The Foundation supports financial well-being through grants, community partnerships, professional development, and disaster relief initiatives. Its work is guided by a seven-member board representing credit unions of all sizes and regions across Minnesota.
In addition to advancing the Foundation’s core pillars of financial education and professional growth, the Board also provides oversight to the Foundation Scholarship Council (FSC) and Minnesota Credit Unions for Kids (CU4Kids) committees. Since joining Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union in February 2023, Gerads has led the organization with a focus on sustainable growth and community engagement. His previous leadership roles at Falcon National Bank and Central Minnesota Credit Union further reflect his commitment to driving growth, community engagement, and financial stewardship. Outside of his professional role, he is an active member of the Christian Business Men’s Connection and has volunteered in youth and high school sports for over 20 years—highlighting his passion for mentorship and community involvement. With his blend of industry experience, principled leadership, and dedication to service, Gerads is well-positioned to support and advance the Foundation’s mission.
Save the date for the second annual Tristate Collaborative Leadership Conference, happening August 5–6, 2025 at the JW Marriott, Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. Registration will open May 15th.
After an overwhelmingly positive response to last year’s inaugural event, this year’s conference will continue the momentum with fresh ideas, dynamic speakers, and purposeful networking – welcoming credit union professionals from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Montana. The 2025 agenda highlights include:
The event will feature keynotes, breakout sessions, mentorship celebration, a networking reception, and hot topic roundtables—all designed to empower leadership and connection in our credit union community. Save the date and watch for registration to open May 15th! MnCUN Meets with U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach: The Minnesota Credit Union Network Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Smith and Co-op Credit Union President and CEO Kayla Reiffenberger, and Magnifi CEO Chuck Friedrichs met this morning with Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach to stress the importance of preserving the credit union tax status.
Minnesota House Passes Commerce Omnibus Policy and Finance Bills: The budget process is moving along in Saint Paul as well and the House and Senate have been busy with the various pieces of the state’s financial plan. Learn more about the outstanding programs, new initiatives and well-deserved recognition received by your peers recently:
 HomeTown Credit Union and the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation are proud to recognize Kim Westphal with a Credit Union Builder Award. The Credit Union Builder Award honors an individual’s dedication to the success, growth, and vitality of the not-for-profit financial movement in Minnesota.
Kim Westphal has dedicated her career to HomeTown Credit Union, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to its growth and success. Starting as a teller while attending college, she quickly realized her passion for the credit union movement and steadily advanced through various leadership roles. Kim has overseen remarkable expansion, guiding HomeTown from two branches serving select employee groups to four branches serving community members across 26 counties. She has played a pivotal role in strengthening HomeTown’s foundation, from implementing innovative lending programs to launching Minnesota’s first high-school based student-run branch. Her leadership has not only ensured financial stability but also fostered a culture of service and excellence within the credit union. Kim’s impact extends far beyond the walls of HomeTown Credit Union. She has been a driving force behind numerous strategic initiatives that have shaped the credit union’s future, including major system conversions, branch expansions, and the founding of HomeTown Insurance Professionals. She has also been a champion of financial education, leading efforts that earned HomeTown recognition for its outreach and community support. Her involvement with credit union advocates, such as the Minnesota Credit Union Network, its Hiawatha Chapter, and the Governmental Affairs Conference, reflects her dedication to advancing the credit union movement. Through mentorship, collaboration, and advocacy, Kim has helped shape policies and best practices that benefit credit unions across the state. Over 100 individuals have been designated as Credit Union Builders since the award's inception. The names of the recipients and the contributing credit unions are permanently displayed in the Minnesota Credit Union Network’s lobby as a tribute to those who have dedicated time and energy to building the credit union movement. With questions, contact Andrea Molnau, Executive Director of the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation.
As the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee begins to draft the tax bill, we need your voice. The taxation issue impacts ALL credit unions, regardless of asset size. Credit unions remain unique because of their structure and mission, not their assets.
Credit Unions need to take action now. First, reach out to your legislators by responding to our GREAT alert: Let them know why credit unions matter and how this tax exemption helps real people every day. Second - engage your members. This isn’t a conversation we should shy away from. In our most recent consumer poll, 79% of Minnesota consumers indicated they supported the Credit Union Tax exemption because of our not-for-profit status. Leverage the toolkit (login required) we’ve created to engage your teams and your members. Mary Matheson, President & CEO of Wakota FCU, and Caitlin Brama, Farm Credit Employees FCU share why it is important for credit unions to be involved in advocacy.
Political Involvement AwardsGREAT (Highest Number of GREAT Members) – Mid Minnesota FCU GREAT (Highest Percentage of GREAT Members) – Mid Minnesota FCU Highest Total Contributions Credit Union to Capital Club -Wings CU Payroll Deduction (Highest Total Contribution) –City & County CU Payroll Deduction (Highest Percentage Participating) – United Employees CU Payroll Deduction (Highest Number of Employees Contributing) – Minnco CU Highest Total Contributions from a Chapter for 2024 – Twin Cities Chapter of Credit Unions Minnesota Credit Union Marketing Awards
Desjardins Adult & Youth Financial Education Awards
Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award $50 - 250 million in assets NorthRidge Community Credit Union Little Free Pantry More than $1 billion in assets Affinity Plus Federal CU Credit Builder and Matched Savings Pilot Program Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award More than $1 billion in assets TopLine Financial Credit Union Rondo Community Land Trust Partnership Milestone Anniversaries
 This week we thank Randi Sundsmo, the dedicated Executive Assistant at the Minnesota Credit Union Network, for her service as she starts a new role.
Since joining us in 2022, Randi has been an invaluable member of our team, bringing her exceptional organizational skills and positive energy to every task. Her contributions have significantly enhanced our operations and fostered a collaborative and supportive work environment. Randi's departure marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in her career as she transitions to a role at a credit union. While we will miss her presence and the unique spark she brought to our team, we are thrilled for her as she embarks on this new journey. As we say goodbye for now, we extend our deepest gratitude to Randi for her hard work and dedication over the past few years. Good luck, Randi, and thank you for everything! |
The PulseThe Pulse is MnCUN's newsletter that keeps credit union professionals and board members updated on current news and information. Archives
June 2025
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
