Learn more about the outstanding programs, new initiatives and well-deserved recognition received by your peers recently. Got news of your own? Send stories, pitches, press releases and published articles to MnCUN Director of Communications Julia Miller.
  
Credit Union Program Incentivizes Financial Stability
TopLine Federal Credit Union Members and Employees Help Youth Get Ready for Back to School
Volkmann Earns Promotion at Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
First Alliance Credit Union Opens New Stewartville Branch
Savanna Givens - Patience and Persistence

Thank you for your patience as we have shifted the Annual Conference from April to November, and now to a virtual event. The Virtual Annual Conference will take place on Wednesday, November 18 and Thursday, November 19, 2020.

Join hundreds of credit union professionals from across Minnesota for this interactive, online experience that delivers inspiring educational content, opportunities to network, and a virtual exhibit hall where new connections may reveal new solutions for your credit union. You’ll hear from a lineup of forward thinking, inspirational speakers as they share what it takes to make your credit union remarkable, how to overcome adversity, and emerge from 2020 even stronger.

If you already registered for the April in person event, you DO NOT need to re-register. We will reach out to your credit union about transferring your registration to the virtual event.

For a schedule, speaker listing, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit our Virtual Annual Conference page online. 

The Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN), via Lockton Companies, reached an arrangement with Guardian Insurance that will allow MnCUN member credit unions to receive discounted rates on ancillary employee benefits including, Basic Life and AD&D, Short and Long-Term Disability, Dental, Vision and others. MnCUN will be hosting a 30-minute virtual meeting next Wednesday, September 30 to provide additional details on the offering and how a credit union can receive a quote. The meeting will start at 10:30 am.

Invitations for the meeting will be sent out to Presidents/CEOs and Human Resource personnel later today. If you have any questions, please contact MnCUN General Counsel, Tim Tacheny, via email or at 651-288-5517.

I​The association health plan formed for Minnesota credit unions, the Minnesota Credit Union Employee Benefits Plan, is providing insurance quotes for 2021. The Benefits Plan offers eight plan designs and eight provider networks as well as ancillary lines of coverage.

​The plan utilizes the cooperative model by allowing credit unions to come together, as if they were one large employer, to purchase employee benefits. By coming together like this, credit unions have more bargaining power, can reduce cost and risk volatility and offer more options to employees and their families.

It’s renewal season - Don’t wait. Submit your request for a proposal today. More information, including instructions on how to receive a proposal, is available on our website.

NCUA Regulatory Alerts

NCUA Board approves exemption from Patriot Act requirements for loans extended to facilitate the financing of property and casualty insurance policies – September 17, 2020

NCUA approves Final Rule Temporarily deferring the requirement for an appraisal or written estimate of value for certain real estate-related transactions – September 17, 2020

At their core, effective insurance products and financial services must be customer-centric, benefiting both credit unions and their members. Offerings need to be easy to understand and simple to apply for and administer. Most importantly, coverages need to protect customers in their time of need. We know that credit unions work hard to ensure the products they offer are the right match for the members they serve. And the events of this year have made the need for that focus even more clear: To serve members best, we must further emphasize a consumer needs-based approach to developing the solutions we offer.
​
As chief financial and product officer at CUNA Mutual Group, I’m charged with leading a diverse product portfolio. Through what we’ve learned in today’s environment, we must ask ourselves, “How do our products level the playing field?” “Do we provide access and opportunities to protect all families and individuals, regardless of their backgrounds?” and “Where can we break down the barriers that prevent us from serving more members, and making financial security accessible to all?”

MnCUN Signs onto League Letter Urging Congressional Action on PPP Loan Forgiveness

On Monday, MnCUN joined CUNA and 34 other state credit union leagues in sending a letter to the Democratic and Republican leaders in both the US House and Senate to urge them to take up and pass S. 4117 and H.R. 7777, the Paycheck Protection Program Small Business Forgiveness Act.

Minn. Senate Rejects Appointment of Gov. Walz’s Commerce Commissioner

Last Friday, in a move that had been rumored for weeks, the GOP-controlled body voted to not confirm the appointment of Commerce Commissioner Steve Kelley. 

CUNA and its League partners are the most influential financial services organization and one of the top ten most effective advocacy organizations in Washington, D.C., according to an independent study conducted by Ballast Research (formally National Journal Research) earlier this year.
​
For the fifth year in a row, the CUNA-League system earned the distinction as a leading association at representing the interests of its members by creating the credit union narrative and sharing the movement’s story among Washington policymakers.

"The Minnesota Credit Union Network is proud to work alongside CUNA to amplify credit union voices on Capitol Hill," said MnCUN President & CEO Mark Cummins. "Now more than ever, it is critical the Members of Congress understand the CU Difference and MnCUN is pleased that our message is well-received and respected."

Key findings of the study include:

• The CUNA-League system was #1 in representing the views of credit unions among organizations studied
• The CUNA-League system’s reputation was rated #1 in the financial services industry and #5 overall against other prominent associations by Washington's Senior Policymakers.
• The CUNA-League system gained significant strides for respect as an organization in the public debate field, proving our marketing and strategic communications as successful.
• The CUNA-League system outperforms its peers in the financial services industry in all areas of advocacy, including:
  • Activating members and state Leagues to directly engage policymakers,
  • Contributing accurate and reliable research & data for policy conversations,
  • Consistently and effectively communicating with Washington policymakers,
  • Having strong engagement from executives,
  • Building credible partnerships, and more.
• The CUNA-League system is uniquely bipartisan, scoring well above the average of other prominent associations with both Republicans and Democrats.

According to the Ballast study, one policy advisor serving in the U.S. Senate noted: “CUNA has a competitive advantage in showcasing local voices. They have more civic engagement, they have more members, they try to do more in the community.”

CU FORWARD Day, the annual celebration of credit unions spreading kindness, will be held on Monday, October 12, 2020. So far, 39 credit unions and organizations have committed to give back to their communities on the traditional bank holiday.

What can we accomplish for 2020?
​
There are many opportunities to take part at home, virtually or in socially-distant small groups.
Visit the CU FORWARD Day Resource page (Member Login required) for ideas and resources to help plan.
 
To register for CU FORWARD Day, contact Director of Engagement, Ben Hering, by email.