The President's Perspective

DakCU is driving advocacy in D.C. and launching fall events, celebrations, and our new awareness campaign.

DakCU Advocacy Team at Congressional Caucus. Kenley Lamberty, John Alexander, and Jeff Olson.

14th Annual Dakota Fall Legislative & Regulatory Hike the Hill
With Congress back in session, credit union priorities are moving quickly as lawmakers wrestle with must-pass legislation, including federal funding (expiring Sept. 30) and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). These bills create both challenges and opportunities—and Dakota credit unions are making sure our voice is heard.
 
This week, 20 Dakota credit union leaders, including our brand new Director of Political Strategy and Engagement, Kenley Lamberty, are in Washington, D.C., for our 14th Annual Legislative and Regulatory Hike the Hill. Against a wonderful warm and sunny fall backdrop, our advocates are walking the halls of Congress, sharing the credit union story, correcting misconceptions, and most importantly reminding lawmakers that credit unions serve people, not profits.
 
Why This Matters for Dakota Credit Unions
Our work on Capitol Hill directly connects back home. The policy decisions made in Washington shape the ability of credit unions in North Dakota and South Dakota to serve members, strengthen rural communities, and support small businesses.

• Board Modernization (S.610 / H.R.975): Both ND and SD delegations are supporting legislation to reduce mandatory monthly board meetings. For our Dakota credit unions many of which are leanly staffed this means less time on paperwork and more time serving members.
• SAFE Banking Act (H.R.2891): Rep. Dusty Johnson is leading efforts to provide legal clarity for credit unions that serve state-legal cannabis businesses. This is a public safety issue removing the risks of cash-only operations protects both communities and financial institutions.
• Farm Bill: Both Sen. Hoeven and Sen. Thune are advancing strong ag provisions, from crop insurance stability to rural lending support. With agriculture at the heart of Dakota economies, these efforts directly impact thousands of our members and local credit unions.
• Veterans Member Business Loan Act (S.110 / H.R.507): Members of our delegation are backing this important bill, which would ease caps on lending to veteran-owned small businesses. For Dakota communities with a proud record of military service, this opens more doors for veteran entrepreneurs.
• Central Liquidity Facility (S.2545): Senators Cramer, Rounds, and Hoeven are engaged on efforts to strengthen the safety net for smaller and rural credit unions, ensuring access to affordable liquidity in times of stress.

 
Dakota Advocacy in Action
Our meetings have been productive and personal. From thanking Sen. Cramer for co-leading liquidity legislation, to urging Sen. Rounds to keep regulatory relief front and center, Dakota advocates are sending a clear message: local credit unions fuel our economies and deserve a fair regulatory environment.

We are also reinforcing broader priorities:

• Pushing NCUA to modernize without adding unnecessary burdens on small institutions.
• Supporting Treasury and the Fed in building fraud prevention and real-time payments tools that work for community-based credit unions.

---

April Tompkins, Explorers Credit Union CEO (Yankton, SD) with Scott Simpson.

Scott Simpson: The Credit Union Story is Our Greatest Asset
At the 2025 Congressional Caucus, incoming America’s Credit Unions President/CEO Scott Simpson underscored the power of storytelling as the foundation of credit union advocacy and identity.
 
“Credit unions deliver on the promise of cooperative finance in ways our founders couldn’t have imagined,” Simpson said in an interview with CU Daily. “The profound impact we have on people’s lives must remain at the forefront.”
 
Simpson cautioned that the industry’s very success can sometimes obscure its human element. “We let miracles walk out the door of our branches every day,” he explained, pointing to life-changing loans, financial guidance, and opportunities made possible through the credit union model. The challenge, he said, is to capture, amplify, and industrialize those stories so members, policymakers, and the public alike can see the transformational role credit unions play.​

---

Scott Simpson, America's Credit Unions President-CEO, elect, with Jim Nussle at Congressional Caucus.

But storytelling is only part of the equation. Simpson stressed that both America’s Credit Unions and state leagues must evolve with intention, ensuring their structures and strategies grow alongside the movement. He reminded attendees that while leagues began as service providers, they have become indispensable advocacy organizations. Success in Washington, D.C., he noted, depends on strong coordination across the states.
 
“The work in Washington doesn’t work unless the machinery across the states is functioning,” Simpson said. “If we can get all of it pointed in the same direction, we’re absolutely unstoppable.”
 
Currently leading credit union associations in California, Nevada, and Utah, Simpson will soon succeed Jim Nussle as president/CEO of America’s Credit Unions. Both leaders shared the stage at this year’s Caucus for a fireside chat symbolizing continuity, collaboration, and the future of the movement.

---

Fresh Opportunities This Fall: Conferences, Celebrations, and Awareness Campaigns
As fall approaches, Dakota credit unions have a unique lineup of opportunities to learn, connect, and showcase the credit union difference. From leadership development and compliance training to global celebrations and awareness campaigns, there’s something for everyone.
 
New Ideas Conference – New Crasher Opportunity
The 2025 New Ideas Conference in historic Deadwood is designed to help you reset, recharge, and refocus.

• When: October 14–15
• Where: Deadwood, SD
• Focus: 1.5 days packed with innovation, networking, and practical solutions you can put to work right away.

 
Special Crasher Offer: If you’ve participated in DakCU’s Summit Crasher program within the past three years, you’re eligible for an exclusive offer—50% off registration for the 2025 New Ideas Conference in Deadwood, October 14–15! This special opportunity is designed to keep Crashers connected, engaged, and growing as leaders while experiencing the same high-impact professional development, networking, and inspiration that make DakCU events so valuable. Use the promo code Crasher Special when registering to claim your discount. Register here. 
 
*This promotion is available exclusively to Summit Crashers from the past three years. If a non-Crasher registers using the coupon code, the invoice will be adjusted to reflect the full registration value.*
 
International Credit Union (ICU) Day
For more than 75 years, International Credit Union (ICU) Day® has been a moment to reflect on our movement’s history, honor our achievements, and celebrate the impact we’ve made in communities worldwide.
 
On Thursday, October 16, 2025, credit unions will mark the 77th anniversary of ICU Day under the theme “Cooperation for a Prosperous World,” joining more than 82,000 cooperatives serving 403 million members globally.
 
For more information about International Credit Union Day® and to access free promotional materials, visit the World Council of Credit Unions’ website at woccu.org/icuday.
 
Compliance Conclave – New Event Launch
DakCU is proud to introduce the first-ever Compliance Conclave, a professional development event designed specifically for compliance professionals.

• When: October 20–21
• Where: Bismarck, ND
• Focus: Emerging risks, fraud trends, payments innovation, and practical compliance strategies.

 
Participants will leave with actionable takeaways to strengthen compliance programs and member protections. Register here. 
 
While you’re in Bismarck, make plans to attend the inaugural North Dakota DFI Credit Union Summit on October 22. Hosted by the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions and NASCUS, this event brings regulators, executives, and industry leaders together for critical conversations shaping the future of North Dakota’s credit unions.
 
SWAP: State-Wide Awareness Program Update
DakCU has officially launched the latest edition of our State-Wide Awareness Program (SWAP) under the theme: “Your Money. Your Values. Your Credit Union.”
 
This fresh campaign created in partnership with Dakota credit unions features authentic regional voices and leverages digital, streaming, outdoor, and social media channels to showcase the credit union difference. With a strategic focus on Gen Z, Millennials, and the underbanked, SWAP is designed to expand awareness, deepen connections, and move us closer to our bold goal: 40% credit union membership across the Dakotas by 2030.  Read more here. 
 
Whether it’s leadership development in Deadwood, celebrating our global movement on ICU Day, strengthening compliance in Bismarck, or expanding awareness through SWAP, these fall initiatives demonstrate the power and reach of Dakota credit unions.
​

​DakCU President/CEO