10 Reasons New Ideas Belongs on Your Calendar

Discover 10 reasons to make New Ideas 2026 part of your calendar. From fresh perspectives and practical takeaways to connections, conversations, and an opportunity to connect with America’s Credit Unions, Scott Simpson.

Let’s be honest. Your calendar is already full.

There are meetings to attend, members to serve, projects to finish, goals to meet, and about a hundred things waiting for your attention when you walk back into the office. Taking a day and a half away can feel difficult.
But sometimes, stepping away is exactly what helps you move forward.

That is what DakCU’s New Ideas Conference is all about. On September 23–24, credit union professionals from across the Dakotas will gather at The Venue 701 in Mandan, N.D., for just a day and a half of fresh thinking, practical takeaways, meaningful conversations, and ideas you can bring back to your credit union and actually put to work.

Still wondering whether New Ideas should be on your calendar? Here are 10 reasons why you should join us.

10. A change of scenery can change your perspective.
Sometimes the best ideas don't come while staring at the same computer screen, sitting in the same meeting, or working through the same routine. A change of scenery and a chance to step outside the day-to-day can provide the perspective you didn't know you needed. New Ideas Conference gives you permission to step away, think differently, and focus on what could be next for your credit union.

9. The conversations are just as valuable as the sessions.
Some of the best ideas from New Ideas won't come from a PowerPoint slide. They will come during a conversation over coffee, lunch, between sessions, or while connecting with someone from another credit union who is dealing with the same challenges you are. New Ideas brings together professionals from across the Dakotas who understand the unique opportunities and challenges of the credit union movement. You may arrive looking for answers and leave with a few new people you can call when the next challenge comes along.

8. The ideas are built to be taken home.
This isn't about sitting through presentations full of ideas that sound great but are impossible to implement. The 2026 program is designed around practical strategies and relevant conversations that can help credit unions strengthen communication, build relationships, embrace innovation, and find new opportunities for growth. The goal is simple: leave with something useful.

7. There is something for everyone.
Leadership. Marketing. Communication. Member relationships. Technology. Operations. Innovation. New Ideas isn't a one-size-fits-all conference. Whether you're a CEO looking at the future, a marketer trying to connect with the next generation, a frontline employee focused on better member experiences, or someone simply looking for a fresh perspective, there is something in the conversation for you.

6. You can learn from people who understand the challenges ahead.
This year's speakers bring experience from across financial services, communications, leadership, and innovation. From understanding how the language we use can strengthen member connections to building relationships with younger generations and improving the way we communicate with members and coworkers, the sessions are focused on challenges that credit unions are facing right now. And, more importantly, they are designed to provide practical ways to respond.

5. Christopher Lorence is back.
If you've attended New Ideas before, you know. Christopher Lorence returns for his fourth New Ideas Conference, and there is a reason we keep inviting him back. His energy, industry knowledge, and ability to bring people into the conversation have made him a favorite among Dakota credit union professionals. He doesn't just help guide the conference. He helps create the kind of environment where ideas turn into conversations and conversations turn into possibilities.

4. You'll get a look at what's next.
Credit unions are navigating a rapidly changing environment. Member expectations are evolving. Technology is moving faster. Artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities. And finding ways to grow while maintaining the personal relationships that make credit unions different remains as important as ever. New Ideas creates space to explore those changes, hear new perspectives, and consider what they could mean for your credit union. You don't need to have all the answers when you arrive. That's part of the reason we're getting together.

3. You might find the idea that changes something.
Maybe it is a new way to communicate with your members. Maybe it is a better approach to reaching younger generations. Maybe it is a conversation about technology that helps you see an opportunity differently. Or maybe it is simply one idea that makes you look at an old challenge in a completely new way. You never know which conversation, speaker, or connection will spark the idea that makes a difference. But you have to be in the room for it to happen.

2. One and a half days can create a lot of momentum.
New Ideas is intentionally designed to give you a meaningful professional development experience without taking an entire week away from your credit union. In just a day and a half, you can learn, connect, challenge your thinking, and return to your team with fresh energy and practical takeaways. Sometimes that is all it takes to get a new idea moving.

And now, for the number one reason...

1. Come a day early and spend the afternoon with Scott Simpson.
Before New Ideas officially begins, DakCU is giving attendees an opportunity to make their trip even more valuable.
On September 22, Scott Simpson, President & CEO of America’s Credit Unions, will be in Bismarck for DakCU's Leadership Exchange. The afternoon Advocacy Workshop and evening Social and Fireside Chat with Scott Simpson and DakCU President & CEO Joe Keller are open to credit union professionals and available at no cost (afternoon add-on options available within the New Ideas Conference registration).

It is an opportunity to hear directly from the leader of our national trade association, engage in conversations about advocacy and the future of the credit union movement, and connect with fellow credit union professionals before New Ideas even begins.

So why attend just one event when you can turn it into a full experience?

Join us on September 22 for the Leadership Exchange in Bismarck, then head across the river to Mandan for New Ideas on September 23–24. 2.5 days. New connections. Fresh perspectives. Important conversations. And hopefully, more than a few ideas worth taking home.

New Ideas has always been about more than sitting in a conference room. It's about stepping away long enough to think differently, connecting with people who understand your world, and returning to your credit union with something new to try.

The only question is: What idea might you miss if you're not in the room?

Register today.

Registration for the 2026 New Ideas Conference remains open, with the final registration deadline closing September 11.