WEEKLY UPDATE FROM MONTANA'S CREDIT UNIONS | November 6, 2026 | | |
Happy Friday! We hope you're finding a few moments to enjoy the season as another busy week comes to a close. It's hard to believe it's November!
Much like many of you, our offices will be closed next Wednesday for Veteran's Day. We'd also like to extend our sincere thanks to all of the veterans in our communities, and we invite you to take a few moments to do the same.
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Ready for a February getaway to Las Vegas? Registration is now open for The Roundtable, an annual two-day collaboration event bringing together credit union CEOs and board members from Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and beyond.
Join us February 2–3 at Caesars Palace for meaningful conversations, valuable insights, and opportunities to connect and learn from your peers. Step away from the day-to-day, exchange ideas, share experiences, and gain fresh perspectives to help your credit union succeed. Take advantage of early bird registration rates through December 23 and make plans to join us in Las Vegas!
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Crash the GAC 2027: Applications Open! Do you have an emerging leader ready to take their advocacy experience to the next level? Applications are now open for Crash the GAC 2027, February 26–March 4 in Washington, D.C. This opportunity connects emerging credit union professionals with peers and industry leaders while providing firsthand experience in advocacy at the Governmental Affairs Conference.
Selected Crashers receive complimentary conference registration, and a $1,000 scholarship is available through Montana’s Credit Unions to help offset travel expenses.
Encourage your emerging leaders to apply by November 30, 2026!
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A Free Benefit You Should Be Using: Helping people achieve financial well-being starts with helping them make informed decisions. That's exactly what Level All was designed to do.
Available for free (forever) thanks to our partnership, Level All provides engaging, easy-to-use resources covering personal finance, career planning, essential money skills, and so, so much more.
Whether you're helping someone prepare for college, exploring career options, managing a household budget, or planning for one of life's big purchases, Level All offers practical guidance every step of the way.
Log in to get started and share this link with your members!
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Advocacy Update
Montana Political Landscape: The 2026 general elections are behind us, bringing changes to Montana's congressional delegation and the state Legislature as we prepare for the 2027 legislative session. With several closely watched races and three statewide ballot initiatives on the ballot, there's plenty to unpack! Our lobby firm is putting together an election results overview and what they mean for the political landscape ahead. Check out the Montana Free Press 2026 Election Hub for more insights, analysis, and the latest election coverage.
Post-Election Webinar Recording: With hundreds of credit union champions elected to the 120th Congress, the 2026 general elections set the stage for continued bipartisan advocacy. America’s Credit Unions Advocacy Team hosted a post-election webinar exploring the shifting political landscape, what the results mean for credit unions, and opportunities to advance key priorities, including preserving our tax status, modernizing regulations, and protecting the cooperative model. Watch the webinar recording and visit the Credit Union Elections Hub for the latest election results.
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This Week's Blog
A Direct Line: Have you ever had a little kid in your house who found a forgotten toy under their bed and it became their "new" favorite? That's a little like our board resources. If you haven't looked at them for awhile, you may have forgotten how valuable they are. This week's blog provides a great reminder about the free board resources that are just waiting for you.
Personal Finance Blog: 'Tis the season for taking tryptophan naps, pretending to like eggnog, and shopping online at 2:00 a.m. (Don't worry; it's still better than texting your ex.) If you're shopping online — especially over Thanksgiving weekend — you'll want to check out this week's personal finance blog for five ways you can actually save on your holiday shopping.
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Save the Dates for Future Important Events
We've compiled a list of events happening next week so you don't have to. You know the drill: Montana's Credit Unions events are in blue, and all events are mountain time unless noted otherwise.
| | | Looking (A Bit Farther) Ahead | | | |
Save the dates (MCU events are in blue)...
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One Benefit You Already Have But May Not Be Using: One conversation can change the way you approach a challenge. That's why access to diverse viewpoints is such a valuable benefit of the Tristate Collaborative. As a member of Montana's Credit Unions, you're already a member of Tristate, giving you access to a network of peers from across multiple states who are ready to share ideas, experiences, and solutions.
The newest article from Tristate highlights how fresh perspectives can lead to stronger decisions, spark innovation, and help your credit union thrive.
| | | Trust Is the New Currency — Rethinking Fraud Resilience in the Era of AI: As AI continues to evolve, so do the tactics fraudsters use to target consumers and exploit trust. Credit unions must look beyond traditional fraud prevention and focus on adaptable strategies that combine technology, shared intelligence and human expertise. Explore how responsible AI, smarter risk detection, and stronger member protections can help credit unions stay ahead of emerging threats while maintaining member trust in this recent article by Velera, featured on CUInsight. | | | Get More Training for Your Team: A Center for Professional Development (CPD) subscription gives your team access to these eSchools and webinars, plus a growing library of professional development content, at no additional cost. Assign training, track participation, and report progress across your credit union while supporting learning at every level. | |  | Stock Up and Save! Give your team the gift of flexible training this holiday season with CU Webinar Network’s Subscription Token Packages. Subscription Tokens can be used for any live or on-demand webinar, shared with anyone in your credit union, and best of all — never expire. Check out the list of upcoming webinars from CU Webinar Network. | | | Webinars for Everyone on your Team: Learn from the comfort of your own office from these webinar partners. Click on each to view a list of upcoming webinars. | | | |
Sales Philosophy 101 taught us that "people do business with people they like." Valley CU clearly took that class and is taking to social media with their knowledge — and why you should do business with the folks at the credit union. They recently shared a "Quarter of Caring" update that included a snapshot of the community support the credit union offered in Q3.
Impact included collecting coats, assembling food and hygiene bags, and donating to the Griffin Violin Program and Operation Juliet (pictured here), and more. They're also currently hosting a food drive (until November 20) and collecting toys for Toys for Tots. Valley CU is busy; they're likeable; they're making the #CUDifference!
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Veterans of Service
As we approach Veterans Day, this week's message is an opportunity to recognize not only those who wore the uniform, but also the spirit of service they continue to model for our communities. The values that define military service are remarkably similar to the principles that have guided credit unions for more than a century: sacrifice, commitment, teamwork, and placing the needs of others before our own.
Next Wednesday, our nation will pause to honor the men and women who have served in our armed forces. We thank them for their courage, dedication, and willingness to answer a call greater than themselves. Their service has protected our freedoms, strengthened our communities, and left a lasting example of leadership.
What strikes me most about many veterans is that their service rarely ends when their military careers do. They become business leaders, elected officials, volunteers (including at our credit unions!), first responders, community champions, and advocates for causes that matter. They continue to show up, contribute, and make a difference.
That mindset should feel familiar to all of us in the credit union movement.
Every day, credit union professionals choose a mission centered on helping others achieve financial well-being. Like those who served in uniform, we are at our best when we focus less on what we can gain and more on how we can contribute. We succeed by building stronger communities, creating opportunities, and helping people navigate challenges they cannot always face alone.
Service is not simply what we do. It is who we are.
As we recognize Veterans Day, I encourage all of us to reflect on the veterans within our organizations, our membership, and our communities. Thank them for their service. Learn from their example. And remember that leadership is often measured not by authority or recognition, but by a willingness to serve others with humility and purpose.
To all veterans, thank you for your service to our country and for the countless ways you continue to serve long after your military duty has ended.
Cooperatively,
Gerry
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