Dakota CU News & Notes

​North Star CCU welcomes new marketing manager; a rare opening at Vue Community CU; and FREE webinars to learn more about BSA, prepaid gift cards, and critical vendors. 

North Star Community CU Welcomes New Marketing Manager
North Star Community Credit Union is please to introduce Kylee Lemieux as their new Marketing Manager. Kylee joins North Star with seven years of experience in advertising and marketing for a local agriculture equipment dealer. Kylee is originally from rural Wolford, North Dakota, but now makes her home in the town of Rugby. She is a graduate of Minot State University, class of 2015, and says that she is looking forward to growing with an organization committed to its members and the surrounding communities. Please join us in welcoming Kylee Lemieux to the credit union family.
 
NCUA Bank Secrecy Act Webinar for Small Credit Unions
NCUA is holding a free webinar on August 24th to discuss Bank Secrecy Act Trends, challenges, and provide credit unions with valuable updates on BSA compliance. Topics include: Industry Suspicious Activity Report filing trends; Common BSA violations for small credit unions and risk mitigation; Emerging fraud schemes and threats to small credit unions; The customer risk statement; and An update on the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020. The “BSA Update: Challenges for Small Credit Unions” webinar is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CT and run approximately 60 minutes. Register here.
 
How to Classify Who is a Critical Vendor – a Free Webinar!
Venminder, a CUNA Strategic Services provider, is offering a free webinar: How to Classify Who Is a Critical Vendor on Tuesday, August 9th at 2:00 p.m. (ET). Topics will include: Why critical is such a big deal; Risk vs Impact; The questions to determine criticality; What to do once you've determined critical/non-critical; and The process of identifying criticality by walking through a sample vendor list (feel free to have your vendor list close by). Register here.
 
Free Webinar: Gift Cards are Better than Socks!
Yes, it’s time to talk holidays already! Like socks, gift cards are popular go-to holiday gifts (but much more fun). Join Envisant for this complimentary webinar on Wednesday, August 17 at 2:30 p.m. (CT) to learn about gift card holiday trends. They will take you through holidays past, present, and future as they review the historical statistics, the impact COVID has made, and future expectations surrounding the prepaid holiday market. Register here.
 
Minot Women Connect Welcomes International Speaker
On August 31, Sam Goodwin, an American entrepreneur will be at the Minot Grand Hotel sharing his story of resilience after being wrongfully detained on false charges of espionage in Syria. He was the first American to be released by the Syrian regime without federal intervention. Goodwin has led humanitarian efforts across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and currently works in Congressional Advocacy for the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation in Washington DC. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Communication Studies and French from Niagara University and a master’s degree in International Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis. Tickets for this event are open to the public (everyone is welcome) and available for purchase on the Minot Chamber EDC website. Goodwin’s keynote at the Grand Hotel will be from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., and lunch will be served.
 
Vue Community CU Seeking Accountant 
Vue Community Credit Union in Bismarck, ND, a growing financial institution with a great work environment, is seeking a motivated individual that is looking to grow with us. This individual is expected to perform financial accounting and reporting for the credit union, working closely with the VP of Operations. An Accounting degree or business degree with an accounting background is required. Prior experience in the accounting field is preferred, but not required.
 
Job duties will include the preparation of financial statements, compiling call reports, balancing general ledger accounts, preparing payroll, and assisting employees and credit union members with questions on accounts. This is a Full-time position with excellent benefits. Contact Steve DeLap, President, at 701.223.6533 with any questions.
 
Credit Unions United Holding Free Pool Party
The Credit Unions United Chapter is holding their Annual Free Pool Night on Thursday, August 11 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Roosevelt Park Pool & Slide in Minot. Prizes will be given away, sponsored by the credit unions. In case of inclement weather, please contact your credit union or listen to the local radio stations for announcements.
 
Bank of North Dakota Presenting BND 101
The Bank of North Dakota (BND) is introducing a new six-week, virtual course this fall for banking, credit union and economic development staff members. The course will cover BND programs and the agency’s relationship with state government, financial institutions, and the public. The first one-hour course begins October 12 at 11 a.m. and will continue for six consecutive Wednesdays. Participants will register for the entire course, and if they are unable to attend a session, it will be recorded for them. A second six-week course will begin in February 2023. Topics include: Week One BND’s role in North Dakota; Week Two Commercial Loan Programs; Week Three Ag Loan Programs; Week Four Collateral Valuation Program; Week Five Treasury Services – Operations/Retail; Week Six Student Loans and Financial Literacy. To register visit bnd.nd.gov/signup.
 
Over 666,000 Impressions and Counting – Your SWAP $$ At Work!
The June Gas Station TV (GSTV) numbers are in and the results are even better than we expected. During that month alone, GSTV delivered over 666,600 impressions of video ads promoting credit unions throughout the Dakotas! That’s your SWAP contributions working for us all! Don’t forget – keep your eyes open for the billboards that are now all across the Dakotas promoting credit unions and YourMoneyFurther.com. We also have both digital and printed SWAP advertising running statewide across both North and South Dakota.
 
As a reminder, contributing credit unions have enhanced listings on yourmoneyfurther.com, so be sure your listing is customized and updated to maximize your placement. Contact Lindsey Hefta if you have any questions, or to learn how you can support our Statewide Awareness Program (SWAP).
 
Register Now for Discovery2022
For more than a decade, credit union leaders have expected big things from CUNA Mutual Groups’ Discovery conference. This year, you can expect even more! Discovery2022 will offer sessions to help with your strategic planning and brand-new opportunities for networking with the credit union colleagues you’ve missed. The networking addition is thanks to an entirely new virtual conferencing platform, which also promises greater interactivity and richer learning experiences for everyone. Collaboration is the beating heart of the credit union movement, register now to join us on August 11, 2022, for an all-day, immersive (and free!) occasion. More information and registration is available here.
 
America’s CU Museum – Credit Union Women Making History
America’s Credit Union Museum has announced the launch of a new “Credit Union Women Making History – Herstory” exhibit. Honoring the past, present and future of the incredible women making history in the credit union industry, Herstory will be an interactive exhibit showcasing inspiring stories never heard before. The new exhibit will premiere at the museum’s 20th Anniversary celebration in September 2022. In addition to a physical display at the museum, the exhibit will have an online presence that shares stories through virtual visits. Everyone is invited to nominate a CU Woman from the past, the present, or someone whose work today is contributing to the future of the movement. For more details, click here.
 
Free Webinar Series for Small Credit Unions
There is a free webinar program for smaller credit unions from CUNA. In this series, you will be connected to business partners that are vetted and known to work well with smaller credit unions. Partnering with CUNA Strategic Services, the goal is to deliver direct to your office presentations on services from small credit union-friendly vendors that can help you enhance your organizations and the services you offer members. Each month, two small credit union-friendly providers will present how their offerings can enhance your service to members. This free series takes place every second Thursday of the month now to December. Register for the series here.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Share News
Submit your news to Shawn Brummer. Employee promotions, awards, new products or services, community involvement/recognition, job openings, all are welcome! 

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