The 87th annual business meeting took place on Wednesday, June 16th at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney. The in-person event drew nearly 150 credit union representatives from across the state.
League leadership thanked member credit unions for their enduring advocacy and support during an unprecedented year in which credit unions continued to embrace their ‘people helping people’ philosophy.
“In response to the COVID-19, the League and Nebraska Credit Unions took swift action to ensure the safety of staff and members. Fortunately, the business continuity planning everyone had done provided for a timely and detailed response. Operational changes, included restricting in person services, reallocating resources to telephone and digital delivery, in addition to physical modifications in branches and business offices.
During this time, flexibility of our teams was critical while we all learned new ways to interact within our shops. As a movement –the Nebraska Credit Unions held fast to their belief in People helping People throughout 2020 while providing financial relief then and ongoing. We are all proud of how you have risen to meet this incredible challenge and have served your members, employees, and communities when they have needed you most,” said Cheryl Mascarello, this past year’s League board chair and CEO of Four Points FCU.
She talked about how the pandemic has been a time of transformation and how the League is thankful to all its member credit unions for putting their trust in the League and letting them serve you and your credit union members and families.
“We all look forward to a time when we will return to the active existence that we are used to – which we will hope will be soon- When that time comes – hopefully we can put into practice some things we learned from our experiences,” Mascarello added.
Scott Sullivan, president and CEO of the League said, “One of the greatest benefits member credit unions receive from the League is the collective representation the League provides. The League is the only state trade association that advocates on behalf of all Nebraska credit unions. We work tirelessly to protect our members’ interest on Capitol Hill and at the Unicameral. We champion the credit union story at every turn.”
Sullivan also applauded Nebraska credit unions for stepping up when COVID closed the state down in 2020. “Nebraska Credit Unions reacted quickly to HELP MEMBERS deal with the financial and emotional impact of the pandemic. Emergency loans, fee waivers, payment extensions, mortgage forbearances, and financial counseling services gave many members the much-needed hope and security they needed during a difficult time.
Credit unions SUPPORTED STAFF as they were forced to adjust to changes in their home and work lives, by offering flexible hours, additional PTO, and the ability to work from home when possible.
Credit unions also INVESTED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. Numerous credit unions targeted their purchases, contributions and charitable givings in ways that helped local businesses and organizations hit hard by the pandemic. Nebraska credit unions also jumped in…to help LOCAL BUSINESSES by signing up for the SBA’s PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM.
These loans gave relief to hundreds of small businesses and helped maintain paychecks for thousands of Nebraska workers.
Now, as Nebraska’s economy continues to recover, credit unions continue to help their members and invest in the future. Nebraska credit unions truly are the Best in the Field.”
A read a copy of the League’s 2020 Annual Report click HERE.
