Keeping you connected to key credit union news, events, and trends: July 10, 2019
In This Issue
Headline News

2019 Convention Update: Early Bird Deadline Friday, Register Today!
Credit unions who are ready to step up their game and attend LCUL's 2019 Annual Meeting & Convention are encouraged to register by this Friday, July 12 to receive special early bird pricing. Don't miss the opportunity for invaluable networking opportunities and dynamic sessions.. . register today !

Browse through the official convention brochure for additional information on speakers, sessions, social events, and more.

Click here to download the 2019 Convention brochure!
 
Questions? Contact the League's convention team today!
Update on Hotel Accommodations for Annual Meeting & Convention
We are excited at the overwhelming response to our annual meeting and convention, particularly with the new location. Currently, our room block at the host hotel (Hilton Riverside) is currently sold out for Friday night only. We are working on this issue with the Hilton. In the meantime, if you booked rooms and will not be using them, please DO NOT cancel. We ask that you send us the booking information so that we can make the changes internally.  

Please note, there are still rooms available for those who do not plan on staying Friday night. Should you have any questions, please contact a member of our convention team.
LCUL Distributes 2019 State Legislative Session Recap, New Laws Affecting Louisiana CUs
The Louisiana Legislature kicked off the 2019 session on April 8 and concluded Thursday June 6, with the fall elections sitting in the back of everyone's minds.

Prior to the April 8 start date, your league was deep in the trenches attending functions, and monitoring more than 140 bills in addition to our own that could potentially impact credit unions. During the 2019 session, a number of bills passed that will impact financial institutions.

What does this mean for Louisiana credit unions? In the latest issue of LCUL's Pelican Politics, we collaborated with strategic partner Kudulis, Reisinger, and Price LLC (KRP) to provide a summary of those bills and the impact they will have on Louisiana credit unions.

These topics and more will be covered at LCUL's upcoming New Laws & Compliance Conference set for October 9-10 at the Golden Nuggets in Lake Charles.
FREE Webinar Through TRGoup: Cybersecurity Risk from a Legal Perspective, Top 10 Tips
Through LCUL's participation in the The Raifaissen Group (TRGoup), we are excited to offer Louisiana credit unions a FREE webinar on a hot industry topic. On June 17 at 2:30 p.m., Radford University will be hosting this session which focuses on tactics and strategies to prepare credit unions for cyber attacks from a legal perspective. From vetting vendors to obtaining the right cyber insurance coverage to incident response plans, this session will help prepare credit unions for an incident before the worst hits.

While there is no cost, you must register for your spot. Click here for more information.
Professional Development

Last Call for Collectors! July 16 is Just Days Away...
Don't miss your opportunity to transform your collections methodology into ones that focus on finding solutions instead of just chasing payments.   On July 16, Karin Brown-Purtell of Lending Solutions Consulting invites you to Jackson, MS to learn proven solutions for real results.   
 
You'll learn to use analytical skills to evaluate a member's true financial status, manage repossessions in a more profitable manner, and to collaborate with members to customize their recovery techniques.  In short, you'll learn to create win-win payment solutions for you and your members!

To register, click here to be taken to the MSCUA website . 
Mortgage Loan Originators: Michael Christians Presents Exam-Free Training on August 22!
Did you know that MLO's employed by credit unions are not required to take NMLS approved trainings nor exams to satisfy the continuing education requirement?

 This year Michael Christians has designed this course specifically for credit unions.  This comprehensive program on August 22 will cover and each and every aspect of the mortgage origination process including application disclosures, underwriting rules, closing disclosures and proper servicing of a mortgage loan. During our day together, we will also discuss your cooperative's fair lending responsibilities. 
Have you Heard?

Ugly Car Campaign Gives Maple FCU Something to Talk About
What to do when life gives you a lemon? One Maple FCU member turned in his lemon (a broken-down Toyota 4Runner) and won a year's worth of car payments. It was all part of the credit union's Lemons for Lemonade campaign that nearly doubled auto loan volume over the course of a 60-day run.
 
Just in time for summer, Maple FCU held a lemon-themed Facebook contest where participants could post pictures of their ugly cars (lemons) for a chance to win 12 months of loan payments up to $300 per month. To expand on its initiative, the $36 million credit union booked the URL WeReplaceUglyCars.com. Maple also offered a limited time offer of half a percent off their auto loan rates plus a $100 discount on GAP insurance. To top it all off - quite literally - ice cold glasses of fresh lemonade were served inside their branch in Lafayette.
 
The Facebook contest also coincided with the launch of Maple's Facebook page. Launched April 30, the credit union of 6,456 members already has 419 followers.
 
Maple was able to help many members, including Eric & Lindsy, the winner of a year's worth of auto payments. Eric, an entrepreneur and local musician that promotes local small businesses, artists and charitable causes - including one that promotes foster families and adoption, and Lindsy, local Sheriff's employee and pet foster advocate- won this at the perfect time. He and his wife Lindsy were making good steps to improving their finances when... life happened.
 
"They had to make costly home repairs that were not planned and his car died, all at once," said Pamela Stelly, CEO of Maple FCU. "They are going to take this year of car payments to work on paying off the debts they incurred on their home and let us pay the note on the car.
 
"This totally fits our vision, she continued. "We want to manifest change in Lafayette. It's not just about making more loans, but to be brave, bold and authentic with the people we serve."
Pelican State CU Stuffs 275 Bears for Life of a Single Mom
More than 275 Pelican State CU team members created stuffed bears for children of single mothers throughout the state of Louisiana.
 
Over the past two years, Pelican has held a service project for the entire team to participate in at their annual training and recognition event. Pelican's service project benefits a charity that serves the Louisiana community, and this year Pelican selected Life of a Single Mom.
 
Every team member received at least one bear, each of which was stuffed with love, dressed in a Pelican shirt, given a birth certificate, and housed in its own personalized box. All bears were then gathered and sent off to their new homes!
 
'Life of a Single Mom' works to bring single mothers free meals, exercise classes, home improvement projects, and more. Team members were overjoyed to have been able to collaborate with a cause that touches the lives of so many families across Louisiana.

Ouachita Valley FCU Hosts Groundbreaking Ceremony
Ouachita Valley FCU held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 27th at the site of its newest location, 2400 Louisville Avenue in Monroe.
"The new and improved Louisville location will make a significant presence in this area.  This new office will provide a warm and inviting place for our members to handle all of their financial needs," said Katie Pilcher, President/CEO.

The new facility will feature a technology station for account access, as well as traditional teller stations, drive-thru, and two drive-up ATM machines. "The new location will enhance our brand while continuing to serve our members" stated Jessica Nugent, Marketing Director. "We want our members to feel at home at all locations and be a reflection of our core values".

Click here to watch the video!
Neighbors FCU Names Three Senior Vice Presidents
Neighbors FCU is proud to announce the addition of three new Senior Vice Presidents. Neighbors has named Brandi Cummins the Senior Vice President of Member Experience, Jodi Korner the Senior Vice President of Lending and Tanya Lawrence the Senior Vice President of Strategic Solutions.
"We are very excited to add these incredibly talented professionals to our senior management team," Neighbors President and CEO Steve Webb said. "Their body of work speaks for itself and needless to say, their promotions were well-earned."

"As our Credit Union continues to grow, we must constantly adapt to a new environment.  Part of this adaptation process is to seek diversity, identify talent and focus on our strategic course".

This Senior Vice President Team has provided more than 60 years of service to the credit union.
Brandi Cummins
Jodi Korner
Tanya Lawrence

Meritus CU Celebrates Grand Opening of New Annex Building
Meritus CU, formerly Lafayette Schools CU, held a special grand opening event on Thursday, June 27th to celebrate the completion of its new annex building.  The 15,000 square feet structure is connected to its main branch at 515 Guilbeau Road and has new office space for its executive team and departments of Marketing, IT and Call Center. It also features a state-of-the-art training room which can hold over 50 attendants.  This will allow space for new credit union community events, training, and Finacial Peace University classes, open to the public.  

Over fifty community members attended this special event including representatives from the Louisiana Credit Union League and One Acadiana Chamber.  The event concluded with tours, refreshments and networking. 

"We've outgrown our main branch for a time now, and are beyond excited to have office space for all our staff members. With a new training room, it will allow us to expand our outreach in the community and continue educating members on best financial habits and practices," said Connie Roy, President/CEO.  "As we continue to grow, the annex building can grow with us and accommodate even more staff space.  This allows us to focus on our members, providing them with money-saving products and exceptional customer service."
  
Quote of the Week:
"Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude."
- Zig Ziglar

Your Membership in Action!
Educational Calendar
Upcoming Conferences & Seminars from your League:

July 31-August 3: LCUL Annual Meeting & Convention
August 22: Mortgage Lending Made Easy 

Upcoming Teleconferences & Webinars from your League:
 
July 16:  Processing IRA Rollovers & Transfers
July 17:  BSA Series:
Job-Specific BSA Training for the Frontline  
July 8:  Regulation E Series:
Legally Handling ATM & Debit Card Claims Under Regulation E
July 23:  Call Report Series:
Call Report Preparation: Avoiding Common Errors
July 24:  Outsourcing Tech Services
July 25:  What Are Those Business Tax Returns Telling Me?
July 30:  Opening Accounts Online: Rules, Risks & Best Practices
July 31:  Consumer Collection Series:  20 Common Mistakes in Consumer Collections

For a complete listing of educational opportunities available from LCUL, visit the League website.
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(800) 452-7221   www.lcul.com