Credit Unions are encouraged to continue financially support of the Minnesota Awareness Initiative for 2022. Minnesota was 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. The campaign’s digital-first strategy positions research-proven messages to put credit unions at the center of consumer consideration when needing a financial service. 

​The initiative promotes credit unions to consumers statewide through a cooperative advertising effort, and is an important element of MnCUN’s 50x30 goal – 50% of Minnesotans belonging to a credit union by 2030. As we enter the fourth year of the initiative, we are excited to debut a new national creative platform to help move consumers from awareness to action, and align messaging with advocacy and financial inclusion efforts.

Contributors to the 2022 campaign will receive use of new marketing materials; plus preferred placement on the campaign’s credit union locator – www.yourmoneyfurther.com. We are excited to introduce further enhancements and new features coming early in 2022 including an enhanced locator and lead generation tools.
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The 2022 Awareness Fund contribution guideline is $1 per member. Pledge forms and resources to share the initiative and results with your credit union Board or Staff teams are available on the MnCUN online Awareness page. With questions, contact MnCUN Vice President - Communications and Engagement Andrea Molnau.

​Join your colleagues for the Minnesota Credit Union Network's ACCELERATE 21 – our rebranded Annual Conference. ​The event is planned to be back in person November 18-19, 2021 at the Radisson Blu MOA, Bloomington. ​MnCUN's biggest event of the year will offer both formal and informal opportunities to network, reconnect with your colleagues, and make new connections; including: 

Wednesday, November 17
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Women’s Leadership Network Pre-event (Conference attendees DO need to register separately for this event.) The Women’s Leadership Network invites female credit union colleagues to a special pre-event option prior to ACCELERATE 21. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Jennifer Esperanza, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Coopera Consulting, a firm that focuses on financial inclusion for a variety of underserved populations. Register here.
 
Thursday, November 18
1:00-2:00 p.m. Ice Cream Social and Networking 
Join us from 1-2 pm to play the “Masked Up Meet Up” networking bingo game! Enjoy ice cream and check off your bingo card boxes as you meet people and organizations who fit into the descriptions provided. Turn in your completed card for a chance to win a prize!
 
4:30-5:30 p.m. Tradeshow Reception
Enjoy refreshments and networking with our exhibiting partners and colleagues during our tradeshow reception.

Visit the Accelerate 21 page on mncun.org​ for the full schedule and to register.

MnCUN is committed to the wellbeing of all attendees, guests, sponsors, speakers, and staff as we return to in person events. Staff will continue to monitor the situation leading up to and at the event, and communicate any changes. In addition to full conference, in person registration, we are also offering a new Virtual registration option that will provide viewing access to the conference general sessions.

With questions, contact MnCUN Vice President of Communications and Engagement Andrea Molnau or Director of Engagement Ben Hering.

​The Minnesota Credit Union Network Marketing Awards acknowledges the outstanding programs credit unions have created to grow brand awareness and market to members and nonmembers alike.

There is no cost to submit entries for Minnesota Credit Union Network-affiliated credit unions and submissions are open through 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, October 29, 2021. Submissions forms are available on the Marketing Awards page of the MnCUN.org website. Contact Julia Miller, MnCUN Director of Communications by email with questions.

Save the Date: Marketing Awards Celebration
Celebrate the outstanding programs credit unions have created to grow brand awareness during a virtual ceremony. More details, including guest speakers to come!

Date: Tuesday, December 14 
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $39.00
Location: Virtual Webinar
Register Online

The Minnesota Department of Commerce Chief Examiner position has been reposted and is still accepting applications. The Chief Examiner oversees the the regulation of Minnesota state-chartered credit unions, manages the examination program, application process and consumer complaints.

This position is critical to the credit union industry in Minnesota. Please reach out to anyone who might be a good fit and encourage them to apply! The posting closes November 4, 2021.
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Interested applicants should visit: Search Jobs / Careers in the State of Minnesota (mn.gov) and search for Job #47863.

The second webinar in our Attorney’s Conference for Non-Attorneys series is coming up on Wednesday, November 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will cover risk mitigation. Expert speakers from the CUNA Mutual Group will review trends in Bond Claims and HR/Employer Risks. An attorney from the law firm of Husch Blackwell will review Arbitration Clauses and we will provide an update on IP issues related to remote deposit capture technology. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from, and ask questions of, attorneys and other subject matter experts who specialize working with credit unions.

Visit the event page for more details and the registration links. Contact MnCUN General Counsel, Tim Tacheny, via email or at 651-288-5517, with any questions. 

At its meeting last Thursday, the NCUA Board approved two final rules. The Board unanimously approved a final rule adding the sensitivity to market (“S”) component to the CAMEL rating system.

The second Accounting & Finance P2P of the year will continue with an open format conversation with peers. Our session will start with a presentation from Bob Larson, Financial Consultant, CUNA Mutual Group with an economic update and the future impact on credit unions’ Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and, in particular, credit union earnings. Please come prepared with your questions (or you may submit them prior to the event) as we will be opening up the session to Q & A at multiple points. 

This event is meant to be an opportunity to meet and share with one another and 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.

​Consider a donation of either a silent auction item, or a monetary/cash donation to help make the FSC's goal a reality! Your support is greatly appreciated, and any donation you make is an investment in the youth of Minnesota. 

Contributions:
Cash donations: Please submit with a contribution form to the address below. Checks should be made payable to: Minnesota Credit Union Foundation; with “FSC” in the memo line. OR donate online.

Foundation Scholarship Council
Minnesota Credit Union Foundation
555 Wabasha St N, Suite 200
Saint Paul, MN 55102

Item donations: Please submit with a contribution form to either the address below no later than Friday, November 12 or deliver in person at the FSC Silent Auction booth any time Thursday morning, November 18, 2021.

Ben Hering
Minnesota Credit Union Network
55 Wabasha Street N, Suite 200
St. Paul, MN 55102