webinar/Video Conference
Price: $39.00