​As interchange discussions continue to play out, Colorado offers a different story. This year, Colorado credit unions successfully pushed back against legislation that could have disrupted the payment system consumers and businesses rely on every day. Strong advocacy from Colorado credit unions, coupled with Gov. Polis’ veto, kept the legislation from moving forward. The hyper local, on the ground, strategy works and is a model across GoWest's footprint. 

Following Colorado Governor Polis' attendance and time on mainstage at MAXX, he shared a quote of support for credit unions:

Gov. Jared Polis: “Credit unions help Coloradans to buy a car, home, start a business, and more. We are all about saving people money while protecting consumers and giving Coloradans more freedom to use new technology and choose the financial services that work for us, now and in the future.  As Colorado tackles affordability, fraud, and rapid changes in financial technology, credit unions deserve to be at the table,” said Governor Polis.

Statement from Troy Stang: “We’re grateful to Gov. Polis for joining us at MAXX and taking the time to engage directly with credit union leaders from across Colorado and the West. His support for credit unions and recognition of the important role we play in helping people and communities thrive means a great deal to our movement. We appreciate his willingness to listen, engage and support the credit unions that serve millions of Coloradans every day.
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Thanks to the strong advocacy of Colorado credit unions and the Governor’s veto during this last legislative session, today’s global payment system will continue to serve consumers with the choice, access and competition they rely on."

​CineFi, the first fully digital credit union serving television, motion picture, music, gaming, content creation, and influencer professionals in Atlanta, has been honored as Best New Product in Tearsheet’s The Big Bank Theory Awards, which celebrates innovation in banking and finance. The award recognizes CineFi for introducing a fundamentally new category of banking: a fully digital credit union purpose-built for the entertainment industry. 
 
Launched in 2026 by First Entertainment Credit Union, CineFi is designed for a workforce whose income arrives in irregular, project-based payments rather than steady paychecks. Members get high-yield checking and savings, round-up savings, early direct deposit, ATM surcharge rebates, and no account fees, along with financial education designed for freelance careers.
 
“We’re honored to receive this recognition from Tearsheet,” said Stephen Owen, President and CEO of First Entertainment Credit Union and CineFi. “At CineFi, we understand the unique financial realities entertainment professionals experience. We’re providing both established and emerging talent with the tools, resources and financial education they need to succeed personally and professionally.” 
 
Membership is open to entertainment industry professionals who live or work in the Georgia counties of DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding or Rockdale, or Los Angeles County in California, as well as people nationwide who join through a complimentary one year membership to the Filmmaker’s Alliance. As a fully digital credit union, CineFi gives members access to their accounts, digital banking tools and over 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs from anywhere in the country. Learn more or join at cinefi.com.
 
The full list of the 2026 Tearsheet Big Bank Theory Award winners is available
​at ​​https://tearsheet.co/announcement/bankings-big-ideas-get-their-moment-the-big-bank-theory-awards-2026/.

​CUs Unite has reached an agreement with FORUM52 to provide executive leaders at its member credit unions access to the FORUM52 learning and engagement platform.

Through the partnership, eligible executives from CUs Unite member credit unions will be able to join FORUM52 and take advantage of a growing library of executive-level content, industry perspectives and practical resources designed specifically for credit union leaders.

FORUM52 brings together experienced credit union executives, industry experts and other thought leaders to share ideas, lessons and perspectives across areas including strategy and growth, executive performance, artificial intelligence and emerging technology, credit union operations, leadership, innovation and other issues shaping the future of the credit union movement.

“CUs Unite is continually looking for ways to bring additional value to the credit unions we serve, particularly resources that can help their leaders navigate an increasingly complex environment,” said Scott Prior, President/CEO of both Connection Credit Union and CUs Unite. “FORUM52 gives our member credit unions another way to learn from experienced leaders, explore new ideas and connect with people who understand the opportunities and challenges facing credit unions.”

Unlike traditional executive education built primarily around conferences or one-time events, FORUM52 is designed as an ongoing resource. Members can access short-form videos, articles, interviews, discussions and other content when the information is most relevant to the decisions they are making.

The platform also creates opportunities for executives to engage directly with thought leaders and other members of the credit union community.

“We created FORUM52 because some of the most valuable knowledge in the credit union movement lives in the experience of its leaders,” said Kris Kovacs, Founding Partner of FORUM52. “The challenge is making that experience accessible to more people. By working with organizations like CUs Unite, we can put those ideas, lessons and relationships within reach of executives across an entire network of credit unions.”

Under the agreement, CUs Unite will sponsor access to FORUM52 for executive leaders employed by its member credit unions.
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“This is exactly the type of relationship we hoped to build when we created FORUM52,” Kovacs added. “CUs Unite can leverage its collective scale to give leaders across its member credit unions access to a resource that helps each institution independently strengthen its leadership team and prepare for what comes next.”

$800M, Hudson Valley, NY-based Heritage Financial (HFCU) has selected Gemineye to help them build a best-in-class, centralized data analytics program that can grow as they grow.  With 14 branches in and around the Hudson Valley Region, HFCU is heavily invested in community efforts that make this unique region stronger.

Heritage Financial found Gemineye’s specific focus on credit unions and community banks – they do not work with any other industries as many competitors do – to be a big differentiator. Combined with Gemineye’s emphasis on creating a single source of truth as part of their data foundation, and the platform’s speed to value, the partnership made sense.

“We chose Gemineye because they understood what we need from our data and why it matters. Giving employees faster access to reliable information will reduce manual work, strengthen decision-making, and help our teams better understand member needs and improve their experience,” says Gregory Beckwith, Vice President of Innovation & Operations at Heritage Financial.

“The Heritage Financial team conducted a rigorous partner search with a focus on immediate value and long-term scalability,” says Maggie Chopp, Director of Business Development at Gemineye. “We are delighted to welcome them to the client group and eager to see their analytics capabilities take off.”

“This partnership gives Heritage the foundation to move forward with analytics, automation, and AI in practical ways that improve how we operate and serve our members,” continues Beckwith.
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Gemineye is proud to welcome this competent and progressive credit union to their team.

​Every bank and credit union now faces the same strategic question about digital assets. Will it build on the core banking business it already runs, or send its customers, members, and their capital to someone else’s platform?
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DaLand CUSO today announced independent validation for the first path. Coin2Core®, DaLand’s bridge connecting traditional banking institutions to Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, XRP, Solana, and other new money networks from inside their existing core, has earned the first Blockchain Maturity Model (BMM) Level 4 “Production” rating awarded by the Government Blockchain Association. 

The rating matters less as an award than as evidence for a strategy decision. With Coin2Core, digital assets live inside the core, becoming part of the institution's own business rather than a side channel bolted onto it. They're visible to examiners, reported on the same statements, and positioned to anchor the deposit, payment, and lending relationships that follow the members' wealth. The return goes, literally, to the core of the operation. That's core-centric strategy doing exactly what it's supposed to do.

Built from inside banking
Coin2Core’s architecture is unique in the industry because of where it came from. DaLand was built inside the banking sector by people with authoritative knowledge of core systems and core banking operations, not by a crypto company looking for a distribution channel. Coin2Core runs natively on the Corelation KeyStone, Jack Henry Symitar, and Fiserv DNA cores, operates under NCUA examination, and is in production at credit unions including St. Cloud Financial Credit Union. It gives credit unions an NCUA-examined, core-native digital asset solution operating across all three major credit union cores.

It is also collaboratively owned. DaLand is a CUSO owned by the institutions it serves, which gives community banking institutions a shared, owned bridge to the future of money instead of rented access to someone else’s.

“Most institutions are being told their digital asset strategy is a choice of vendor. It isn’t. It’s a choice of whether the business stays in your core or leaves it,” said Jon Ungerland, CIO/Chief of Staff at DaLand CUSO. “We built Coin2Core from inside the core because that’s where the return is and that’s where the customer relationship lives. This certification is independent confirmation that the approach holds up in production.”
What institutions avoid

The alternatives carry costs that compound. Bolt-on wallets and third-party apps add vendors, reconciliation work, and security exposure outside the institution’s control. Referring customers to large exchanges and omnibus custody platforms sends the customer, and the capital, out the door. Once digital wealth leaves, the deposits, payments, and lending relationships tend to follow, and money that could fund loans in the local economy goes to work somewhere else.

“Technology should strengthen the role of the credit union, not replace it,” said Jed Meyer, CEO of St. Cloud Financial Credit Union and Chairman of the DaLand Board of Directors. “Our responsibility has always been to ensure community financial institutions can participate in the future of finance with confidence on their own terms, inside their own core. This is strategy protection in practice, and independent validation like this confirms we’re building it the right way.”

About the rating
The Level 4 rating exceeded what DaLand applied for. DaLand submitted the MIDAS© Hybrid Custody architecture behind Coin2Core for a Level 3 assessment under the Blockchain Maturity Model, at the time the highest rating the program had awarded, and assessors expanded the review after finding capabilities beyond that tier. MIDAS distributes key control across independent secure environments, requires coordinated authorization from the customer, the institution, and additional security layers before any asset moves, and gives every account its own private key rather than a share of a pooled omnibus balance.

“Credit unions are being asked to make consequential decisions about digital asset infrastructure, and they need more than promises to guide those decisions,” said Gerard Daché, executive director of the Government Blockchain Association. “The Blockchain Maturity Model gives them a way to examine a solution’s governance, technical capabilities, and operational practices against defined criteria. Coin2Core’s result gives credit unions independent evidence they can bring into their own due diligence.”

For more information about the Blockchain Maturity Model, visit gbaglobal.org/blockchain-maturity-model. Coin2Core®’s assessment details will be published in GBA’s Directory of BMM-Rated Trusted Blockchain Solutions, which is referenced by the Dynamic Coalition on Blockchain Assurance and Standardization, a coalition recognized by the United Nations Internet Governance Forum. During the award presentation, GBA Executive Director Gerard Daché described Coin2Core® as “the most trusted blockchain solution in the world.”

​Secured Advantage Federal Credit Union has selected Mindy Maghupoy to serve as its new President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO). She was placed by DDJ Myers, the well-known executive search and leadership development firm.

“The Board is pleased to welcome Mindy Maghupoy as the new CEO of Secured Advantage FCU,” says Ray Hathaway, Board President. “Her demonstrated commitment to serving credit union members and communities reflects our belief that together we’re stronger. We’re confident her leadership will deepen member relationships and expand the positive impact we have in the communities we proudly serve.”

Maghupoy brings more than 15 years of financial services leadership experience to her new position, including serving as President/CEO of The Infirmary Federal Credit Union since 2021. Throughout her career, she has focused on strengthening financial performance and asset quality, modernizing technology and member delivery channels, improving operational and risk management practices, and developing a culture of accountability and member service.

“I am honored and excited to join Secured Advantage FCU. The Board's commitment to the credit union's mission, its employees and the communities it serves is impressive and will serve as a strong foundation as we work together to build the next chapter. I’m looking forward to getting to know our employees, members and community partners in both South Carolina and Texas and see tremendous opportunity to strengthen member relationships, pursue sustainable growth and ensure Secured Advantage remains a strong and relevant financial partner for generations of new members,” says Maghupoy.

Maghupoy earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Business Administration from Faulkner University and is a Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE). She is originally from the Mobile, Alabama area and is the mother of two daughters. Outside of her professional activities, she enjoys spending time with her family, supporting her daughters' academic and athletic pursuits, and being involved in the community. As she relocates to South Carolina, Maghupoy is looking forward to becoming involved in the Simpsonville, greater Greenville and Iowa Park communities.

“Working with Bob Falk and the DDJ Myers team was a very positive experience. The process was thorough and thoughtful and gave me the opportunity not only to share my experience and leadership approach, but also to gain a meaningful understanding of Secured Advantage, its Board and the opportunities ahead. I appreciated their communication, guidance and professionalism, and I felt well prepared at every stage,” shares Maghupoy.

​Synergent® and Advanced Fraud Solutions (AFS), a leading provider of fraud prevention technology for financial institutions, have entered into a new strategic partnership. Through this alliance, Synergent partner credit unions will gain access to Positive Pay by AFS and TrueChecks®, two fraud prevention solutions designed to help identify and address fraudulent activity before losses occur.
 
As fraud threats continue to grow in both volume and complexity, credit unions are seeking proactive solutions that can help them identify suspicious activity, reduce risk, and protect member assets. Having the right tools in place is becoming increasingly important as institutions work to stay ahead of evolving fraud schemes.
 
“Protecting credit unions and their members against fraud continues to be a top priority at Synergent,” said Rebekah Higgins, Chief Growth Officer for Synergent. “This partnership expands the fraud prevention resources available to our partner credit unions and provides additional tools to help them address evolving fraud threats. We look forward to working with AFS to support credit unions in their fraud mitigation efforts.”
 
“Members expect their credit union to catch fraud before a loss hits, not after,” said Jordan Bothwell, Chief Partnership Officer at Advanced Fraud Solutions. “That’s exactly what TrueChecks and Positive Pay by AFS deliver for Synergent’s credit unions: real, enterprise-grade protection, without the enterprise price tag or the friction members would feel.”
 
Positive Pay by AFS is a solution designed to help combat check washing and fraudulent ACH transactions. Going beyond basic issued-item matching, Positive Pay supports payee validation, ACH Positive Pay, and protection for on-us and internal accounts through streamlined workflows that help credit unions more effectively manage fraud risk.
 
TrueChecks is a consortium-powered check fraud detection solution that helps identify potentially fraudulent deposits in real time. Leveraging more than 15 years of account- and item-level data from thousands of financial institutions, TrueChecks provides immediate insight into suspicious activity, helping credit unions reduce losses and strengthen fraud prevention efforts.

​ALM First Executive Benefits, LLC, a subsidiary of ALM First that offers custom plan design, consulting, implementation, and ongoing plan support for financial institutions, recently promoted both Shirley McMillan and Tom Sievewright to serve in the role of Senior Director, Executive Benefits.

“We’re excited about the strong growth we’ve seen in ALM First Executive Benefits and look forward to continuing to enhance depositories’ talent strategies through plans that are structured to align with their overall objectives,” says Mike Ensweiler, President of ALM First Executive Benefits, LLC. and Principal of ALM First.

Shirley McMillan joined ALM First in 2024 as a Director of Executive Benefits, bringing over 20 years of extensive experience in executive benefits consulting, strategic planning, operations, and partner relationship development to her role. Prior to joining ALM First Executive Benefits, she served as Chief Operating Officer for both a wealth management firm and an executive benefits firm, where she was a key member of management teams leading strategic plan initiatives.

Tom Sievewright rejoined ALM First in 2023 as a Director of Executive Benefits to help expand the firm’s capabilities. Tom began his career in the financial services industry with ALM First in 2019 and spent three years serving in various roles within the firm’s sales & client relations team. Prior to rejoining ALM First, Sievewright spent a year working for an executive benefits consulting firm.

By conducting a comprehensive review of priorities and an agnostic evaluation of diverse structures, ALM First Executive Benefits delivers efficient, stakeholder-aligned solutions while thoughtfully managing risk in the best interests of all parties involved. Interested credit unions should visit benefits.almfirst.com to learn more about the firm’s hands-on approach to delivering a bespoke plan design customized to meet organizational and recipient performance objectives.

Coastal Credit Union has been named the Official Credit Union of Carolina Athletics through a seven-year partnership that will expand financial education, engage student-athletes in community service, and create new experiences for Tar Heel fans and Coastal members across North Carolina.

The agreement builds on Coastal’s more than 30-year relationship with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students, and will bring financial wellness programming, community initiatives, and year-round athletics activations to students, alumni, members, and fans.

“Carolina Athletics gives us a powerful platform to put financial education into action and extend our community impact across North Carolina,” said Tyler Grodi, president and CEO of Coastal Credit Union. “We’ll help students build skills for their financial futures while creating meaningful gameday experiences for our members and Tar Heel fans.”

Financial education and community programming will be a central component of the partnership. Coastal and Carolina Athletics will involve student-athletes in efforts that promote financial literacy, community service, and preparation for success beyond competition.

Coastal members and Tar Heel fans will see the partnership through gameday experiences, year-round digital content, community programs, and athletics-related activations. Coastal also plans to develop member affinity programs featuring Carolina branding.

Student-athlete influencer marketing campaigns will extend financial wellness and service messages through digital storytelling and social media, while venue advertising will introduce the collaboration to fans on gameday.

“Coastal’s record of advancing financial well-being and investing in North Carolina communities makes them a strong new partner for Carolina Athletics,” said Rick Barakat, Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Revenue Officer. “Together, we can reach fans across the state with impactful marketing concepts and meaningful experiences as we bring this sponsorship to life.”
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The partnership with Coastal Credit Union was facilitated by Learfield’s Tar Heel Sports Properties, the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Carolina Athletics who oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Tar Heels.

​Credit unions working with CU Strategic Planning have been awarded more than $24.3 million through the U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. These awards allow credit unions like Mazuma Credit Union in Kansas City, Mo., which earned a $621,000 award, to improve household stability through financial wellness for families in low-income areas of the city with credit and asset-building products and financial education. 
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“We are so excited that we get to do more good in our community," Laura Eblen, Mazuma’s vice president of member engagement and governmental affairs, said. “Working with CU Strategic Planning made it possible to not just win the funds but continue to develop the strategy that will allow us to help more than 1,000 households establish a strong financial foundation.”

Overall, the CDFI Fund awarded CU Strategic Planning clients more than $24.3 million for FY 2025 Financial Assistance awards and FY 2026 Small Dollar Loan (SDL) Program awards. Thirty-three CU Strategic Planning clients received FA awards, accounting for 53% of the 62 FA awards made to federally and state-chartered credit unions and 56% of the dollars awarded to those institutions.

The average FA award among CU Strategic Planning clients was $697,515, nearly $80,000 more than the average among other credit unions.

“These credit unions have waited a long time for this news, while the needs in their communities have continued to grow and change,” CU Strategic Planning President Stacy Augustine said. “We’re thrilled to see this funding finally reaching organizations that have thoughtful, practical plans for putting it to work. We’re also grateful to the CDFI Fund staff who helped bring these award rounds across the finish line.”

CU Strategic Planning clients also received nine FY 2026 SDL awards totaling $1,317,906 in the firm’s first year supporting credit unions with SDL applications. Each of the nine winning clients received $146,434, the highest award amount made through this year’s SDL round.

“These applications begin with understanding what a credit union is seeing in its community and where additional resources could make a meaningful difference,” CU Strategic Planning SVP of Community Advancement Aaron Duffy said. “Our Community Development Managers work closely with each credit union to turn that need into a clear, achievable plan. It’s rewarding to see that work move from an application into something the credit union can now put into practice.”

Across the FY 2025 CDFI and Native American CDFI Assistance programs, the CDFI Fund made 253 FA awards totaling more than $186.2 million. The latest notifications also included 31 CDFI and NACA Technical Assistance (TA) awards, adding to the 56 TA awards announced in fall 2025. The FY 2026 SDL Program awarded nearly $9 million to 71 organizations. FA and SDL awards provide resources CDFIs can use to expand lending and other financial services in the communities they serve.

CU Strategic Planning has worked with credit union CDFIs since 2008, helping institutions identify community needs, develop strategies to address them and pursue the funding needed to put those strategies into action. With this latest round, the firm has helped credit unions secure nearly $1.1 billion in funding across more than 600 awards.