At the Marketing, PR & Development Council Conference in Austin, TX, last week, Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) member credit unions, Affinity Plus FCU, Altra FCU, Blaze CU, Members Cooperative CU, North Star CU, Northridge Community CU, Royal CU and SouthPoint Financial CU, were recognized for their outstanding work in sharing the credit union advantage with their members and communities.

The most prestigious annual credit union marketing competition, the Diamond Awards recognize and reward creative excellence and outstanding results.

​Several MnCUN member credit unions, received the Category's Best distinction for the following submissions: 

• Leading the Way: Affinity Plus’ Innovative NIL Partnership with Gopher Sports Out of Home Creative
• NorthRidge Community Credit Union: NorthRidge Little Free Pantry
• Royal Credit Union: Money Donuts Podcast

"Congratulate to this year's winners of the Diamond Awards. Your creative excellence and outstanding results truly set the standard for our industry and highlight the innovative spirit and dedication that drive our credit unions forward," said MnCUN President & CEO Mara Humphrey.

Greater Community Credit Union ranked fifth and Two Harbors Federal Credit Union ranked 68th in S&P Global Market Intelligence's 2024 Top Bank and Credit Union Ranking.

S&P Global Market Intelligence based these ratings on "six weighted financial metrics: member growth (20%), shares and deposits per member (20%), net worth as a percentage of total assets (20%), return on average assets (20%), delinquent loans as a percentage of total loans (10%), and net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans (10%)." 

"Congratulations to Greater Community and Two Harbors for being recognized nationally and for being good financial stewards for their members," said Minnesota Credit Union Network President Mara Humphrey. “The recognition of these two credit unions speaks to the high standards that credit unions across Minnesota maintain every day and the partnership with the communities and members they serve.”

To be included in the ranking, a credit union must have reported at least $100 million in total assets and a net worth ratio of at least 7% as of Dec. 31, 2024. Based on this criteria, 1,798 credit unions qualified for the ranking.

​Access the full list of 2024 Top Bank and Credit Union Rankings – National.

Learn more about the outstanding programs, new initiatives and well-deserved recognition received by your peers recently:​

• Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union raises funds for local Special Olympics program
• Red Wing Credit Union earns ninth consecutive professional services award
• Accentra Credit Union announces leadership transition
• ​NorthRidge Community Credit Union Shares Impact that Childcare has on Business​

8 MnCUN member credit unions are among the credit unions nationwide to be recognized as 2025 Diamond Award recipients:

• Affinity Plus FCU
• Altra FCU
• Members Cooperative CU
• Blaze CU
• North Star CU
• NorthRidge Community CU
• SouthPoint Financial CU
• Royal CU

The specific categories in which these credit unions were recognized and the coveted Best of Show Award will all be announced on Tuesday, March 25 at the 2025 Marketing, PR & Development Conference in Austin, TX. 

Melissa Cox, Marketing Manager, North Star Credit Union and Ashley Kjenaas, Marketing Manager, NorthRidge Community Credit Union will present a session titled, "The Rural Cluster" and will explore how to maximize impact through smart audience segmentation, hyper-localized messaging, and cost-effective marketing channels.

​Got news of your own? Send stories, pitches, press releases and published articles to MnCUN Director of Communications Julia Miller.

Learn more about the outstanding programs, new initiatives and well-deserved recognition received by your peers recently:​

• Mara Humphrey, MnCUN President & CEO: A century of trust (and hairstyles). A future of possibilities, 
  
• Expedition Credit Union Names New President/CEO, 
  
• First Alliance Credit Union Expands Field of Membership in SE MN, 
  
• Blaze Credit Union Partners With University of Minnesota Alumni Association, 
  
• Alloya Announces Fee Waiver for All Members and 
  
• Affinity Plus Takes the Plunge to Support Special Olympics Minnesota.

​Got news of your own? Send stories, pitches, press releases and published articles to MnCUN Director of Communications Julia Miller.

Congratulations to the Minnesota Credit Union leaders who have been appointed to America’s Credit Unions committees:

•  Justin Burleson, Blaze CU, Industry Relations, Economics & Share Insurance Committee, 
  
• Steve Ewers, Members Cooperative CU, World Affairs Committee, 
  
• Jay Gostonczik, SouthPoint Financial CU, Advocacy Policy Committee, 
  
• Greg Higgins, Wings Financial CU, Emerging Issues Committee,
  
• Dave Larson, Affinity Plus FCU, National CU Roundtable Committee, 
  
• Peter Olsen, Ideal CU, Volunteer Leadership Committee,
• Pat Pierce, City & County CU, Advocacy Policy Committee,
• Simone Suri, Members Cooperative CU, Operations Committee, and
• Frank Weidner, Wings Financial CU, Advocacy Policy Committee.

 
All committees will have two-year staggered terms; in 2025, members will be invited for an initial one or two year term..Thank you to all for representing Minnesota credit unions at the national level!

Learn more about the outstanding programs, new initiatives and well-deserved recognition received by your peers recently:​

• Olsen Named Minnesota Power Employees CU President/CEO,
  
• NorthRidge Community Credit Union Proud to Support Free Pantries,
• Blaze Foundation Seventh Annual Curling Fundraising Event Sets a New Record By Raising More Than $150,000,
• First Alliance Credit Union honors Firehouse Roots with Training Program,
• Ideal CU Partners with Fintech Coviance to Accelerate Home Equity Loan Process,
• Affinity Plus Opens New Shakopee Branch to Serve Growing Membership,
• Credit Union Financial Education Network Makes National Push for Financial Education,
• Reed Named Mid Minnesota FCU Chief Revenue Officer, and
• Veridian Credit Union announces recipients of $90k in Giving Tuesday donations.

Got news of your own? Send stories, pitches, press releases and published articles to MnCUN Director of Communications Julia Miller.

The National Credit Union Foundation recently announced the following Minnesotans received a CUDE designation:

• Gena Anderson, First Alliance CU
• Jenna Taubel, First Alliance CU
• Ki-Anya Richey, North Memorial FCU

The DE Program helps credit union leaders understand and leverage credit unions’ unique business model to serve members and communities in new and better ways. While many trainings focus on the “what” and the “how” of credit union service and operations, the DE Program continues to focus on the “why”. 

Learn more about the outstanding programs, new initiatives and well-deserved recognition received by your peers recently:

• New Medicare Insurance Option with Local Resource Tom Kuppich,
• Julie Cosgrove, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union and Amara Mackey, Ideal Credit Union to be honored as Top Women in Finance, 
• TopLine Financial Credit Union Partners with Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines to Offer a New Mortgage Rate Relief Program, 
• Royal Credit Union Contributes $15,000 to Local Food Shelves in Support of Hunger Action Month,
• Affinity Plus Foundation Expands Scholarship Program with 30% Program Increase, 
• Veridian Credit Union celebrates 90th anniversary with Prizes, Kindness and Donations, ​and
• Ideal Credit Union Hires Doug Dotseth as Mortgage Loan Officer to Lead Members With Their Mortgage Lending Needs.

Got news of your own? Send stories, pitches, press releases and published articles to MnCUN Director of Communications Julia Miller.

Learn more about the outstanding programs, new initiatives, and well-deserved recognition received by your peers recently:  

• Veridian Credit Union celebrates 90th anniversary with prizes, kindness and donations
• Ideal Credit Union Hires Doug Dotseth as Mortgage Loan Officer to Lead Members With Their Mortgage Lending Needs

• TopLine Financial Credit Union Partners With Rondo Community Land Trust to Create Homeownership Opportunities
• Minnesota Credit Unions Show Stable Second Quarter Performance:​ 
  • Minnesota credit union assets grew 0.4% above the national median growth rate of -0.2%.
  • Membership at Minnesota credit unions grew 0.4% in median year-over-year member growth, ranking 12th in the nation and above the national average of -0.3%. MnCUN analysis of NCUA data shows that credit union membership continues to increase, and as of June 2023, is 36.9% of the Minnesota population.
  • Median loan to share ratio is 79%, ranking 11th nationally.
  • 89% of Minnesota Credit Unions had positive year-to-date net income, ranking 10th in the nation.
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Got news of your own? Send stories, pitches, press releases and published articles to MnCUN Director of Communications Julia Miller.