Join your colleagues for the Minnesota Credit Union Network's ACCELERATE 23– our Annual Conference. The event is April 13-14 at the Radisson Blu MOA, Bloomington. MnCUN's biggest event of the year - these 2 days will feature guest speakers, educational sessions, the Annual Business meeting, networking, the state’s largest tradeshow, and opportunities to support great causes. 

We are excited to announce the following General and Break-out Session speakers:

•  Laura Boyd, CEO Leadership Delta: “The Future of Work: Retaining our Talent”
• Casey O'Brien, 5 time cancer survivor, former Minnesota Gopher football player, speaker: “The Three Keys to Overcoming Adversity”
• Nick Westergaard, Marketing Strategist: “Get Scrappy: Smarter Digital Marketing for Credit Unions Big and Small”
• Ken Otsuka , Senior Consultant in the Risk & Compliance Solutions Department, CUNA Mutual Group: “Cybersecurity”
• David Reed, Attorney, author, consultant and nationally recognized trainer: "Financial Complexity and Good Governance: How Do Directors Face the New Reality?” and “Board Challenge: Building a Deeper Bench”
• Emma Hayes, Chief Culture Officer at State Employees Credit Union: “Strategy and Culture Connection”
• Tom Slefinger, Senior Vice President, Institutional Fixed Income Sales, Alloya Investment Services: “Maximizing Income in a Post-Pandemic World”

Registration is now open. Receive $50 off the regular registration rate if you register by Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. 

For more information, schedule at a glance, lodging details and more, visit our Accelerate 23 page online. With questions, contact MnCUN Vice President of Communications and Engagement Andrea Molnau.

Ben Hering, Minnesota Credit Union Network's Director of Engagement, is leaving his position after 5 years of service for a role at CU Compare. 

We are excited for his next endeavor and thank him for his contributions to the Minnesota credit movement! 

Ben led the coordination of CU Forward Day and the WINcentive Savings Program and worked with the Association for Black Economic Power launch the state’s only Black-led credit union.

​​The Minnesota Credit Union Network is accepting applications for the Director of Engagement position. Interested applicants can apply at the Minnesota Credit Unions Jobs Board.

The Minnesota Credit Union Network Board of Directors and the Minnesota Credit Union Employee Benefits Plan Board of Trustees recently issued calls for candidates to serve on their respective boards.

2023 Minnesota Credit Union Network Board Election 
Three seats are up for election in 2023: two in the at-large category (3-year term), and one in the 10,000 or fewer credit union members category (3-year terms). 

The current Board of Directors is comprised of the following individuals (an asterisk indicates that the seat is up for election):

• Dave Boden: At-Large
• Mary Hansen: At-Large
• Brian Sherrick: At-Large*
• Tom Smith: At-Large
• Dan Stoltz: At-Large* (termed-off)
• Dana Garrett: Fewer than 10,000 members
• Julia Havens: Fewer than 10,000 members
• Debora Almirall: Fewer than 10,000 members
• Randy Willert: Fewer than 10,000 members*

The election process is outlined in the Network bylaws, Network Election Policy and 2023 Election Rules, and was initiated with the appointment of the Election Committee.

​The Minnesota Credit Union Network Election Committee, appointed by Mary Hansen, Chair of the Minnesota Credit Union Network, has the responsibility of overseeing the 2023 Network Board of Directors election process. The election will be conducted exclusively by mail ballot and the results will be announced at the Annual Business Meeting held during ACCELERATE 23, April 13 & 14.

​MN CU Employee Benefits Plan Board of Trustees
Two seats are up for election in 2023, both for three-year terms. The current Board of Trustees is comprised of the following individuals (an asterisk indicates that the seat is up for election):

• Mark Cummins, Appointed by Plan Sponsor, MnCUN
• John Ferstl, Appointed by Plan Sponsor, MnCUN  
• Brian Sherrick, Ideal Credit Union, Representative of MnCUN Board
• Aaron DeJong, Red Wing Credit Union Elected
• Mary Matheson, Elected
• Jon Morrill, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union, Elected* (Declaration Received)
• Jay Gostonczik, SouthPoint Financial Credit Union, Elected* (Declaration Received)

Other Declared Candidates:
Charlie Yenni, Northern States Power - St. Paul Credit Union

The election process is outlined in the Plan, Election Policy and 2023 Election Rules and is initiated by this call for candidates.
The components and time frames are as follows:

1. Solicitation of candidates: emailed January 20, 2023.
2. Closing date for receiving candidacy declarations: February 24, 2023.
3. Distribution of candidate bios and ballots (if a contested election): March 1, 2023
4. Ballots must be received by MnCUN no later than 4:30 p.m. CDT on March 24. 

​
The election results will be announced by March 31.

U.S. House Passed Credit Union Board Modernization Act: On Monday night, the US House of Representatives passed the Credit Union Board Modernization Act to update the Federal Credit Union Act.
Bill to Regulate Payday Lending Approved by State House Committee: Last week, the state House Commerce committee heard and passed a bill, H.F. 290, to cap interest rates on short-term, high-interest loans, often referred to as payday loans. 
Commerce Commissioner Confirmed by the Minnesota Senate Committee: Last week, Grace Arnold was confirmed by a Senate committee to serve as the Commissioner of the Commerce Department.

NCUA Ends In-Person Exception for Virtual Board Meetings: In November 2021, the NCUA issued its third letter to Federal Credit Unions (FCUs) clarifying that it ended the exception for in-person quorum rule for board and annual meetings as of December 2022. 

​Member Expulsion Policy: The right to expel a member is statutory and subject to your credit union's Bylaws for State Chartered Credit Unions. The NCUA’s final rule on member expulsion is pending for Federal Credit Unions.

Last week, over 100 credit union professionals and board members from across the state gathered in-person at the Minnesota State Capitol for IMPACT 23: CU Day at the Capitol. ​This important advocacy event forms the foundation for a positive working relationship with legislators throughout the Legislative Session. 

​Speakers for the morning session included:

• State Senator Jordon Rasmussen met with the CREW Young Professionals,
• State Representative Kaohly Her spoke to the Grassroot Coordinators,
• Former State Representative Jim Davnie joined MnCUN Director of Governmental Affairs Ryan Smith for the session, "Legislators are People, too," and
• House Speaker Melissa Hortman, House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, and Assistant Minority Leader Zach Duckworth addressed the general session.

In the afternoon, credit union staff and board members met with legislators to discuss legislative priorities and credit unions role in promoting financial well-being and investing in local communities.

Save the date for our Peer-to-Peer (P2P) sessions this spring!  The P2P sessions will remain virtual, offering credit unions from across the state the opportunity to learn from one another, share knowledge and resources, and build connections. 

​This year, MnCUN is offering a credit union P2P subscription option, giving access to all P2P sessions for any staff at a credit union throughout the year. Any affiliated credit union may subscribe to the P2P program through a one-time, annual payment. The P2P subscription will come with a discount code unique to your credit union for registration at any of the P2P sessions throughout the year.

Below is our list of scheduled P2Ps for the spring of 2023. Registration for P2P sessions will be available on the MnCUN event calendar and on the P2P webpage.

Spring 2023 P2P Sessions:
03/07    BSA Officer and Compliance P2P
03/14    Financial Education P2P
03/16    Call Center P2P
03/23    Women’s Leadership Network P2P
03/28    Data & Analytics P2P
04/04    Training & Development P2P
04/27    Lending P2P
05/02    Board Directors P2P
05/04    Branch Operations P2P
05/09    Marketing & Business Development P2P
05/16    Collections P2P
05/18    Accounting & Finance P2P
06/07    Crew Young Professionals P2P

​With questions, please reach out to Andrea Molnau, VP of Communications & Engagement, via email. 

Calling all Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors! Please join us for a virtual roundtable with your counterparts in Minnesota, Montana and Wisconsin on Tuesday, March 7 from 11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. CST. The roundtable will include opportunities to share and learn best practices from your fellow CCUFC designees. The event is free although we ask that you please register.

​With questions, please contact Andrea Molnau, MnCU Foundation Executive Director at amolnau@mncun.org.