Get Involved in Credit Union Advocacy
Make your voice heard. Submit comment letters to regulators or messages to legislators about existing or pending legislation or regulation that affects your credit union. CUNA’s Grassroots Action Center is a streamlined resource that facilitates credit unions’ speaking up on issues that affect us.
This cooperative, nationwide project is collecting short member stories on video (90 seconds or less) that demonstrate what credit unions do to help strengthen the financial well-being of individuals, families, small businesses and communities. Any video can be done simply using your phone or a member’s phone!
Each state has their own page where credit union members, staff, and/or volunteers can go and post an impactful member story. Whether the story was the result of the COVID 19 pandemic, a small business in need of a loan, an elder member that was protected from financial abuse, a member on the brink of losing their home, or any other scenario where the member needed the credit union to weather their personal storm…it is important that we tell the story so we can show our legislators how credit unions serve their members and communities!
Visit the Mississippi page to see the stories credit unions have already shared. Sharing your short video story is easy; scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Share Your Credit Union Story link.
Mississippi Credit Union Political Action Committee (MS CUPAC) and Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC) are political action committees (PACs) which pool funds to increase the political effectiveness of the credit union movement. CULAC is consistently rated as one of the most bi-partisan PACs in the country. Mississippi credit unions are continually recognized nationally for their strong support of these legislative action councils.
MSCUA requests all our member credit unions update their Project Zip Code information at least once a year. Project ZIP Code is a tool that lets credit unions match their membership’s zip code to federal and state legislative districts, allowing credit unions to inform legislators how many members live in their district. It is a powerful advocacy tool for the credit union movement.
The Credit Union National Association Governmental Affairs Conference (CUNA GAC) is the largest advocacy event in the credit union movement and provides a chance to meet with lawmakers to discuss their support of credit union issues.
The Mississippi Advocacy Award & Recognition Program recognizes credit unions & individuals that participate in advocacy initiatives structured in defense of the credit union movement. Simply complete 3 or more advocacy initiatives in a calendar year for recognition.
The legislative environment today demands that credit unions remain vigilant and visibly engaged in the democratic process. MSCUA is proud to support Credit Union House (CU House), a permanent presence for credit unions on Capitol Hill and an important grassroots advocacy tool. It is at Credit Union House that CUNA, league officials, and credit union representatives gather to plan meetings with lawmakers, construct legislative strategies, and share feedback from visits with key legislative contacts. Daily operations at Credit Union House are supported by the generosity of individuals, credit unions, state leagues, CUNA, and other system groups. Just as with cooperatives, the more members involved with Credit Union House the stronger it becomes.
Did you know members who receive advocacy outreach have a stronger bond to their credit union; 82% say it makes them want to do more business with their institution. MAP, a Credit Union National Association program, provides credit unions with customizable resources to educate, engage, and mobilize staff, volunteers, and members to protect the interest of credit unions and play a role in the future of their credit union. MAP helps drive loyalty by engaging audiences on issues that affect their credit union.