By Scott Simpson
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.
Representing more than 4,000 credit unions that serve one-in-three American consumers gives us a unique view into the financial pressures households face every day. As member-owned institutions rooted in local communities, credit unions see firsthand where policy can either strengthen families and small businesses or unintentionally set them back.
That’s why our 2026 advocacy agenda focuses on three goals: advancing, empowering, and protecting the future of the credit union movement so more Americans can build financial security. Achieving this will require unity. We must continue to advocate with a unified voice to ensure policymakers understand just how essential the cooperative finance model is to people and communities nationwide.
And to be clear, these priorities were not created in a vacuum. Your influence, insights, and voice deeply influenced our strategic thinking. This year alone, America’s Credit Unions and our league partners held more than 150 coordinated strategy calls, plus countless conversations with credit union leaders, reflecting an unprecedented level of alignment across the system. These discussions are powerful because we know that not every winning strategy is one that plays publicly; many of our strongest victories begin with intentional, coordinated work behind the scenes. As we look to next year, we are committed to even deeper collaboration, knowing that unity remains our greatest strategic advantage as we set out to deliver these priorities for you, our credit union members.
Advance: Building The Future Of Credit Unions
Advancing financial access is central to who credit unions are. Every person deserves to pursue economic freedom, and credit unions are the best path to achieve that. We will continue championing policies that expand opportunities for people to partner with credit unions, from modernizing field-of-membership rules, supporting responsible growth, increasing lending and investment capabilities, and strengthening charters.
One example of how these capabilities allow credit unions to uplift: The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. CDFI credit unions are engines of economic mobility, with every dollar invested returning $12 to communities. That funding helps launch small businesses, afford homes, and revitalize Main Streets.
Empower: Giving Credit Unions The Tools To Meet Member Needs
To meet members’ needs, credit unions must have access to the right tools in an environment where they can thrive. As the original consumer protectors, our advocacy priorities seek to ensure policymakers understand how credit unions operate and what they need to serve their members.
This includes the ability to innovate. From digital assets and AI tools to faster payments and modern lending platforms, credit unions need flexibility to adopt emerging technologies without navigating one-size-fits-all rules designed for the largest players in the market.
It also includes tackling consumer issues, like fraud and scams, and pursuing regulations that will actually target bad actors and practices. Fraud losses continue to grow at an alarming pace: In 2023 alone, payments fraud cost $132 billion. We must do more to identify, prevent, and track fraud throughout the financial system to increase awareness and defend consumers against these attacks.
Protect: Safeguarding The Credit Union Difference
Consumers deserve financial choice and freedom, and we are relentless in protecting this access. The credit union tax status is core to the “people helping people” mission, enabling credit unions to return earnings to members through lower fees, better rates, and community reinvestment to the tune of more than $40 billion in consumer financial benefits. And beyond that, credit unions nationwide generate more than $333 billion in total economic impact each year. The economic impact of credit unions, paired with the trust and relationships they build with their members, is why one-third of consumers choose credit unions.
We will continue to stand firm against efforts that may undermine credit unions’ ability to serve their members, including calling out the disproportionate impact small credit unions face when regulators fail to adjust to meet their place in the market. Preserving what makes credit unions unique, from personalized service to prudent risk management and a deep commitment to community, while creating new opportunities to enhance these efforts are our priority.
2026 will bring challenges, no doubt. But it also presents a tremendous opportunity. Policymakers have the chance to strengthen the financial lives of more than 144 million credit union members by protecting what works today and empowering the financial institutions closest to the communities they serve. Credit unions are ready to lead and advocate for policies that uplift families, support small businesses, and strengthen local economies. And we stand ready to partner with anyone who wants to do the same.
Scott Simpson is President and CEO of America’s Credit Unions.