Illinois credit unions keep up Don’t Tax My Credit Union advocacy momentum

The Illinois Credit Union League (ICUL) and Illinois credit unions are working to maintain consistent momentum when defending the credit union tax status with elected officials – from in person meetings to digital outreach.

Meeting with House Ways and Means Committee members, including Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., was a big focus for Illinois credit unions and the league while in Washington, D.C., last month for the Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC).

LaHood addressed credit union leaders during a luncheon during GAC, and voiced appreciation for the outreach.

“With more than 297,000 active credit union members in Illinois’ 16th Congressional District, these institutions are vital to the economic health and prosperity of central and northwestern Illinois,” said LaHood.

Keith Sias, ICUL senior vice president of governmental affairs, noted that “ICUL appreciates Congressman LaHood’s longstanding support of credit unions and his recognition of the important role they play in providing consumers with trusted, member-focused financial services.”

This legislative meeting was just one of several for leaders from CEFCU, based in Peoria, Ill. The credit union followed up GAC by then activating its members and urging them to contact lawmakers with the message “Don’t Tax My Credit Union.”

“Of all the issues facing credit unions, today, this is the most important. The way we serve members will be severely affected by a change in our tax status,” said Janā Stevens, senior vice president of marketing and strategic communications at CEFCU. “But for all of us in the credit union industry, it goes beyond that – credit unions give back, supporting communities. Those funds will not be available; and this will affect members in more ways than just the potential increases to fees or interest rates – community services they have come to rely on may cease to exist without credit union support.”

CEFCU launched a page on its website with a site-wide banner as a “Don’t Tax My Credit Union” call to action. They sent emails to members, placed signage in its member centers, posted on social media, sent letters via mail, and ran ads on its online banking platform and within its mobile banking app, all urging member action in telling lawmakers “Don’t Tax My Credit Union.”

“We make sure we are keeping members informed of issues – but we don’t call on them for action often. So, when we do – they recognize the importance,” said Stevens. “We know there have been members reaching out to contact their congressional representatives. And we know they are seeing the communications we are sending out – our click-through rates and open rates have been well over what we expected for this campaign.”

Customizable email templates and other resources are available on the Member Activation Program website, and stakeholders are urged to continue sending messages of support for the credit union tax status to Congress through the Don’t Tax My Credit Union website.