Simpson to invest in advocacy system while telling credit union story
Newly named America’s Credit Unions President/CEO Scott Simpson aims to ensure the credit union movement works together on every level, especially when it comes to advocating for its future. Speaking with CUToday, Simpson says he’s witnessed the strength of the credit union-league system during his 22 years in the industry.
At the heart of that strength is ensuring advocacy efforts at every level are working together.
“That’s making sure we have capability in Washington,” he said, “but also that the whole system communicates brilliantly with one another, trusts one another, and has the oxygen to do all they can in their statehouses. Protecting the ecosystem credit unions need to thrive is a shared responsibility.”
Simpson emphasized the importance of an effective ground game in the industry’s collective advocacy strength. “We have this amazing advocacy system that exists at every layer — state legislatures, Congress — and it’s fueled by millions of Americans who value their credit unions,” Simpson said. “My job is to make sure we’re investing in that system, communicating effectively across it, and giving it the resources to thrive.”
He noted that credit union opponents won’t stop their attacks on the industry, whether it’s on the tax status or any number of misleading attacks on the ways credit unions serve members. Simpson stressed that vigilance is non-negotiable to preserve what credit unions bring to the financial landscape.
“The larger credit unions get, the more the American consumer benefits, not just credit union members, but also bank customers,” he said. “Because credit unions, even large credit unions, are in the marketplace… driving competition that improves pricing and service for everyone. That’s a story worth telling.”
Telling that story will be integral to Simpson’s tenure at America’s Credit Unions, as the organization and its league partners will continue to capture and amplify the value credit unions bring to communities across the country.
“We’re lifting up more people than ever, and yet I’m not sure our story has caught up,” he said. “Credit unions were founded to serve people of modest means, and they’ve delivered on that promise for generations. The number of lives improved by cooperative credit is extraordinary, but if we treat that as ‘garden variety,’ we miss the chance to connect with policymakers and the public.”
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