Tuesday, October 1 – The Nebraska Credit Union League sponsored a credit union roundtable with Congressman Don Bacon hosted by Mutual 1st Federal in Omaha. Credit unions from across the greater Omaha area attended the event to discuss how credit unions are serving their members in the area as well as touched on several issues important to credit unions.
Credit union advocates provided Congressman Bacon examples of how their respective credit union is making a difference in the community including a program called Financial Hope Collaborative which focuses on helping single mothers who are 200% below the poverty level in a wholistic way to achieve financial stability and peace. The program is sponsored by Creighton University and studies the effects of a sound financial footing for participants on their overall health. Participants also discussed their offering to members of financial training that aims to help members struggling with debt and finances through classes taught by credit union staff in a 9-week program. “When our members are financially strong the credit union is financially strong” said Amy Brodersen of Family Focus FCU. Other participants discussed helping first responders so that they can have less stress as they protect and serve, providing financial assistance to a program that helps foster children aging out of foster care to get started on a good financial footing, and having an incentive program at the credit union which encourages staff to help local philanthropic organizations each year.
Participants discussed several legislative issues including the credit union tax exemption, data breach, credit union governance updates, the National Defense Authorization Act, and the increase in bank attacks on credit unions.
