This year at GAC, the conversations I had with credit union industry executives in line at Starbucks or at the Marriott bar were quite a bit livelier than they have been in year's past. Yes, the usual issues were all there: Credit union tax exemption, supplemental capital and member business lending. Risk based capital and regulatory burden were still a concern.

However, cybersecurity and the NCUA's efforts to obtain vendor authority emerged as this year's hot button issues. Data breaches and retailer responsibility, in particular, were top of mind. Most experts agreed a bill that would mandate data security standards might actually pass this Congress.

The retailing lobby is a powerful one, and of course they will continue to fight legislation that increases their liability. However, it's not just credit unions advocating for change; the banking lobby sides with credit unions on this one. Further, the issue affects too many Americans to ignore.