As we get set to turn the page on 2025, the Ohio Credit Union League and Ohio credit unions have been thinking intentionally about the changes ahead for credit unions in 2026 and beyond. From AI to cryptocurrency to fraud prevention and advocacy priorities, we know that Ohio credit unions will face numerous challenges and opportunities in the months and years to come.
THE 'tude
Anyone who has spent time in a large family understands how shared responsibility actually works in practice. Most simply do what needs to be done… setting the table, helping in the kitchen, carrying their share of the load… without much fanfare. The work moves forward because it’s collective and necessary, not because it’s loud.
Payments move faster than ever. A tap, a click, a fingerprint and the transaction is complete. Fairness has not kept pace. We have built beautifully efficient front-end experiences that make moving money effortless. Now we need the same clarity, intelligence and accountability behind the scenes.
A recent article titled “The Community Bank Acquisition Machine” portrays credit unions as aggressive predators buying up community banks. As the leader of the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC), I refuse to let that misinformation stand.
A seismic shift is underway in the U.S. finance ecosystem. Stablecoins, which are digital dollars backed by fiat currency on a 1:1 basis, are moving beyond their reputation as crypto experiments, thanks to clear new legislation and technological integrations by key service providers.
2025 has been a pivotal year for the credit union movement. We faced increased threats not only to the cooperative finance model, but to people’s economic freedom. Yet working together, America’s Credit Unions, leagues, credit unions, and allies held the line. We stopped harmful proposals, made meaningful progress on several fronts, and reminded policymakers why credit unions remain essential to millions of families. But the work is far from done.
Credit unions’ overdraft programs are transparent, optional, and designed to serve members’ needs, not to trap them in debt. Unlike the sneaky “gotcha” fees of the past, these programs require members’ affirmative consent and come with clear disclosures. By law, no one is enrolled in overdraft coverage without opting in, and members can opt out at any time.
Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday—not because of turkey, parades, or football, but because of the spiritual and civic conviction at its core: that gratitude is not passive. Gratitude is a decision. A discipline. A national act of faith.
In today’s economic environment, credit unions are facing mounting pressure to cut costs, improve liquidity, attract and retain talent, serve their members’ needs, and anticipate change.
The Defense Credit Union Council issued the following response to the American Bankers Association’s recent statements promoting its survey, “National Survey: Majority of U.S. Consumers Think Congress Should Hold Credit Unions Accountable.”