CUNA News
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • Topics
    • Community Service
    • 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
    • COVID-19
    • 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
  • Jobs
  • Contact

News

Home » Budet: Credit unions’ DNA is social impact
Community Service GAC22 Tuesday

Budet: Credit unions’ DNA is social impact

Board chair encourages focus on people, not balance sheets.

March 1, 2022
Alex McVeigh
No Comments
GAC22_TonyBudet_1200
CUNA Board Chair Tony Budet discusses connecting with community and making a social impact Tuesday at the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C. (Photo by EPNAC.com)

Incoming CUNA Board Chair Tony Budet says he thinks of himself as a community leader who happens to lead a credit union, he told the audience Tuesday at the 2022 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference. Budet, president/CEO at University Federal Credit Union (UFCU), shared his experiences getting more involved with the community surrounding Austin, Texas.  

“I learned that our city has many challenges, and we at UFCU asked ourselves: What can a not-for-profit financial cooperative do to address those challenges?” he says, adding that this meant supporting education, filling middle-skills jobs, and boosting housing affordability.

“We changed our vision, which now is simply: A financially healthy community,” Budet says. “We aim to impact quality of life for 1 million people—members and members to be—by 2030.”

He encouraged credit unions to focus on the impact they have on people, not on balance sheets.

“Did you book 100 mortgage loans? Or did you put 100 families in homes through which they are better positioned to build financial wealth?" he asks. "Did you book 500 car loans? Or did you put 500 members in cars they need to get to work and save them thousands over the life of those loans?”  

“This is not semantics," he adds. "Our language, our stories matter, and our metrics matter. We’re in the people business, so our metrics must first focus on the human impact, rather than a financial impact.”

The full 2022-23 CUNA Board Executive Committee is: 

  • Chair Tony Budet, president/CEO, University Federal Credit Union, Austin, Texas
  • Vice Chair Lisa Ginter, president/CEO, CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Lenexa, Kan.
  • Secretary Caroline Willard, president/CEO, Cornerstone League, Plano, Texas
  • Treasurer Pat Pierce, president/CEO, City and County Credit Union, St. Paul, Minn. 
  • At-large member Brian Best, president/CEO, GTE Financial Credit Union, Tampa, Fla.

►Visit CUNA News for more conference coverage. Get live updates on Twitter via @CUNA_News, @cumagazine, @cuna, and #CUNAGAC. Follow the conference on Facebook and Instagram and visit cuna.org/gac for more information.

KEYWORDS community service CUNA GAC lending

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Credit Union Magazine: Spring 2023

Spring 2023

Credit Union Magazine’s Spring 2023 issue features the 2023 Credit Union Heroes and examines CUNA-League advocacy priorities, board leadership, the impact of financial well-being efforts, fee-related compliance issues, predictions for the year ahead, and more.
Digital Edition •  Subscribe

Trending

  • CUNA Mascot Madness: Voting opens for East Region

  • Mascot Madness: East winner crowned; Midwest voting opens

  • League leaders highlight credit union difference, safety, soundness

Tweets by CUNA_News

Polls

CUNA Mascot Madness: Which Midwest Region mascot is your favorite?

View Results
More

Champion for the Credit Union Movement

Credit Union National Association is the most influential financial services trade association and 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

  • Membership
  • Contact Us
  • Careers

Resources for

  • Credit Union Advocates
  • Leagues
  • Press
  • Providers

Our Affiliates

  • American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL)
  • Credit Union Awareness
  • Credit Union House
  • CUNA Strategic Services
  • National Credit Union Foundation
GET CUNA UPDATES
© 2023 Credit Union National Association | ADA Compliance Notice & Legal
Email Us