By: Robert N. Trunzo
Giving Back
is What We Do
Credit unions provide financial services for the purpose of improving
lives, and a core principle of the movement includes supporting the sustainable
development of communities.
CUNA Mutual Group was founded on this “people helping people”
philosophy, and we take that to heart by giving back in many ways. This year
alone, our employees put in more than 13,000 volunteer hours to date and we
recently contributed an additional $20 million to our foundation to create a sustainable funding source for
many years to come.
I’m extremely proud of our commitment to making a real difference in our
communities.
The Power of Cooperation
The spirit of cooperation is another core principle of the credit union
movement, and I witnessed this principle in action earlier this year when the Iowa
legislature passed the largest tax overhaul in state history. If adopted, the bill would have set a
dangerous precedent for the credit union tax status across the nation.
Many of our employees took part in grassroots advocacy efforts to show
their support for credit unions. They generated hundreds of letters, emails and
phone calls to local representatives, urging lawmakers to protect the credit
union tax status. On top of that, many drove several hours to attend events at
the state capitol in Des Moines to tell legislators personal stories about
their credit union experiences.
Collectively, our voices were critical in having the final Iowa tax bill
pass without a tax increase on credit unions.
Positioned for a Bright Future
The credit union philosophy centers on the simple idea of people over
profit. As the ICU Day theme points out, that's why credit unions always offer
a platinum lining.
At CUNA Mutual Group, we believe credit unions are an outstanding choice
for consumers, and that’s why we were one of the first to contribute to Credit
Union National Association’s (CUNA) nationwide campaign, pledging $1 million to help raise consumer
awareness about credit unions
and the positive outcomes they help members achieve every day.
By supporting CUNA and the Leagues on this important initiative, CUNA
Mutual Group believes we can collectively increase consumer consideration of
credit unions and position them for a bright future.
On ICU day and
every day, I’m proud to be part of an industry that puts people first and cares
about the well-being of its customers.
