Credit union and community bank data analytics provider Gemineye is excited to announce its partnership with Gesa Credit Union, a $6.4B financial institution and one of Washington state’s largest credit unions. With 45 branches across the Pacific Northwest, Gemineye’s newest client prioritizes the members and communities they serve while expanding their footprint, winning Newsweek’s Best Regional Banks & Credit Unions Award two years in a row.

Gesa Credit Union is committed to making a positive impact in the communities we serve and helping our members build strong foundations for their financial journeys and lives they envision. That’s why we partner with organizations that share our values and help us deliver smarter, member-focused solutions,” says Tony Beal, Vice President of Business Intelligence at Gesa Credit Union (pictured). Gemineye’s world-class, Fortune 50 Databricks and Microsoft architecture and flexible platform made Gemineye’s solution the clear choice for an organization focused on growth, quality, and doing what‘s right for their members and communities. “The partnership reflects Gesa's belief that the right knowledge—backed by the right tools—creates opportunity.

Gemineye’s intuitive platform and client-first approach empower our teams to make data-informed decisions that ultimately benefit our members,” explains Beal. "Better technology means more ways to support the communities we call home."

“As an institution that’s growing rapidly, they’ve prioritized data management as a must-have for their continued success,” says Maggie Chopp, Director of Business Development at Gemineye. “We’re excited to provide the foundation on which their data program will develop and immediately drive value and tangible impact for their business teams. We look forward to a successful partnership with the data and leadership team at Gesa!”

Later today, I’ll officially hang my hat after more than a decade in the credit union movement. And what a journey it’s been.
 
When I first encountered credit unions, early on as a new Member of Congress, I didn’t fully appreciate the full scope of what this movement stood for. But, it didn’t take long for me to experience the credit union difference; credit unions are bold, relentless advocates for people. You are living proof that financial services can be built on trust, integrity, and community. “People helping people” wasn’t a tag line or slogan; it is our mission, our motivation and our purpose.
 
Over the past two years, we’ve witnessed one of the most significant milestones in our history: the uniting of CUNA and NAFCU to form America’s Credit Unions. This merger wasn’t just about combining two organizations; it was about strengthening one movement. It created a more powerful, unified voice for advocacy, a stronger foundation for collaboration, and a shared commitment to putting people first in everything we do.
 
And that focus is paying off. Together, with our league partners and your efforts, we’ve:

• Secured major policy wins that protect credit unions’ tax status and expand your ability to serve members.
• Amplified our voice in Washington like never before, speaking as one movement, with one purpose.
• Modernized our message and presence, showing policymakers, media, and communities that credit unions are not just relevant, we’re essential. 

But what truly sets this movement apart isn’t found in legislation or headlines… it’s found in people. It’s you and your staff providing life-changing financial services to your neighbors. It’s the trusting, mutually beneficial relationships you build that simply don’t exist elsewhere in financial services. When the member wins, your credit union wins.
 
That’s why your advocacy works. We’ve seen credit unions achieve meaningful victories no matter which party controls Congress or the White House, not just because of relentless advocacy, but because it’s backed by your real, human impact in communities nationwide.
 
As Washington continues to change—new leaders, new rules, new challenges—unity will remain our greatest strength. Continued unity in the face of this constant change is how credit unions will continue to stand out, not just in the marketplace, but in the advocacy arena. And you can count on America’s Credit Unions to amplify your efforts with a unified voice that’s now an irreplaceable part of the process. 
 
As I step away, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement. Scott Simpson and the incredibly talented team at America’s Credit Unions are ready to lead this movement into its next chapter. I’ve had the privilege to work closely with Scott, and I can confidently tell you he’s ready to dive in. Scott’s vision, energy, and passion will ensure that future generations have what they need to bank, and belong, with credit unions.
 
It’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve alongside you. Thank you for your trust, your belief, and your relentless commitment to putting people first. I’ll always be proud to have been part of this story and I can’t wait to watch where you take it next.

--Jim Nussle

​The Defense Credit Union Council, DCUC, recently sent a letter to Chairmen Scott and Hill and Ranking Members Warren and Waters urging congressional action to prevent lasting credit damage to servicemembers, Coast Guard personnel, and federal employees during government shutdowns.
 
DCUC voiced that it is fundamentally unfair for those who serve the nation or keep the government running to suffer long-term credit harm due to missed payments caused by congressional funding lapses. During the most recent shutdown, 1.3 million active-duty servicemembers and thousands of Coast Guard members and federal employees faced pay interruptions—many of whom live paycheck to paycheck. Missed payments can trigger fees, lower credit scores, and even jeopardize security clearances.
 
“In the last four weeks, credit unions stepped up as ‘first financial responders,’ offering 0% furlough loans, skip-a-pay options, fee waivers, and other emergency relief. However, these voluntary measures are only temporary fixes,” Jason Stverak, DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer, explained. “What’s needed is systemic protections—not ad hoc charity—in order to effectively, and proactively, safeguard the financial security of those who serve.”
 
DCUC’s key recommendations to Congress include:
 
Enact a “Shutdown Credit Protection Act.”
Establish federal protections to prevent adverse credit reporting for missed payments caused by a shutdown. Modeled on CARES Act provisions, the law would require affected accounts to be reported as current or coded as “shutdown-related.”
 
Ensure Consistent Regulatory Action and Oversight.
Direct financial regulators (CFPB, Federal Reserve, NCUA, OCC, FDIC) and credit bureaus to apply existing flexibility and prevent shutdown-related delinquencies from harming credit scores. Regulators should reissue guidance and monitor compliance during each funding lapse.
 
Support Guaranteed Pay and Broader Financial Protections.
Advance bipartisan legislation such as the Pay Our Troops Act and Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act to ensure uninterrupted pay for uniformed personnel. Extend similar protections—like automatic forbearance and waived late fees—to civilian federal workers and contractors through expanded Servicemembers Civil Relief Act coverage.
 
Engage Industry and Nonprofits.
Collaborate with financial institutions and military family organizations to refine policies that are practical for lenders and effective for borrowers. DCUC and its member credit unions stand ready to share data and best practices from recent shutdown relief efforts.
 
“Credit unions will always stand by our servicemembers,” said DCUC President/CEO Anthony Hernandez, “but Congress must act to remove the threat of financial instability altogether. No American should see their credit ruined because Congress fails to fund the government.”
 
DCUC calls on the Senate Banking and House Financial Services Committees to work swiftly on bipartisan solutions that ensure servicemembers and public servants are never penalized for political gridlock.

​MDT, a CUSO that helps credit unions navigate complex financial technology ecosystems, announced today the launch of the MDT Partner Program, an exclusive network designed to connect credit unions with trusted fintech providers and accelerate innovation across the cooperative finance space.
 
The MDT Partner Program offers three pathways, with Premier Partners and Strategic Alliances gaining unique visibility and credibility within MDT’s credit union community, including branding opportunities, warm introductions and the ability to showcase solutions to MDT’s community of more than 115 credit unions. The program carefully vets and endorses select technology partners, giving credit unions confidence to adopt solutions that are client-recommended, address a clear market need and demonstrate proven results in the credit union industry.
 
“For more than 20 years, we've helped credit unions navigate fintech,” said Pete Major, Vice President, Fintech Solutions at MDT. “The MDT Partner Program brings innovative solutions to market faster, expands choices for credit unions, and gives emerging fintechs a clear lane to serve credit unions and their members.”
 
Program highlights include:
 

• Built-in trust with credit unions through MDT’s established CUSO model and longstanding industry relationships
• Faster time-to-market for fintech providers through MDT’s proven expertise in Symitar® and Banno hosting and integration
• Opportunities for collaboration and learning via credit union feedback, webinars and events like the MDT E3 Conference
• Guidance from MDT’s Strategic Partnerships team to help partners align their solutions and go-to-market approach with MDT credit union needs and adoption best practices

 
To learn more about the MDT Partner Program, please contact [email protected].

Nook, a Platinum-Tier HubSpot Solutions Partner and Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), is proud to announce that Inderjit Brar has joined the company as Senior Data Integration Architect.

Inderjit will lead initiatives to seamlessly integrate credit union core systems with HubSpot’s CRM and marketing automation suite—enhancing data accessibility, streamlining automation, and strengthening member engagement through Nook’s Data Connector.

With more than 15 years of experience supporting credit unions with data integration, warehousing, and analytics, Inderjit brings deep expertise across core systems including Symitar Episys, Fiserv DNA, Fiserv XP2, and Corelation Keystone. He has guided numerous credit unions in modernizing their data strategies—transforming complex core environments into connected, insight-driven ecosystems. His background in ETL development, Operational Data Store (ODS) design, and star-schema modeling ensures clean, compliant, and actionable data pipelines that deliver measurable results.
​
“The precision and expertise Inderjit brings ensures every integration project delivers on its goals,” said Austin Wentzlaff, Co-Founder and CEO of Nook. “As more credit unions adopt HubSpot, his leadership will be instrumental in delivering fast, secure, and scalable data connections that unlock true value for our clients.

“Credit unions across the country are grateful for the U.S District Court’s decision to block the 1033 rule while new rulemaking is underway, providing clarity to those struggling with compliance uncertainty. The rule as currently written places excessive burdens, unfair risk allocation, potential market distortion, and risk management issues on the plates of credit unions who are already overburdened by other regulatory requirements. We are encouraged by the court’s decision as well as the CFPB’s willingness to remedy the flawed PFDR rule and await new guidance once released.” - America’s Credit Unions Director of Innovation and Technology Andrew Morris

America’s Credit Unions previous outlined concerns with the Bureau’s current personal financial data rights (PFDR) rule due to its burdensome, inequitable, and risky implementation. In response to an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking seeking feedback on revisions to its PFDR rule, the organization outlined several recommendations to alleviate the regulatory burden:

• Allow reasonable fees for third-party data access;
• Remove overly granular application programming interface specifications;
• Limit categories of covered data;
• Establish of a clear allocation of liability to third parties who mishandle covered data or abuse their consumers’ trust;
• Adopt safe harbors for data providers relying on third-party security representations;
• Establish centralized accreditation and whitelisting of third parties by the CFPB;
• Extend implementation deadlines, specifically for smaller credit unions.

The GLCU Foundation for Financial Empowerment is proud to announce the impact of its yearly “Week of Volunteering” initiative. In honor of CU Kind Day, the GLCU Foundation organized a full week of volunteer opportunities for GLCU employees.

This year, on October 13th through the 17th, GLCU employees volunteered 400+ hours across 24 events during the Week of Volunteering. A total of 18 organizations were supported, including United Way of Lake County, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Give N Kind, the Bridge Teen Center, and more.


​“We’re incredibly proud to expand our community outreach through an entire week of volunteering,” said Matthew Rizzie, Executive Director of the GLCU Foundation. “Our Week of Volunteering is a testament to the GLCU Foundation’s commitment to empowering our communities and making a tangible difference in people’s lives.”

Earlier this year, America’s Credit Unions recognized the GLCU Foundation with a Diamond Award in the “One-Time Event” category for its 2024 Week of Volunteering event. The award highlighted the hard work that went into organizing the event, and the meaningful impact it had on the community.

​Velera, the nation’s premier payments credit union service organization (CUSO) and an integrated financial technology solutions provider, today announced it has earned Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt accreditation from The Council for Six Sigma Certification (CSSC), a globally recognized accrediting body in the Six Sigma industry. 
 
Built on time-tested operational approaches in manufacturing and quality assurance, Lean Six Sigma is a leading methodology for improving business processes by reducing inefficiencies, eliminating waste and driving measurable performance improvements. The Yellow Belt level equips employees with foundational skills to identify optimization opportunities and contribute to stronger, more effective operations across the organization.
 
With this recognition, Velera is now registered as an Accredited Internal Provider, confirming that its training curriculum meets the rigorous national standards set forth in the CSSC’s Accreditation Standards. Moving forward, the company will offer its accredited certification program to credit unions through Advisors Plus, giving them access to best-in-class training that supports process improvements, increases efficiency and improves the member experience. By participating in the accredited program, credit unions can apply proven methodologies to reduce waste and streamline operations. This approach delivers measurable, lasting results, giving credit unions a competitive advantage backed by industry-leading expertise.
 
“As member expectations rise and competition from big banks and fintechs intensifies, credit unions need proven strategies to stay ahead,” said Ryan Myers, senior vice president, Advisors Plus, Velera. “Our accredited training will give them a competitive edge, equipping teams to optimize operations and reinvest savings into better member service.”
 
Velera will also provide certification internally for all employees, supporting ongoing skill development and professional growth across the company.
 
“This recognition marks an important milestone for Velera, reinforcing our commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement,” said Breann Pauley, senior vice president, Learning and Operational Excellence, Velera. “Lean Six Sigma certification will make us more efficient as an organization, while enhancing our ability to help clients streamline and elevate processes that directly affect speed and service quality.”

​In response to the announcement that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may not be distributed on Nov. 1, Ent Credit Union is taking immediate action to support Colorado families facing food insecurity.
 
To help meet the urgent need, Ent is offering $25,000 matching gifts to support emergency fundraising efforts to both Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado and Food Bank of the Rockies. The $50,000 total will help provide meals to families impacted by the SNAP disruption and ongoing government shutdown.
 
Ent also launched an Emergency Assistance Program Thursday, offering eligible members a chance to receive a $250 Visa eGift Card. The opportunity is open to Ent members who certify that they or someone in their household has been directly impacted by the federal government shutdown or the loss/suspension of food or other government benefits, like SNAP. Members must meet additional eligibility criteria outlined in the official rules.
 
“This is part of the credit union difference,” said Annie Snead, Ent Credit Union’s executive director of philanthropy and community relations. “We’re people over profit, and hearing about this need from our food bank partners drove us into action. With the SNAP delay and the ongoing government shutdown, many Colorado families are facing increasingly difficult times. We’re proud to be part of our community’s safety net, and we want our members to know they’re not alone.”
 
The Emergency Assistance Program application is open from Thursday, Oct. 30 at 8 a.m. MT through Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. MT. Recipients will be selected by random drawing on Nov. 7 and Visa eGift Cards will be delivered via email approximately 7–10 business days after notification. Members can apply at Ent.com.
 
Ent is also offering financial relief options to members impacted by the shutdown, including skip-a-pay and loan deferments. Every situation is unique, and members are encouraged to call 800-525-9623 or visit a service center to discuss personalized solutions with a team member. Personalized financial coaching is also available in our service centers and online.
 
Over the last 90 days, Ent has processed nearly 2,000 loan deferments and completed 38 loan modifications for members navigating financial hardship. These tools are designed to offer short-term relief for members experiencing life events that may take time to recover from.
 
Whether it’s food assistance, payment relief, or financial guidance, Ent is here to help. More information is available at Ent.com.