Your Leadership Link

​With Congress and state legislatures back to work, DakCU is actively engaging on funding, advocacy priorities, and key issues impacting credit unions. 

A belated Happy New Year to you all. I hope you were able to enjoy some well-deserved rest and quality time with family and friends during the holiday season.

The U.S. House and Senate are now back in session, with funding the federal government beyond the January 30 expiration date at the top of their priority list. Your Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU) Advocacy team, alongside our national partners, America’s Credit Unions, and the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL), is already actively engaging with lawmakers and regulators as this work begins.

Our focus on the 2026 Advocacy Priorities is well underway, ensuring the credit union perspective on the industry’s most pressing issues is heard clearly and consistently. These priorities are shaped by direct credit union feedback, refined through league collaboration, and elevated through national policy committees. DakCU’s North Dakota and South Dakota Government Affairs Committees, made up of your elected and appointed peers, play a critical role in this effort.

Recently, the DakCU Advocacy team and the North Dakota GAC hosted an in-state meeting at Railway Credit Union in Bismarck with Senator Kevin Cramer. That conversation resulted in Senator Cramer signing on as the Republican lead for a Senate version of the loan maturities bill—proposed legislation that would be a positive step forward for credit unions.

Here at home, you will soon see the work of the DakCU team and the South Dakota GAC as the South Dakota Legislature convenes next week. We will be closely monitoring activity in Pierre and tracking any proposed legislation that may impact credit unions and our industry.

Across the Dakotas and nationwide, we also encourage our member credit unions to remain vigilant as fraud and scam activity often increases following the holiday season. Awareness and proactive communication remain essential tools in protecting members.

On the regulatory front, we will continue monitoring the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) as it works to implement provisions of the GENIUS Act, considers the proposed auto-loan interest rule, and advances other initiatives aimed at providing the regulatory certainty credit unions need to serve their members effectively.

Above all, we must continue to tell our story: credit unions are your trusted financial partners, committed to people over profit.

​Before I close, I want to offer a quick reminder that nominations for the DakCU Awards are due this Friday, January 9. Each year, your association has the opportunity to recognize the credit unions, professionals, and volunteers who have made a meaningful impact across the Dakotas. If you know an individual, chapter, or credit union deserving of recognition, I encourage you to take a few minutes to submit a nomination and help us celebrate their contributions at the DakCU Summit Awards Banquet this May.

As you move into the year ahead and finalize your operational plans, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Association with questions, concerns, or opportunities where we can assist. We are here for you, and we are always better together.
​

George McDonald
​DakCU Interim President/CEO