Nussle, Berger talk America’s Credit Unions with DCUC, CU Times
CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle and NAFCU President/CEO Dan Berger shared their vision for America’s Credit Unions Thursday at the Defense Credit Union Council’s 60th Annual Conference. The two also spoke to Credit Union Times Thursday while at the conference.
The two organizations announced their intent to merge last week, and Nussle and Berger have been engaging with Leagues, credit unions, and allies since the announcement.
“We’ve been spending quite a bit of time talking to our teams and understanding their thoughts, concerns, questions,” Nussle told CU Times. “The most important aspect of this for me will be the team I assemble…you stand on the shoulders of your team. So that’s first and foremost.
“We’ve invested a lot of time there for that reason, and that will continue. So, that’s what has been a lot of it. It’s also been fielding some good questions and initial comments from our members. This includes taking a fresh look at our collaboration with industry groups, including the Defense Credit Union Council, an opportunity to ‘renew our vows’ to continue to best serve our members,” he added.
Berger said that the natural progression of the conversations led to a single association making the most sense.
“Having one voice just makes a super powerful new trade association moving forward that can deal with the prudential regulators to do battle on Capitol Hill,” he said. “And so I think the opportunity just presented itself and the discussions just matured over the last few months.”
Berger added that members he’s talked to are excited to hear more.
“This is not going to be CUNA 2.0. This is not going to be NAFCU 2.0. This is going to be a brand new trade association, a brand new powerhouse,” he said. “And so I think that was part of the decision making that the boards had as well, ‘Hey, we’re creating a brand new trade association’ and Jim is going put together the best of the best from both and create this powerhouse.”
Both CUNA and NAFCU members will vote on the merger during a 60-day voting period that will begin later this month.