Jeff Olson Elected Board Chair for AACUL

Key areas of focus will continue to include credit union advocacy, consumer awareness, innovation, and financial inclusion

Bismarck, ND – Credit union leagues from across the country recently gathered in Scottsdale, AZ for the annual American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) Winter Conference. Each year, this conference brings together league presidents, league executives and board chairs, political affairs professionals, as well as Credit Union National Association (CUNA) executive committee members, and national and state regulators. 
 
During the annual business meeting, AACUL members elected board members for the coming year. President/CEO of the Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU) Jeff Olson was duly elected as board chair.
 
“I am both humbled and honored to serve the credit union movement at the national level,” Olson stated. “For 80 years, AACUL has been setting the standards in developing and promoting servant leadership; I pledge my commitment to continue the AACUL’s mission in providing authentic and intentional leadership in the CUNA-League system,” he added.
 
Joining Olson on the AACUL Board: John Bratsakis, President/CEO of the MD & DC Credit Union Association; Patrick Conway, President/CEO of the CrossState Credit Union Association; Brad Douglas, President/CEO of the Heartland Credit Union Association; Debbie Painter, President/CEO of The Kentucky Credit Union League; and ex-officio members Diana Dykstra, President/CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues; Jim Nussle, President/CEO of CUNA; and Brad Miller, President of AACUL.
 
As Olson takes the gavel for the AACUL Board, key areas of focus will continue to include credit union advocacy, consumer awareness, innovation, and financial inclusion. One important trend in the credit union industry is “financial well-being for all,” with initiatives being launched across the United States, including North and South Dakota.
 
“Financial well-being for all is an important cause that we can all agree upon,” Olson expounded. “Dakota credit unions have a long history of kindness and giving back, driven by our appreciation of community, strong local stewardship and helping our neighbors. Financial wellness is one more way of giving back and is deeply embedded into our structure. Simply put, credit unions want to help consumers achieve their financial dreams. Through our local, state, and national connections, we will continue to promote financial education and awareness for everyone,” he concluded.
 
Olson has been president/CEO of DakCU since 2015. Prior to that, he was the EVP of Governmental Affairs for six years. In addition to serving as chair on the AACUL Board, he serves as an ex-officio member on the CUNA Board of Directors; CUNA National Advocacy Fund & National Action and Response Program Steering Committee Secretary/Treasurer; CUNA Awareness LLC Board of Directors; CUNA Strategic Services (CSS) Board of Directors and was past chair of the Credit Union Legislative Action Committee (CULAC).

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​About AACUL
American Association of Credit Unions (AACUL) is the national association for the state and regional credit union leagues/associations throughout the United States. AACUL’s mission is to cultivate the success of individual leagues as well as the collective League System by supporting league efforts to advocate, communicate, collaborate and influence policy on behalf of credit unions nationwide. AACUL partners with the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) to foster the CUNA-League System relationship and the prosperity of the credit union movement.