Coulombe: Credit unions fighting for members of today, tomorrow
As a unified movement, the strength of the credit union network is undeniable. Experiencing the movement as an insider for the first time after a 20-plus year career in advocacy, America’s Credit Unions Chief Advocacy Officer Kathleen Coulombe shared in a CUInsight op-ed Wednesday that it’s something she hasn’t seen anywhere else.
“When you have 146 million members counting on the services credit unions provide every day, it’s a stark reminder of what’s at stake. Luckily, those members have Leagues going to bat for them in every statehouse and a national trade association with an advocacy team that has the expertise and experience to effectively advocate within the halls of Congress.”
Recent wins that include passing the Credit Union Board Modernization Act through Congress; state, federal, and court efforts against the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act and a similar Colorado bill, and the NCUA’s final rule on dependent care reimbursement are the “culmination of years of hard work at the local, state and federal levels,” Coulombe continued.
Credit unions are looking ahead, focused on continued work with the NCUA under potential new Chairman John Crews, electing a pro-credit union 120th Congress in November, and elevating the credit union voice in policy conversations on digital assets, artificial intelligence, and data privacy.