CUNA
  • Advocacy
    • Priorities we’re fighting for
    • Actions you can take
  • News
  • Learn
  • Compliance
  • Shop
  • Topics
    • Compliance
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Credit Union System
    • Directors
    • Human Resources
    • Leadership
    • Lending
    • Marketing
    • Operations
    • Policy & Issues
    • Sales & Service
    • Technology
  • Credit Union Magazine
    • Buyers' Guide
    • Digital Edition
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Awards
    • Nominate Credit Union Hero
    • Nominate Credit Union Rock Star
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Contact
Learn More about Member Value

News

Member Benefits
Learn more
Learn more about the benefits of membership.
Home » What does it mean to be an advocate for the credit union movement?
CU System

What does it mean to be an advocate for the credit union movement?

September 27, 2019

CU Direct is a multi-owned Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) that serves over 1,100 credit unions nationwide. For more than 25 years, their focus has been building networks and enterprise technology solutions that connect credit unions of all sizes to nationwide lending markets that would otherwise be too cost prohibitive to reach on their own.

For example, working through CU Direct, credit unions are connected to the nation's largest auto lending network, CUDL. This relationship helped credit unions fund a total of $45 billion from indirect lending in 2018 -- that’s about one auto loan application every two seconds -- and over $213 billion over the last 25 years. Strengthening nationwide recognition as a business advocate

“Today the highest valued companies are no longer manufactures like GM or Ford, they are companies that have networks like Facebook, Amazon, Airbnb,” said Bob Child, COO at CU Direct. “What do they all have in common? A proprietary owned network that connects people to day to day needs in an efficient way.”

Recognizing the value of networks. CU Direct joined the CUNA Associate Business Membership program to earn industry wide recognition for their work on behalf of credit unions. Status as an official business advocate of CUNA is “…helping us get the word out to more credit unions by giving us a voice,” said Child.

CU Direct attends CUNA face-to-face events at discounted member rates to connect and participate in roundtable discussions with credit union leadership across the nation. These insights provide CU Direct with an understanding of the needs and concerns of credit union leaders to better advocate on their behalf on legislative issues and deliver products and services that help them reach their business goals.

“The more that we can partner with credit unions, the more credit unions see the value of CU Direct,” Added Child. “We’re seeing more discussion, we’re engaging deeper and building more relationships.”

Maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship through CUNA Associate Business Membership is helping CU Direct maximize its industry reach nationwide and increase engagement with credit unions and its business. CU Direct has more outlets to get in front of industry leaders and strengthen its contributions within the movement to show its continued dedication to serving credit unions.

Building stronger connections

“Give the program a try. There are no downsides to joining,” said Child. “It’s an opportunity to share the value by way of efficiency and networking. It gives you a voice to be heard at a national level instead of calling credit unions individually.”

If you’re looking to build deeper relationships within the credit union movement and be a strong advocate for the movement, think about becoming a CUNA Associate Business Member.

Learn more about the program at cuna.org/associatemembership.

Credit Union Magazine - Winter 2019

Winter 2019

Alternative lending, compliance management systems, and ideas for boosting credit card portfolios are among the topics of Credit Union Magazine’s Winter 2019 edition.
App •  Digital Edition •  Subscribe

Trending

  • CFPB proposes to raise remittance threshold to 500 transfers

  • Compliance: Using alternative data in underwriting

  • Concerns over credit union-bank mergers, CRA ‘inaccurate, misinformed’

Tweets by CUNA_News

Polls

What's the pace of staff turnover at your CU?

View Results
More

Champion of America’s Credit Unions

Credit Union National Association is the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America’s credit unions. We work tirelessly to protect your best interests in Washington and all 50 states. We fuel your professional growth at every level and champion the credit union story at every turn.

More CUNA

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Recommended Websites

Resources for

  • CUNA Board Members
  • Credit Union Advocates
  • Leagues
  • Press
  • Vendors