Keeping you connected to key credit union news, events, and trends: March 1, 2017
In This Issue
Headline News

Louisiana CU Advocates Hike the Hill in Washington, D.C. Today!
Credit union advocates are perhaps the largest and most visible lobby group in Washington during what promises to be a historic week. A record number of more than 5,000 CU representatives and more than 80 attendees from Louisiana made the trek this week to Washington, D.C., to influence an agenda promoting common sense regulation, peeling back unnecessary layers of rules so that local credit unions can even better serve their members.

Monday Highlights
 
Kat Cole, keynote speaker, brand expert, group president of FOCUS Brands, Inc., and lifelong credit union member, reminded the crowd that today brands must be differentiated and relevant. Action items include talking to members one-on-one and collectively; evaluating what they are saying and continuing the conversation repeatedly. Cole, who noted that her industry has also been shook by regulations and disruptions, urged credit union leaders to do what they do best: tell their story.

Louisiana credit union advocates attended a legislative briefing led by Jeff Brooks with Adams & Reese, our retained lobbyist in Washington, DC. The briefing provided a chance to learn more about the credit union movement's legislative priorities and ask questions before today's legislative visits. Since Louisiana will see quite a bit of new faces on the Hill, Jeff provided some additional insight and offered different ways to approach them with our message.

Tuesday Highlights

 Retired General Colin Powell delivered his keynote address to a packed house at Tuesday morning's general session. He acknowledged the problems in America, saying, "If you dare stray from the far left or the far right, you're going to get hammered." Powell said it is up to us to fix the problem. "We the people have to start pushing back against the polarization in America. We have to teach our children that it's love, not hate, that makes the world go 'round. Stop insulting each other."

 Gen. Powell also applauded credit unions for their "job well done serving members," saying, "I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you do for our fellow citizens. I appreciate that you exist solely to serve." His respect for credit unions dates back to his early days in the military. He put his money into a credit union at a young age and commends credit unions for taking the time to explain financials to their members.

 NCUA's Rick Metsger and J. Mark McWatters also spoke on Tuesday, with Metsger saying that "the future of the credit union system can never be put on autopilot," as he encouraged advocates to continue fighting for credit unions.

The day ended with a special King Cake party held in LCUL's hospitality suite in honor of Fat Tuesday. Louisiana credit union attendees as well as friends from around the country stopped by to get in the Mardi Gras spirit. 

Today

Louisiana advocates will use briefing materials during today's meetings on Capitol Hill with members of the Congress. These visits play a vital role in the advocacy strategies of the League and CUNA, and our GAC attendees will take this opportunity to discuss pressing issues with our Louisiana delegation.

Follow the latest League updates from the CUNA GAC on our facebook page!

McWatters Outlines Plan for "Thoughtful Loosening" of Regulation, Discusses Possible Stabilization Fund Closure in 2017
In his first address since his designation as Acting NCUA Board Chairman, J. Mark McWatters informed credit unions they can anticipate a "thoughtful loosening" of regulations, a streamlined agency budget, and the possible closure of the Temporary Corporate Credit Union Stabilization Fund in 2017. 

 "NCUA should acknowledge that it's 2017, not 2008, and that it is time to consider the thoughtful loosening of the regulatory regime appropriately placed on the corporate credit unions during the darkest days of the financial crisis," McWatters said. "We must focus on today's challenges and risks while preparing for the future. Absent safety and soundness concerns, NCUA must not stand in the way of your efforts to develop and execute your business plan, meet the expectations of your members, and build a robust and dynamic credit union community."

Filene Asks CUs to Be Student Loan Testers
The problem of student loan debt puzzles many in the financial world and burdens millions of Americans each year. And the amount of student loan debt continues to skyrocket, surpassing all other forms of debt outside of mortgages, even credit card debt. But Filene has created an innovative new way to help your members with student loans find solutions to loan debt problems while keeping them connected to your credit union: Debt Dragon.

Help Filene help you and your members by signing up to be a tester  for the new Debt Dragon online student loan management program.  Watch a short video.
 
By  signing up to test Debt Dragon, you're helping your members tame their student loan debt and keeping your members from falling off the cliff of student loan debt.

debt dragon
debt dragon

 

Webinar for Credit Unions Interested in Applying for CDFI Fund Grants of Up to $2 Million
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
1:00 - 2:00 pm

The CDFI Fund has opened the 2017 competition for $175 million in Financial Assistance, Technical Assistance and Healthy Food Financing grants. 

On March 15th the Federation will hold a webinar to explain the latest changes to the application process to help your credit union develop the most competitive application possible.  

Click here to register for the webinar: Overview of 2017 CDFI Fund's NOFA. 

CDFI certification is a fundamental building block for credit unions serving predominantly low-income consumers and financially underserved communities. Certification is a valuable credential that helps credit unions increase their capacity to meet the needs of members with modest means and develop strategic partnerships to better reach out to and connect with low-wealth consumers. CDFI-certified credit unions are eligible to compete for Technical Assistance grants of up to $125,000, Financial Assistance grants of up to $2 million and Healthy Food Financing grants of up to $5 million.
Just for Fun:  Want to Be Genuinely Likable and Charismatic? Do Any One of These 12 Things

Who do you want to work with? The  people you like . Who are you more willing to help? The people you like. Who are you more likely to go out of your way to mentor, encourage, and support? The people you like. And on a strictly pragmatic level--if strictly pragmatic is your thing--who are you more likely to do business with?

 The people you like.  Likability matters.  Granted, some people are  naturally likable . Right away, we enjoy their company...but when there's no substance between the surface glow, that superficial veneer of likability wears away,

Get to know a genuinely likable person, though, and they only become more likable. Why? They build and maintain great relationships. They consistently influence (in a good way) the people around them. They consistently make you feel better about yourself.

 They're not just the kind of people we like to be around--they're the kind of people we want to be like.  Here's how you can.
Quote of the Week:
" True leadership lies in guiding others to success. In ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are pledged to do and doing it well."
- Bill Owens

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Educational Calendar
Upcoming Conferences & Seminars from your League:    

March 24-25: YPN Workshop
April 26: BSA Officer Training 
 
Upcoming Teleconferences & Webinars from your League

March 2: Compliance Questions & Issues in Deploying Mobile Remote Deposit Capture
March 7: UDAAP Challenges: Practices, Risk Mitigation, Expectations & Case Studies
March 8: Hot Issues in Cyber Compliance, Including Recent Changes to the IT Handbook
March 9: How to Audit Deposit Operations for Reg CC & D Compliance
March 14: Fair Lending Risks in Third-Party Relationships
March 15: Flood Compliance in Lending Part 2: Post Loan Closing
March 16: Regulation E Series: Regulation E Requirements for Debit Card Error Resolution: Processing, Disclosure & Investigation
March 22: Securing Collateral Part 1: Form UCC-1, Initial Filing & Perfection of Security Interests
March 28: Director Series: The Board Evaluation Process: Steps, Tools & More
March 29: 20 Common Collection Pitfalls
March 30: ACH Specialist Series: ACH Rules Update 2017 
     
For a complete listing of educational opportunities available from LCUL, visit the League website and click on "Education".
  
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