By Ray Birch
WASHINGTON—Warning that both external attacks and internal divisions threaten to weaken the movement at a pivotal moment, the Defense Credit Union Council is calling for a third industry-wide meeting of credit union leaders to coordinate strategy and reinforce unity heading into 2026.
In a message sent this past week to CU leaders across the credit union system—including America’s Credit Unions, NASCUS, NACUC, NCUMA, Inclusiv, state leagues, and system partners such as Filene, TruStage, and Allied Solutions—DCUC President/CEO Anthony Hernandez urged leaders to reconvene on Monday, Dec. 15, at 1 p.m. ET for what he described as a critical continuing discussion.
Hernandez said the renewed call to gather stems from escalating attacks from the banking industry—particularly after a major push in 2024 and 2025 to undermine the credit union tax exemption.
“Given our results and unified approach, I believe the bank lobby is attempting to sow discontent both inside our industry and on Capitol Hill, employing the same themes along with new lines of attack,” Hernandez said.
Anthony Hernandez
Recent banker efforts include a drive to overturn a 54-year-old IRS rule and force federal credit unions to file Form 990.
The DCUC letter notes the banking lobby has already “exploited several of these frictions,” citing rhetoric around stadium naming rights, credit union purchases of banks, and renewed disputes over CDFI Fund policies.
While Congress may or may not take direct action on the latest banker demands, Hernandez said the intent is clear: “to sow discord within our own industry.”
Internal Friction Now A Concern
Beyond outside threats, DCUC is sounding the alarm over what it describes as growing internal “fragmentation”—a challenge Hernandez said could weaken the industry’s ability to respond to the most aggressive banker campaign seen in years.
“There will always be some level of fragmentation in our industry—whether between institutions of different charters, different asset sizes, or among various associations and leagues,” he acknowledged. “As industry leaders, it is up to each of us to model cooperation and unity across the entire credit union family.”
In that spirit, Hernandez said the goal of the December meeting is not only to share information, but to lower tensions that have emerged across the movement.
“Working together we can ease internal frictions while redirecting industry narratives back on the banks, where it belongs,” he said.
Agenda: Address The ‘Elephants In the Room’ And Unify Strategy For 2026
The proposed Dec. 15 TEAMS meeting will, at minimum, address two priorities:
- Internal tensions within the movement, discussing how to ease internal frictions while redirecting industry narratives back on the banks
- Listing and prioritizing unified legislative and regulatory issues for 2026
Additional follow-up meetings will examine:
- A coordinated 2026 advocacy calendar where unified advocacy can either pile on at the same time or form a steady drip of coordinated messages on Capitol Hill.
- When and how to deploy joint letters or grassroots campaigns
- Opportunities for collaboration among trade associations, leagues, credit unions, members, business partners, and nonprofit allies
A Message About Leadership—And Accountability
Hernandez emphasized the industry is paying attention to how its leaders behave in this moment.
“The industry is always watching what we say versus what we do,” stated Hernandez, adding that he hopes that despite the busy holiday season the Dec. 15 meeting will garner strong attendance.
“There is too much at stake to let this moment of unity pass. We can all win together in 2026,” he said.
Third Call For Unity
Jason Stverak
This is DCUC’s third call for industry-wide consultation this year. In April, as CUToday.info reported, DCUC convened a broad coalition of trade groups shortly after the Trump Administration removed NCUA Democratic Board Members Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka—a move that heightened concerns about regulatory independence and system stability.
At the time, Hernandez warned that a series of fast-moving threats—from the tax exemption to the CDFI Fund—required the movement to synchronize efforts and “provide the requisite amount of ‘mass’ at each decisive point.”
Each of those themes continue, DCUC said.
‘Shoulder-To-Shoulder’ Going Forward
In closing his latest message to CU leaders, Hernandez stressed DCUC’s commitment to full-system collaboration.
“We value the opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow trade associations, leagues, and business partners on every issue that impacts our members and the industry,” he wrote.
DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer Jason Stverak added that as DCUC demonstrated throughout the summer and fall during the credit union tax-status fight, the trade association will continue engaging with credit union leagues, individual credit unions, and system partners to “ensure alignment on our advocacy goals moving forward.”
“The banks have repeatedly shown—most recently with their push to require federal credit unions to file Form 990—that they will use any tactic to hinder credit unions’ ability to serve their members,” he said. “We must present a unified front that includes ALL voices speaking on behalf of credit unions.”