SEATAC, Wash.–The Northwest Credit Union Association and the Idaho Credit Union League have announced a two-year strategic alliance management agreement.
Effective Jan. 1, 2017, the NWCUA said it will provide a full suite of Association products, services, and programming to ICUL member credit unions. The agreement was announced during the MAXX conference here hosted by the NWCUA, which services credit unions in Washington and Oregon.
The announcement comes as smaller state CU associations continue to be challenged by their viability. The ICUL’s CEO, Kathy Thomson, recently retired.
Under the agreement, the ICUL league structure will remain intact and be governed by its board of directors. The Idaho Governmental Affairs Committee will continue to nurture the state level advocacy agenda. The three state collaboration will leverage committees and task forces together, to advance policy, raise public awareness, and promote collective action, the NWCUA said. An office with staff resources will be maintained in Boise, Idaho.
“Region-wide credit union movement collaboration is being demonstrated at its finest in this alliance,” said Troy Stang, NWCUA president and CEO, in a statement. “The alliance brings collaborative synergy between Idaho, Oregon, and Washington credit unions which already serve 50% of the population. With a connected focus on bringing the best possible operating environment through advocacy and public awareness, the credit unions in these three states will continue to realize the maximum influence of their collective voice.”
“The strategic alliance augments the combined power of 184 credit unions in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, creating a robust collection of tradition, independent thinking, and bright minds,” added Kent Oram, chair of the ICUL board of directors. “Collaboration is the cornerstone of the credit union movement, and this collaboration empowers one community of credit unions to enhance the value and impact that nearly six million of their members enjoy.”
The NWCUA reported that it and the ICUL have other established collaborative partnerships; a three-year agreement for the trade associations to jointly host the annual MAXX Convention was announced in August, and ICUL member credit unions participated last year in the NWCUA’s networking council programs. A broad geographic footprint is already in place in the Northwest with some Oregon and Washington credit unions currently working across the Idaho border.
Oram said the ICUL board, NWCUA board and staff are heading down the alliance path “fully committed to a successful 24-month alliance which may lead to a formalized merger of the ICUL and its affiliated service corporation with the NWCUA. This gives Idaho credit unions the opportunity to experience what is possible.”