Peer-to-Peer Learning Opportunity: Stick around the morning after Power Up for our brand‑new Executive Roundtable at the Great Northern. It’s a laid-back, high-energy chance for C-Suite, VPs, and Executive-focused leaders to talk about what you’re excited (or stressed!) about right now. The session will take place on the morning of May 21 from 9:00 -11:00 a.m. Full attendance at Power Up is not required. We’re also looking for a few folks who’d like to lead a table conversation — it’s simple, fun, and great development. Coffee’s hot at 8:45 a.m.

Take Your Lending to the Next Level: Accelerate your credit union’s growth with CU DigiLend — a next-gen lending and point-of-sale finance platform designed specifically for credit unions. From smarter consumer underwriting and embedded financing to merchant services and actionable data insights, CU DigiLend helps you expand your reach, strengthen member relationships, and put more capital to work in your communities. Modernize with confidence and stay competitive in today’s evolving landscape. Interested in learning more? Connect with Matt Oakley, Chief Operating Officer, or visit their website.

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.

Through a matching grant opportunity with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Intrepid Credit Union turned a $20,000 investment into $68,592 in total support for six essential nonprofit partners in Helena, Bozeman, and Billings. By leveraging a 2.43‑to‑1 match, Intrepid helped expand funding for local organizations focused on housing, health care, child well‑being, and community services — stretching every dollar further for greater local impact. This is the #CUDifference: care for community and people over profit.

Tristate: Collaboration and Cooperation in Action

You’ve probably heard me mention the Tristate Collaborative over the past few years. I am excited about this collaboration because the work we do together drives value to you.

At its core, Tristate is a practical application of the cooperative principles — done at scale and done right. It brings together the credit union leagues in Minnesota, Montana, and Wisconsin so we can work smarter together without losing what makes each state, each league, and each credit union unique.

And that’s the point.

Tristate isn’t about centralization. It’s about alignment — behind the scenes — so trade associations and credit unions can focus on what they do best.

These three leagues came together based on shared values, common purpose, and high trust. Our collaborative work revolves around three clear value drivers:

Bringing Value.

Tristate helps trade associations deliver more relevant, vetted products, services, education, and partners to credit unions. By pooling insight, experience, and due diligence, leagues can raise the bar on what shows up in front of members — without adding cost or noise.

Gaining Efficiencies.

No league should have to reinvent the wheel. Tristate reduces duplication across states by sharing expertise, evaluations, and negotiations. That efficiency flows downstream, giving trade associations more capacity and giving credit unions cleaner access to solutions that already make sense.

Driving Revenue.

Scale matters. Tristate strengthens negotiating power and partner relationships, opening new, sustainable non-dues revenue opportunities for trade associations — while helping credit unions access better pricing and better outcomes.

The real win? Everyone stays independent. Governance stays local. Advocacy stays state-focused. Priorities stay aligned with the needs of your credit unions.

Think of Tristate as a strategic extension — quietly supporting trade associations so they can better support credit unions.

That’s collaboration with intent. That’s the cooperative advantage.

Please sign up to hear more from us as new partners, events, and opportunities roll out.

Have a super weekend.

Cooperatively, Gerry