Dakota CU News & Notes

​Heads up for Youth Month; UMACHA offering Virtual Symposiums; CMG acquiring prearranged funeral and final expense business; and other important announcements

Heads Up for Youth Month!
We are already halfway through March – which means Youth Month in April will be here before we know it.  Be sure to watch our Facebook page for fun “financial well-being” style memes that you can share to promote #CUYouthMonth or email Shawn Brummer for the set of 10 graphics that you can use whenever you wish.  We also have some special deals planned for our Pee Wee and Friends® subscribers, so watch for a special email promotion coming later this month.  Visit the Igloo Mall or contact Deb Kruckenberg for more information about Pee Wee and Friends®.
 
AACUL Launches New Website
If you haven’t seen it yet, the new AACUL website is now live. The new AACUL.org showcases the power of the League System for trade press, credit union employees and others in the industry.    
 
BND Hosting College SAVE Webinar
Bank of North Dakota (BND) is hosting a free webinar on Tuesday March 16 at 11:00 a.m. CT. “Updates on Student Loans and College Save” sessions will explain what is happening at the state and federal levels.  Receive the most recent information so you can assist your members with confidence! Register here.
 
UMACHA Hosting Virtual Symposiums
UMACHA and Wespay have partnered to bring you the 2021 Fraud Symposium, a one-day virtual conference on March 16.  Leading industry experts and professionals will discuss the trends in payments fraud and ways to mitigate risk, especially in a faster-payments environment.  Sessions will cover combatting synthetic identity theft; romance scams; fraud and real-time payments – just to name a few. Visit umacha.org to see the complete Fraud Symposium agenda, speakers, session descriptions and register today!

Payments are moving faster - is your compliance team ready to keep up? This full-day Compliance Symposium on March 25 focuses on ACH Rules and the broader regulatory landscape related to electronic payments.  Join UMACHA staff and industry leaders on topics covering the latest updates on the impacts of Same Day ACH and changes to the many regulations related to payments.  View the complete Compliance Symposium Agenda with speakers and session descriptions and register here.
 
CMG Acquiring Prearranged Funeral and Final Expense Business
CUNA Mutual Group has announced an agreement to acquire Assurant’s prearranged funeral insurance and final expense business in the U.S. and Canada for approximately $1.3 billion. This investment will enhance CUNA Mutual Group’s ability to help ensure middle market consumers have access to solutions that help build financial stability.  Prearranged funeral insurance and senior lifestyle protection solutions are designed to help ease the emotional and financial burdens of consumers and their families related to planning for the later chapters of life.  Acquiring Assurant’s best-in-class prearranged funeral insurance and final expense solutions business enables CUNA Mutual Group to further serve the growing middle market.  The business will operate with autonomy at its Rapid City, South Dakota location with limited integration into CUNA Mutual Group’s other business lines or operations.  Since these solutions are provided to consumers primarily through funeral homes, the company has no plans at this time to offer these services through financial institutions, such as credit unions and banks.  You can read the entire press release here.
 
Scholarships for North Dakota Students!
North Dakota students between 13-19 years of age are eligible to enter the Bank of North Dakota’s (BND) March Money Madness challenge where two $1,529 scholarships will be awarded.  To qualify, individuals must take College SAVE’s March Money Madness challenge that takes less than an hour.  There are three challenges – each challenge contains three videos with 2-question quizzes.  Answer all the questions correctly, and the entry is complete.  Video topics include needs versus wants, repaying loans, and the difference between gross and take-home pay, and more.  Begin March Money Madness here and complete by 5 p.m. CT on March 31.
 
Help Us Stay Up to Date with Your Staff!
Please help us to make sure that your employees are receiving the Memo and are in our database for other important information.  We strive to bring you the latest important information related to advocacy, compliance, networking and educational opportunities, and more.  Is everyone at your credit union receiving this information?  Be sure we have the names, title, and email address of any new employees.  The more information your staff has, the better for all of us!  Email Shawn Brummer to be added to our distribution list or sign up directly here on our website.
 
Ready to Ctrl+Alt+Innovate!
Ctrl+Alt+Innovate is the shortcut you need to advance with fintechs and power financial growth.  This event will take place on April 7 – 8 from 9:00 a.m. to noon (CT) each day and the cost is just $99 per person!  Receive innovation and fintech demos from an experienced panel of experts, attend “Tech Talks” breakout sessions, and much more!  Click here to learn more about this collaborative event.
 
Summit Registration Open!
Plan now to join us May 3 – 4 at the Delta Marriott Hotel and Convention center in Fargo!  DakCU is proud to offer this year’s Summit with outstanding educational content, as well as the opportunity to interact with preferred solution providers and business partners.  Attend our Annual Business Meeting, the elegant Awards Banquet, and breakout sessions that will address industry hot topics.  Our staff is looking forward to reconnecting with you and we can’t wait to host our first in-person event of 2021. Be sure to visit our Summit Event Page for more details and the complete agenda.
 
Be a Summit Crasher!
If you are a credit union professional age 35 or under who is interested in expanding your career and professional development, consider applying to be a Summit Crasher! The Crashers’ registration fees are FREE so the only expense you will incur is travel and lodging. Learn more about the industry and expand your professional network! Contact George McDonald if you have any questions about the Crasher agenda.
 
The Side Effects Project – The Financial Crisis of Cancer
The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) has announced a new project entitled, Side Effects, that sheds light on the financial crisis of cancer hiding in plain sight and what credit unions can do to better serve their members.  Funded by the Foundation and created by Andy Janning, the Side Effects Project builds on the work of the Foundation that offered a model for credit unions and health care system to work together to address members’ physical, mental AND financial health and well-being.  This work is a deeper dive to help credit unions understand this link between health and wealth, with a medical issue that ALL of us have experienced in one form or another – cancer.  The goal with Side Effects – an ambitious 7-part collection of essays, photos, films, and audio narratives – is that credit unions will see this connection, then serve these members better. Learn more about the project through the first documentary piece: Introduction | 12,614 Miles.
 
In the Spotlight
Do you know someone at your credit union or another credit union, either employee or volunteer, who has an interesting story?  Nominate them for the CU Professionals Spotlight by emailing their name and a brief explanation of why they are “Spotlight” material to Shawn Brummer.
 
Maurie C. Byrne Chapter Meeting
The Maurie C. Byrne Chapter has scheduled their virtual Zoom meeting for Tuesday, March 16 at 6:15 p.m.  The agenda includes the election of Chapter Officers, and program will be presented by Nanci Wilson, Marketing & Campus Outreach with University FCU on “Stop! Collaborate & Listen: Working Through Tough Attitudes and Rewriting the Outcome.”  To make your reservation please contact Lacey Fetsch, University Federal Credit Union no later than Monday, March 15.  The Zoom information will be sent to you once your reservation is received.
 
Central Chapter Meeting
The Central Chapter has scheduled their in-person meeting for Tuesday, March 16 at the Huron Event Center - 501 Wisconsin Avenue SW - Huron, SD.  Meet at 6:00pm for dinner with program to follow: Agent Randy Walker, US Secret Service on Counterfeit Currency and Current Trends.  Be sure to RSVP with meal choice to Lisa Snedeker, Dakotaland Federal Credit Union at 605-353-8776.
 
North Central Chapter Meeting
The North Central Chapter has scheduled their meeting for Monday, March 22 hosted by First Community Credit Union’s Devils Lake location.  Meet at KC Hall – 522 4th Street NE – Devils Lake, ND at 5:15 p.m. for social with dinner to follow at 6:15 p.m.  Program presented by Steve Schmitz, President/CEO of First Community Credit Union: “People Helping People,” Steve’s Story.  Please make your reservation by contacting Tiffani Crist, First Community Credit Union at 701-665-1325.
 
Free Small CU Webinar Series
Don’t forget the free CUNA-League System Small CU Webinar Series! This series provides actionable, relevant and operation-improving best practices while bringing free education to small credit unions on the most important issues they face. Each live webinar takes place on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. CT (1:00 p.m. MT) now through Spring 2021. While subjects are wide-ranging, each webinar will aim to answer many of the biggest questions facing small credit unions. *Please note: the Small CU Webinar Series is designed for credit unions $75M and under in assets.
Here are some upcoming dates and topics:

• March 16: Student Lending
• March 23: Leadership, Empowerment, and Communication

Register here for the series. For additional information, including a complete lineup of upcoming topics, click here.
 
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