Though credit unions will be allowed to join their league, CUNA, or both trade organizations, Staatz said CUNA maintains its position that the best choice is dual membership.

“We wholeheartedly believe that CUNA/league interdependence is the best way forward for the credit union movement, as do many of the leagues that have already approved optionality for their members,” he said. “Interdependence has helped us serve the best interests of credit unions for many years and will continue to do so for many years to come. It stands for a united system that is the best advocate for credit unions at both the state and federal levels and in any arena in which our support and participation is needed.”

CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle said coordination with the state leagues for the 2017 dues cycle has already begun.

“This is a tremendous victory for credit unions. I am grateful to our members for this strong vote of confidence in CUNA and embracing a modern, national trade association model that will help us build an even stronger, more effective and more united credit union system,” Nussle said in a prepared statement. “This new membership model allows us to enhance and build upon our already strong interdependence with the leagues. Interdependence has helped us serve the best interests of credit unions for many years.”

The bylaw changes vote comes after a months-long, industry-wide firestorm that erupted last September when the CUNA board rejected recommendations made by the CUNA System Structure and Governance Task Force to end the dual membership requirement, enhance cooperation and interdependence with leagues in the delivery of advocacy for credit unions, and streamline the CUNA board structure.

Despite CUNA's initial decision to maintain the status quo, state leagues independently decided to offer their credit unions membership choice.

The Michigan Credit Union League was the first state trade organization to eliminate the dual membership requirement for its members and several other leagues soon followed. Other leagues, however, publicly supported keeping the dual membership requirement.

In October, Nussle acknowledged the credit union system did not respond well to the CUNA board's decision to maintain the dual membership requirement. Subsequently, he directed his management team to draft new bylaws to modernize the trade association's membership structure.