Credit union story shapes future of advocacy

The credit union story gives purpose to every aspect of the movement, and America’s Credit Unions President/CEO Scott Simpson says his goal is to listen to those stories in an op-ed published this week. The government shutdown was the latest example of credit unions’ stories of changing people’s lives.

“Every conversation helps America's Credit Unions better understand how our advocacy can reflect the realities members face each day. Listening is not just an exercise in empathy but one that ensures our work in Washington stays connected to the people who give this movement meaning,” he wrote. “What we hear in the field must guide how we protect and strengthen the system that credit unions have built together.”

Simpson is prioritizing these connections because they will shape how America’s Credit Unions approaches the next chapter of advocacy.

“Listening is only the first step, though. The next is acting on what we hear. Every story shared by a member or employee should translate into a clearer agenda, a stronger message and better outcomes for the people we serve,” he wrote.

The Don’t Tax My Credit Union campaign is an example of the power of this approach, and in the coming year the credit union story will help America’s Credit Unions and leagues in, “protecting the structure that keeps credit unions stable, empowering members through financial education and access, and advancing policies that widen the path to financial inclusion.”

Read the op-ed