Credit Union National Association
The Credit Union National Association, commonly known as CUNA (pronounced "Cue-Nuh"), is a national trade association for both state- and federally chartered credit unions located in the United States. CUNA provides member credit unions with trade association services, such as lobbying, regulatory advocacy, professional development, and professional services management. The organization operates out of its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and an operations center in Madison, Wisconsin. CUNA's president and chief executive officer Jim Nussle has led the organization since September 2014.[1]
Services and support
As of 2016, a credit union no longer has to be a member of its local state credit union league in order to qualify for benefits and services from CUNA.
CUNA is supported through dues paid by credit unions through their local league dues and fees generated from services provided. CUNA has previously operated a for-profit "CUNA Services Corp." However, many of the pass-through services, such as credit card processing and individual retirement account (IRA) administration, have been sold to other vendors.
CUNA also houses seven CUNA Councils - national organizations for credit union professionals. Run by and for credit union professionals, Councils target their networking, information and programs to key areas of credit union management.
Employees and locations
CUNA employs approximately 70 people in its Washington, D.C., office and approximately 200 people in its Madison, Wisconsin, office. The Madison campus is also the headquarters of CUNA Mutual Group, the World Council of Credit Unions, and the National Credit Union Foundation.
Advocacy
On December 4, 2013, Rose Bartolomucci testified before the United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit on behalf of CUNA in favor of the bill To amend the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to authorize privately insured credit unions to become members of a Federal home loan bank (H.R. 3584; 113th Congress).[2] The bill H.R. 3584 is a bill that would amend the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to treat certain privately insured credit unions as insured depository institutions for purposes of determining eligibility for membership in a federal home loan bank.[3] Bartolomucci emphasized that the bill does not guarantee membership to individual credit unions, but only the right to apply for membership. Bartolomucci argued that being able to join the Federal Home Loan Bank System would allow credit unions to better serve their members by providing them with additional liquidity.[2] Bartolomucci also made historical arguments about why credit unions should be eligible.
CUNA supported the Credit Union Share Insurance Fund Parity Act (H.R. 3468; 113th Congress), a bill that would expand federal deposit insurance to include Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTAs) and similar escrow accounts housed within credit unions.[4][5] The CUNA said that "this legislation is necessary because the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has interpreted that the Federal Credit Union Act does not permit it to extend such coverage."[5] CUNA President Bill Cheney said that the bill "would reduce credit unions regulatory burden and help them better serve their members."[6]
See also
- National Association of Federal Credit Unions
- National Credit Union Administration
- National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors
- National Credit Union Foundation
References
- "Jim Nussle Biography". Credit Union National Association. September 22, 2014. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- Bartolomucci, Rose (December 4, 2013). "Testimony of Rose Bartolomucci on behalf of the Credit Union National Association" (PDF). House Financial Services Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 5, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- "H.R. 3584 - Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- "CBO - H.R. 3468". Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- "CUNA's letter in support of three House bill's tomorrowf". Credit Union National Association. May 5, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
- Ballasy, Nicholas (May 5, 2014). "Reg Reliefs Bills Slated for House Votes". Credit Union Times. Retrieved May 6, 2014.