HARRISBURG, Pa. (1/26/15)--Communities are built on common ground and the sharing of ideas. With that in mind, the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association (PCUA) has formed a networking group on the social media site LinkedIn for former bankers who have found a new "home" in credit unions.

The purpose of the group is to provide a venue through which former bankers can connect with and learn from one another and make their transition into the credit union space easier and more successful, according to the league.

The group was created by PCUA staff who responded to a challenge from President/CEO Patrick Conway to think outside of the box.

Conway said many former bankers populate leadership roles in credit unions and leagues. "They've added a new dimension to our dialogue," Conway told News Now. "This is exciting, and it's something that will add value."

The invitation was issued to members last week in the PCUA's newsletter, and the group has already received an enthusiastic response, said Molly Snody, PCUA director of business advisory services. "People have been very willing to introduce themselves and share how much they love credit unions," said Snody, herself a former banker, told News Now.

The PCUA will include a pre-conference breakout session for the ex-bankers group at its annual conference in May. The event will include a question-and-answer session and networking opportunities.

Snody said she is confident that the former bankers will agree on one important point: Credit unions truly are different than banks.

"Coming from banks, we come with a lot of misconceptions," Snody said. "I know I was told, 'If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's a duck.' I learned credit unions aren't at all like banks. I think a lot of us, having been on the other side, can attest to that, maybe even better than someone who has worked for credit unions their entire career."