The Minnesota Credit Union Network and the Credit Union National Association are pleased to announce that applications for the annual Dora Maxwell, Louise Herring and Desjardins Financial Education recognition programs are now open. Submitted projects should have primarily taken place during 2022. 

The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 23. 

​Links to the individual award applications are below. Those who enter will compete with other credit unions in the same asset category. 

Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award recognizes credit unions that promote social responsibility. In particular, the focus of the award is to draw attention to external credit union projects and activities that benefit the community.

Louise Herring Award for Philosophy-in-Action focuses on the internal programs and services of a credit union. Credit unions who received the award have demonstrated the practical application of the credit union philosophy within the actual operations of the credit union.

Desjardins Youth and Adult Financial Education Awards recognizes the leadership of individual credit unions and chapters on behalf of youth and adult financial education. Activities eligible for consideration include those that raise awareness and marshal resources on behalf of financial literacy.

Award entries are judged by the Dakotas Credit Union Association Awards Committee to ensure unbiased results. The winners in each award category will advance to CUNA’s national contest where they will compete with credit unions across the country, with judging to take place this fall. 

Full program details and FAQs are available on the MnCUN Awards Page. Contact Julia Miller, MnCUN Director of Communications with questions by email at jmiller@mncun.org.

Save the date for MnCUN's biggest event of the year!

​ACCELERATE 24 will take place on April 18 & 19 at a new location - the Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake. These 2 days will feature guest speakers, educational sessions, networking, the state’s largest tradeshow and opportunities to support great causes. 

Registration will open in January 2024. Visit the ACCELERATE Page for updates.

With news of another bank failure, MnCUN and CUNA offer the following to help your staff members address any questions they may encounter from members.  

• All Minnesota credit union deposits are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) per individual up to $250,000, just as bank deposits are insured by the FDIC.
•  Minnesota Credit Unions want to reassure members their money is safe with a credit union.
•  The NCUA insurance that all of our members have is meant to provide consumers’ confidence during times of uncertainty.
• The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund was created by Congress in 1970 to insure members' deposits in federally insured credit unions. Administered by the NCUA, the Share Insurance Fund insures individual accounts up to $250,000, and a member’s interest in all joint accounts combined is insured up to $250,000.
• The Share Insurance Fund separately protects IRA and KEOGH retirement accounts up to $250,000.
• The Share Insurance Fund has the backing of the full faith and credit of the United States.
• Credit union members have never lost even a penny of insured savings at a federally insured credit union.
• 93% of deposits in Minnesota credit unions are insured.

Other Resources:

• In addition to federal insurance, many credit unions offer additional private or excess deposit insurance. Visit MyCreditUnion.gov for more information about the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund coverage for consumers.  
• CUNA has created a resource page with talking points and social media post options that address safety and soundness concerns.

To celebrate Financial Capability Month, Minnesota Credit Unions will be at the State Capitol tomorrow hosting a fun event that demonstrates how credit unions advance financial well-being for all Minnesotans.

​​We're bringing the life-sized board game, “Go BIG or Go Broke,” which helps players learn how their choices can impact their financial future. BIG stands for Behaviors Impact Goals. The game has been donated by and offered in partnership with Royal Credit Union.

Date: Thursday, April 27, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda

Go BIG or Go Broke is an engaging, life-sized board game designed to teach financial education in a way that's anything but boring! The players are the game pieces, moving around the board by answering trivia, decision, and chance questions, with some unexpected trips to the Money Pit and Credit Chaos Corner along the way. The object of the game is for players to earn the most money while expanding their financial knowledge.

We'll be joined by Dawson Co-op Credit Union, Farm Credit Employees Federal Credit Union, Royal Credit Union, SPIRE Credit Union, and Wings Financial Credit Union. 

Newly appointed MnCUN CEO and President Mara Humphrey addressed the general session and retiring MnCUN CEO and President Mark Cummins was honored during a celebration on Thursday night.

​Casey O'Brien, 5-time cancer survivor, former Minnesota Gopher football player, speaker and closed the conference with his presentation, “The Three Keys to Overcoming Adversity.”

During the annual business meeting, the election results were announced. One incumbent was re-elected, and two new members was elected to three-year terms on the MnCUN Board of Directors:

• Randy Willert, Two Harbors Federal Credit Union – 10,000 or Fewer Members Category
• Steve Ewers, President/CEO of Member’s Cooperative Credit Union – At Large Category
• Greg Worthen, President/CEO of My Credit Union – At Large Category ​

​Mark Cummins, MnCUN Board Members Tom Smith (TopLine Financial Credit Union) and Dan Stoltz (SPIRE Credit Union) were honored with a framed painting of Minnesota’s state flower, the lady slipper. Part of a one-of-a-kind state flower collection, these prints are displayed at the Credit Union House on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Cummins and Smith were recognized for their upcoming retirements and Stoltz for his final term as a Board Member.
 
Following the Business Meeting, Board table officers were elected. Dave Boden of Hiway CU will serve as Chair, Dana Garrett, North Memorial Federal CU will serve as Vice Chair, and Steve Ewers of Member’s Cooperative Credit Union will serve as Secretary/Treasurer.

View the entire photo gallery from the event: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PdeKxRFQPNQ1nUz57

The Minnesota Credit Union Network presented the Outstanding Credit Union Director of the Year and Outstanding Credit Union Professional of the Year awards at a ceremony during the conference.

The Professional of the Year Award is given to a remarkable person who truly stands behind the “people helping people” credit union philosophy. This year, the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s honoree for Outstanding Credit Union Professional of the Year Award went to Tom Smith, retiring President and CEO of TopLine Financial Credit Union.

​The Director of the Year Award is given to a credit union board member who best represents the credit union spirit through dedication to, and belief in, the credit union movement. The Outstanding Credit Union Director of the Year Award honor was awarded to Tom Heinzen, Board Chair of SPIRE Credit Union.
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“The Outstanding Professional and Director of the Year is the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s most prestigious awards and its recipients have distinguished themselves in their efforts to better their credit unions and promote credit union movement,” Mark Cummins, President and CEO of the Minnesota Credit Union Network, the state’s trade association for credit unions.

​Video tributes of each of the award winners are available on the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s website.

The Minnesota Credit Union Network announced today that its Board of Directors unanimously selected current Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer, Mara Humphrey, as the organization’s next President & CEO. 

“After a national search, the Board is unified in the choice of Mara Humphrey as the next CEO of the Minnesota Credit Union Network,” said Mary Hansen, Board Chair and CEO of Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union. “The Board was deeply committed to a rigorous leadership selection process and understood this to be the most important work of our board terms. Mara is a proven champion for credit unions and a respected, innovative leader in the industry. Her vision and passion will ensure the success, growth and vitality of Minnesota Credit Unions for years to come.”

​Humphrey replaces retiring President & CEO Mark Cummins, who announced his retirement a year ago.  Humphrey was chosen after a thoughtful and deliberate national search.

Since joining MnCUN in 2007, Humphrey has earned a national reputation for credit union advocacy and committed leadership in service of credit unions. She was promoted to Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer in 2020.

“As a lifelong Minnesotan and career advocate for credit unions, I've seen firsthand how the credit union advantage changes lives and empowers local communities,” said Humphrey. “I’m honored and humbled to become the next President & CEO of the Minnesota Credit Union Network.”

The Minnesota Credit Union Network is pleased to announce the hiring of Xiong Lee as Director of Engagement. In her role, Xiong will lead credit union members engagement and manage MnCUN's professional development and networking programs.

Lee graduated from Saint Catherine’s University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing Management. She has over 15 plus years of credit union experience and is a strong advocate for credit unions.

Lee lives in the Twin Cities with her husband Kou and her son Marshall. She loves traveling, spending time with family and friends, and reading a good book occasionally.

A record number of credit union employees, board members, and exhibitors will participate in MnCUN's biggest event of the year, April 13 & 14 at the Radisson Blu MOA. These 2 days will feature guest speakers, educational sessions, networking, the state’s largest tradeshow and opportunities to support great causes. 

We are excited to welcome 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”

​Event App
As an attendee at ACCELERATE 23, you will have exclusive access to the conference mobile app, where you will find event materials, schedules, speaker presentations, sponsors, attendees, and much more.

Social
Have something to share about the event? We’ll be using #ACCELERATE23 on social media. Be sure to follow MnCUN on Facebook (@MinnesotaCreditUnions), Twitter (@mncreditunions), and Instagram (@mncreditunions).

The Minnesota Credit Union Employee Benefits Plan (EBP) Board of Trustees is pleased to announce results of the 2023 contested election results for the two open seats on the Board elected by plan members.

The Board congratulates Jay Gostonczik, South Point Financial Credit Union (incumbent) and Jon Morill, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union, who were successfully elected to three-year terms on the Board. Prior to this election, Mr. Morill had been previously appointed in accordance with our bylaws to serve on the Board for the remaining term of former trustee, Daryl Doucette, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union. A special thank you to Charlie Yenni, Northern States Power - St. Paul Credit Union, for his willingness to participate in this election.

To our EBP plan members and Network membership, thank you for supporting the work of the Network and EBP Board of Trustees. We look forward to serving you and having another strong year of growth and productivity ahead in 2023.