“The urgency is clear: we must act now. Policymakers need to understand that taxing credit unions is not a viable option,” said CrossState Credit Union Association President/CEO Patrick Conway in a CUInsight op-ed. 

Starting with grassroots advocacy as the foundation of the credit union movement, Conway shared CrossState’s advocacy efforts and in light of tax reform pending in Congress - why it is critical to ignite the power of grassroots advocacy now to protect the credit union tax status.

The op-ed illustrated the proven success of grassroots advocacy with the 2022 mobilization of national trade associations, the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL), and leagues to block legislation intended to cap debit interchange fees. 

“Through more than 50,000 messages to Congress and countless in-person engagements, the legislation was stopped, and credit unions saved their members millions of dollars annually in potential fees and retained their ability to offer affordable financial services.”

Conway urged the credit union movement to replicate these efforts and continue to tell its stories, with a strong and unified movement to defend the credit union industry from attacks and engage in proactive legislation that supports our members and communities.

“I’m confident in the power of credit unions to rise to the occasion. This isn’t just about protecting what we have today—it’s about creating a stronger foundation for credit unions to continue serving their members and communities for generations to come,” Conway concluded. “With the collective strength of AACUL, state and regional leagues, America’s Credit Unions, and credit union advocates, we can safeguard the financial future of our members and ensure credit unions remain a trusted partner in communities nationwide.”

Read the full op-ed here.