Tax advocacy strategy includes activating members online, on social media

Along with direct engagement with members of Congress, the credit union tax advocacy strategy includes activating members to send Congress “don’t tax my credit union” messages directly, explaining the impact to their families and communities.

TTCU Federal Credit Union President/CEO Shelby Bell used the credit union’s website for a direct call to members to protect the credit union tax status from the current threat.

“Nearly 1.5 million Oklahomans—and more than 140 million Americans—rely on their credit union for safe and affordable financial services,” he wrote. “Credit unions were founded on a not-for-profit model, designed to help everyday people, not shareholders. The credit union not-for-profit tax status allows us to offer better rates, lower fees and member-first services, while also emphasizing financial health and resilience.”

He added that credit unions serve more than 271,000 members in Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District (represented by House Ways and Means Committee member Rep. Kevin Hern, R), and those members saw nearly $24 million in benefits last year alone.

“Voters re-elected Rep. Kevin Hern in November to bring down costs and extend tax cuts. He’ll be a leader in tax discussions, and that’s where we need him to stand strong in support of credit unions,” Bell concluded. 
Credit unions are using their social media accounts, where members turn to for information, promotions, and other relevant information, to tell members what’s at stake.

Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union created a video highlighting the “Don’t Tax My Credit Union” postcards members have filled out to deliver to members of Congress on the importance of maintaining the tax status. Their members have filled out nearly 19,000 postcards to be delivered to Reps. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., and Morgan Griffith, R-Va.

Illinois-based Northwest Community Credit Union posted a video to their Facebook page noting credit unions return earnings to members and communities, keep rates and fees competitive, and provide personal service, and that all of those are at risk with threats to the tax status.

Ascentra Credit Union in Iowa put an action alert banner on its homepage, directing members to a designated internal “Don’t Tax My Credit Union” webpage to take action. It is also collecting postcards, with a staff contest underway to recognize both the employee and branch that collects the most signed postcards from members.

America’s Credit Unions has a social media toolkit available with information for stakeholders to make their own videos and post to social media, as well as graphics, a press kit, and more resources to activate members.