More CU Trade Associations Needed, Not Fewer: Too Many CUs Already Disenfranchised

In his October 10 Credit Union Times opinion essay, former CUNA Chairman Yuri Valdov contends that dropping his credit union’s membership in NAFCU, thereby enabling CUNA to be the sole national voice for credit unions, will somehow cure all of the industry’s ills. He couldn’t be more wrong. Credit unions need more trade association choices, not fewer.

As the CEO of $1.5 billion asset Virginia-based Northwest Federal Credit Union, Mr. Valdov certainly has the right to choose which, if any, of the credit union trade associations he supports. The fatal flaw in his thinking is that the best interests of credit unions will somehow be served by a “unity of voice.” He assumes that all credit unions want the same future that he envisions. They don’t.