AACUL Winter Conference Celebrates Unified Efforts to Advance the Credit Union Difference

Brad Miller

​The American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) held its annual Winter Conference last week, driving three days of strategy, dialogue, and shared purpose among more than 225 credit union system leaders. Representatives from AACUL, the League System, America’s Credit Unions (ACU), and other key system partners gathered under the theme “Align. Amplify. Advance.” This strategic event underscores the ongoing effort to strengthen and elevate the credit union movement.
 
Participants focused on aligning advocacy priorities, amplifying the industry’s impact, and advancing collective success for 2026 and beyond. Conversations centered on the power of the credit union story, policy challenges ahead, and the shared responsibility to drive meaningful advocacy outcomes.
 
“We are especially proud of the engagement in this year’s conference,” shared AACUL President Brad Miller. “Alignment between state and national advocacy structures is key to a thriving credit union movement. Among other things, it enables rapid response to threats, strategic pursuit of industry priorities, and fuels the collaboration, momentum, and innovation that advance our movement.
 
“Our synergy doesn’t happen by accident. The trust is earned, and the intentional integration of our processes has been carefully designed to bolster our collaboration,” Miller added.
​
Throughout the conference, attendees discussed proactive opportunities for 2026 and reflected on key learnings from 2025 advocacy wins, including protecting the credit union tax status, defeating harmful interchange legislation, and securing continued federal support for the CDFI Fund. Speakers also leaned into the need to amplify the credit union “why,” reflecting on the millions of consumers who benefit from credit union membership.
 
In addition to productive dialogue, AACUL held its annual meeting in conjunction with the conference during which the new AACUL Board took effect, and 2026 AACUL Board Officers were elected:

• Chair: John Bratsakis, president/CEO of the MD|DC Credit Union Association
• Vice Chair: Dan Schline, president/CEO of the Carolinas Credit Union League
• Secretary/Treasurer: Caroline Willard, president/CEO of the Cornerstone League

 
Other AACUL Board members include Samantha A.M. Beeler, president of The League of Credit Unions & Affiliates; Patty Corkery, president/CEO of the Michigan Credit Union League; and Keith Sultemeier, president/CEO of Kinecta Federal Credit Union. Ex-officio members of the AACUL Board include Pat Conway (Immediate Past Chair), president/CEO of CrossState Credit Union Association; Scott Simpson, president/CEO of America’s Credit Unions; and Brad Miller, president of AACUL.

---