CUNA has undertaken a robust campaign to target and educate lawmakers in state capitols across the country on the credit union difference. Using opportunities like Financial Literacy Month to capture lawmaker attention, CUNA has focused on driving lawmakers and staff working inside all 50 state capitals to CUNA’s Advancing Communities page to learn how credit unions in their state are improving consumers’ financial well-being.

Advancing Communities content has been viewed over 5 million times, received a 32% increase in followers, and traffic to the site has skyrocketed by 2,000% with visitors spending considerable time on the page since the campaign started earlier this year. These metrics indicate legislators’ interest in engaging with these impactful stories.

“This effort will help us showcase how credit unions benefit their communities and how their local investments make a difference for all people, families, and businesses,” said Ohio Credit Union League President Paul Mercer. “Not only does it show that decisionmakers are eager to see how Ohio credit unions go the extra mile for their constituents, but it underscores for the Movement how important the Advancing Communities project is to helping Leagues and credit unions illustrate impact in our year-round advocacy efforts.”

Advancing Communities allows credit unions to share members’ experiences with the credit union difference by recording short accounts of how their credit union has improved their personal financial well-being.

CUNA and the Leagues use these stories to support state and federal advocacy by connecting big-picture policy asks with the effects they have for consumers across the country.

CUNA’s work to educate lawmakers continues year-round. This summer, CUNA and the Leagues will directly engage lawmakers at several national state legislative conferences.