Locally, CCUA member states represent 4.5 million consumers. Our grassroots platform provides many opportunities for you to get involved and stay engaged.
The Association is the vehicle through which a credit union can actively participate in advancing the future of the credit union industry. Our federally-registered political action committee, Credit Union Legislative Action Council (“CULAC”), permits an investment in supporting worthy candidates for federal office who believe, and have demonstrated their belief, in the principles to which the industry is dedicated.
The Association seeks out and identifies those who understand credit unions and who will stand up to ensure that credit unions are a viable financial services option for consumers. Bipartisan consideration is given and decisions are reached incorporating input from credit unions without regard to party affiliation. To maximize impact and reflect the positions of Association members, governance is vested locally. Each member state selects a national CULAC Trustee to represent its state at the federal level as agents of CULAC.
On the local levels in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, companion state-registered political action committees are also maintained to delivered the same benefits in each state and each member state maintains local trustees and local lobbyists to implement policy.
Policymakers render decisions daily that affect the ability of credit unions to serve members. When Association members participate in political action, it serves as a constant reminder to elected officials of the importance of the credit union community. It is also a message of unity on behalf of credit unions by allowing contributors to pool their support with those of thousands of their peers under one umbrella.
The efforts of members give the work of the Association a voice. Without it, others who do not have the same vested interest as we do in our consumer and business members will speak for and about credit unions. By helping to elect people who care about and understand credit unions, our message is clearly heard by elected officials, their staff and political leaders across the nation.
Our fight to preserve and grow credit unions continues every day, at every opportunity, and in every forum, on your behalf.
CCUA is continuously developing a key contact database to best utilize its grassroots advocacy efforts. Key contacts participate in grassroots efforts and build relationships with policymakers. They add their voice, experience and participation to credit union advocacy.
Contact Jessica Avery, Director of Advocacy, to sign up.
The Member Activation Program (MAP), offered by CUNA, provides credit unions the opportunity to get their members engaged in credit union advocacy. The program features plug-and-play content, which credit unions deliver to members, allowing their members to discover ways to play a role in the future of their credit union.
Nothing is more powerful than your credit union's brand in delivering advocacy and political action messages to members.
Consumers who consider themselves customers view credit unions 67% more favorably than banks. But consumers who consider themselves members? 89%.
Members who receive advocacy outreach have a stronger bond to their credit union; 82% say it makes them want to do more business with their institution.
Project Zip Code (PZC), offered by CUNA, gives credit unions the ability to tell each state and federal lawmaker how many credit union members are represented in his or her district. Association credit unions have already matched millions of constituents through PZC- but every credit union needs to participate for Project Zip Code to have its greatest legislative impact. No personally identifiable data or individual information leaves your computer. Because Project Zip Code receives only the counts of records successfully matched by the program, all of your member data remains confidential and secure.
