Montana Credit Unions - Montana Credit Union Network

June 2008
Montana Credit Unions
A Historical Perspective
Credit Union Muscle
VITA Sites
Montana CU Awards
pg 3
pg 5
pg 13
editorial & reports
From My Perspective
cover story
Montana Credit
Union Muscle
page 3
From Desk Drawer
to Drive Through
page 4
The Umbrella Man
Lives On
page 5
Ask Compliance
page 7
Montana CU Awards
page 13
members; today there are
more than 374,500 members, and every person in
Montana has access to
at least one credit union.
This is the result of charter changes and the move
toward more commuPatricia Garvin
nity charters. Now, every
county in Montana has access to credit union services.
Credit unions don’t look the same today as they did
back then. In 1980 there were 132 League-member
credit unions with assets ranging from a high of
$72M (Valley CU) to less than $25,000 (Operating
Engineers 375 FCU). Over the years mergers have
reduced that number to 62 credit unions today while
the number of members and the assets have increased
significantly. In 1980 we had 154,000 credit union
Significant changes have occurred in services over the
years—we've added share drafts, IRAs, credit cards,
first mortgage and home equity loans, student loans,
ATMs, home banking, indirect lending, debit cards,
and more. Credit unions have had to reach for higher
levels of sophistication in operations and manage-
LSG Partner offers
Marketing Services
page 15
Hot Fla hes
~ In Each Issue ~
Leslie: So, we’re talking about the history and
evolution of credit unions, huh?
page
Cover Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Philosophy in Action. . . . . . . . . . 4
For Your Dues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 7
TSCCU Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 9
CUsource Update. . . . . . . . . . 10,11
UniPro Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Recognition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
League Service Group. . . . . .14, 15
Events Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Network News
Publication Staff
Beth Satre
Editor and Design/Layout
Photographer
As the employee who has been at the Network the
longest, I have the honor of journeying back through
the years to highlight the many changes throughout
my tenure. In May of 1980 my journey began. New
to credit unions, under the leadership of President
Herb Walberg and Jeff Kirkland, Director of Government Relations, the philosophy of credit unions
became a part of my life. While there have been
many changes through the years, the commitment to
our philosophy has endured.
Editorial Board
Tracie Kenyon, Tabitha Garvin,
Tracy Houck, Donya Parrish,
Eddie Black, Jeanne Saarinen,
Karen Smith, Ranel Smith,
Tracy Thornburg
2—network news
from my perspective (continued on page 7)
Tracie: Yeah, when did you start in the movement?
Leslie: 1975 … how about you?
Tracie: You’ve got me beat by ten years—I started
in 1985.
Leslie: We’ve seen a lot of changes in our time,
haven’t we?
Tracie: Absolutely, share drafts were still a pretty
new service when I started … and IRAs were a really
hot item!
Leslie: ATMs—the first real “electronic” service
that most of us offered—were just coming of age.
We hadn’t even thought about Internet access or
online bill pay. We were still paying single rate share
and loans!
Tracie: I worked at First Tech CU in the early
1990s—they were one of the first credit unions to
offer “personal branch” (Internet access)—it was
amazing to me.
Leslie: Now we take these services for granted,
don’t we?
Tracie Kenyon
Leslie Hunter
Tracie: Do you remember the first letter that you
wrote to Congress in response to a banker attack?
My first letter was sent in 1986!
Leslie: Yep, in some cases, the more things change,
the more they stay the same … banker attacks were
happening long before we joined the movement,
and I guess that they’ll be attacking credit unions
after we’re retired.
Tracie: Unfortunately, I bet you’re right!
Leslie: So, what’s with the “glamour shot” picture
from the mid-80s?
Tracie: Hey, I could ask you the same thing about
your picture! We were styling (break out the Duran
Duran)…
Cover Story
Montana Credit Union Muscle
a history of advocacy, or … who are you calling a dumbbell?
Like bodybuilders owe their strength to dumbbells and barbells, credit unions owe their grassroots
strength and success to constant banker resistance.
Students of credit union history know that the idea
of people banding together to save and borrow in a
not-for-profit cooperative structure first emerged in
rural 19th century Germany. Similar needs for reasonably priced consumer and small business credit
brought credit unions to rural Montana with the
original Montana Credit Union Act in 1929, predating the Federal Credit Union Act by five years.
Montana First Credit Union in Missoula was the
first credit union in Montana, chartered in 1931. (See
related article, page 4.) The Montana Credit Union
League was established to advocate for credit unions
in 1937. Under League leadership, general revisions to
modernize the state act were successful in 1975 and
2003.
Bankers attacked early credit unions as socialist or
communist for not having the pure capitalist structure of for-profit stock ownership. In the 1970s credit
unions attempted to give their members the convenience of share draft/checking, and bankers responded with lawsuits and legislative offensives. Credit
unions launched the successful “Save Our Share
Drafts” (SOS) grassroots lobbying campaign.
Then came the 1980s and the credit union V.O.T.E.S.
Campaign or “Victory On Tax Exempt Status,” in
response to a banker-backed bill in Congress that
sought to repeal credit unions' income tax exemption. Representative Byron Dorgan (D-ND) became a credit union champion when he successfully
moved the House Ways and Means Committee to
delete the repealer.
In 1991, regulatory consolidation became the issue
as bankers pressed Congress to eliminate NCUA
and allow credit unions to be swallowed up in the
banking regulatory system, leading to our ultimate
demise. Credit unions launched “Operation Grassroots.” In addition to all other forms of grassroots
lobbying, Congress witnessed a rally of over 15,000
(50 from Montana) credit union activists gathered
in front of the Capitol. Once again, credit unions
prevailed.
A History of advocacy (continued on page 6)
In February 1991,
more than 15,000 people rallied in front of the
U.S. Capitol as part of Operations Grassroots. They delivered petitions
signed by six million credit union members.
i was there by Bob Pyfer
It was a mild, sunny day in February 1991. Over 50 Montana credit
union activists, wearing blue sweatshirts emblazoned with the “Operation Grassroots” logo, headed down the steps of the U.S. Capitol
having just lunched in the Mansfield Room with the Montana Congressional Delegation. With the imposing backdrop of an enormous
portrait of storied Montana Senator Mike Mansfield, I had the honor
of delivering a brief luncheon message.
Putting credit unions under bank regulators as proposed by bankers
would eventually lead to the demise of the credit union charter, and
credit unions were going to the mat to prevent this disaster for consumers. As we descended to the large mall park area just west of the
Capitol, we joined with 15,000 credit union people from all over the
country protesting the regulatory consolidation proposal. Every state
had a 25-foot red, white, and blue pole sign. We took our place under
the “Montana” pole and heard pro-consumer speeches from Congress
members and CUNA leaders. But as is always the case, the most powerful words came from rank-and-file members who simply love their
credit unions.
The air crackled electric with enthusiasm for the cause, and this show
of American democracy ultimately led to the sound defeat of the consolidation proposal, with the entire Montana delegation on our side.
Just when we thought the he day couldn't be more
perfect, someone at the podium made a special announcement: the Gulf War had ended! The crowd
erupted—Life is Good!
network news—3
Philosophy in action
From Desk Drawer to Drive-Through
Montana's First Credit union by tyler Disberg
Montana First Credit Union was the first officially
sanctioned credit union in Montana. Chartered in
1931 to serve the financial needs of the Region One
Forest Service employees, it was originally named
Missoula Federal Credit Union.
Initially, our credit union was run out of the Forest Service desk drawer of Ms. Mabel Allen. Mabel took deposits from her post at the Region One
office. At the end of daily business, she walked the
whole of her transactions down the street to deposit
them at the local bank. In 1931, a total of 15 members
had combined assets of $64 with $0 in outstanding
loan balances. This credit union thrived through the
commitment of members like Mabel Allen and Morris Hankins. During the depression, loan demand
at the credit union was
outpacing deposits rapidly.
In a true act of selflessness,
a blast from the past …
…who are These people?
Mr. Hankins took a second mortgage on his home
to allow daily credit union operations to continue as
usual. With the passage of the 1934 Federal Credit
Union Act, no non-federally chartered credit unions
could use “federal” in their names. Therefore, Missoula Federal Credit Union became Montana Credit
Union Association. By 1941, the credit union had 174
total members with assets of $8,923 and 63 loans totaling $4,952.
Through the years our name has changed, but our
member-driven focus has stayed the same. This was
reflected in the decision to become Government
Employees Credit Union and to serve the needs of
all area State/Federal Government workers. GECU
served Missoula up until 1998 when the state regulator granted us a community charter and we became
Montana First Credit Union to reflect the fact that
we were the first chartered credit union in Montana.
Credit Union History Continues to Inspire
1
3
2
4
The credit union movement has a rich history of making a difference in the lives of
the less fortunate. The fundamental principles established by the credit union pioneers Dora Maxwell, Louise Herring, and Alphonse Desjardins continue to guide
and inspire Montana’s credit unions to fulfill our social mission.
As one of the original signers of CUNA’s constitution at Estes Park, Dora Maxwell
worked as an organizer for the movement’s trade association. She was an early credit
union pioneer who magnified credit union social responsibility by working with
community organizations on behalf of the poor.
Louise Herring truly embraced the “people helping people” philosophy as an active supporter, organizer, and champion of credit unions. She believed credit unions
should work in a practical manner to better people’s lives and that a credit union
was more than just a financial institution.
5
7
4—network news
6
8
Credit union pioneer Alphonse Desjardins was personally responsible for the establishment of over 200 credit unions in Canada and the U.S. He pioneered youth savings clubs and in-school “banks” known as caisses scolaires.
9
answers on the sidebar on page 7
Montana’s credit unions continue the legacy of each of these
credit union pioneers through their outreach efforts, and several in the state have been recognized through awards in honor of each of them. Whether it is through personal financial
education, community involvement, or programs and services
for your members, our past is reflected through the efforts of
Montana’s credit unions.
philosophy in action
time marches on … and so does the credit union mission
Montana Credit Unions for Community Development
March 3, 2003—certainly a noteworthy date given
that it reads 03/03/03. There’s another reason this
date is important—it is when Montana Credit
Unions for Community Development (MCUCD)
came into existence.
The history is short but dynamic. Shortly after Tracie Kenyon’s arrival as Montana Credit Union Network CEO, she added “outreach services” to the core
functions of the trade association (along with compliance, education, advocacy, and public relations).
This resulted in the creation of MCUCD, the charitable arm of the Network.
MCUCD’s mission is to provide the tools and support to help credit unions offer services that improve the social and economic well-being of their
members. This concept is not new to credit unions,
of course. Offering affordable and empowering financial services has been at the core of credit union
existence since President Franklin Roosevelt signed
the Federal Credit Union Act into law in 1934. The
opening lines of the Act read the same today as they
did 74 years ago:
“An Act to establish a Federal Credit Union system … to make more available to people of small
means credit for provident purposes through a national system of cooperative credit …”
While this is not an original idea, many of the
services that can help those of modest means the
most are new. That’s where MCUCD comes in—
providing support to credit unions in developing
and implementing these innovative services.
native to predatory payday loans, 12 credit unions
sponsor a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site each
year, and nearly every credit union offers some form
of financial or consumer education to members.
Anyone trying to prove Montana’s credit unions
are not living up to their historic purpose
would have a hard time doing so.
We have come a long way, but there’s still
so far to go. Continued support of your
trade association in providing these services,
as you have done in the past five years, ensures we are able to continue and expand this
important work.
The Umbrella Man Lives On
free tax assistance by Carin McClain
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a national program that offers
free tax help to low-to-moderate-income people through a partnership with
the IRS and community organizations—such as credit unions.
A Look at the Statistics
Our VITA program started in 2006. That year two credit unions hosted
four sites in four communities, and we prepared 92 returns. Since then the
program has experienced tremendous growth: in 2007 eight credit unions
participated, hosting eight sites and preparing 859 returns. This past tax season 11 credit unions participated, and we staffed 13 sites across the state and
prepared 1,366 returns.
CU Timeline
A Look at the Service
I've filed a lot of claims for people over the past two years, helping them
MCUCD’s current programs fall in four categorecognize all the tax credits they're due. But one family stands out. A young
ries—free tax services, matched savings accounts
woman came into the VITA site. She told me nervously that she hadn’t filed
(also called Individual Development Accounts),
in a number of years, but money was especially tight. She was counting on
financial/consumer education, and combating preda- getting her nearly $100 of withholdings back to pay bills. As we talked, I
tory lending. To date, 26 credit unions are or have
learned that she was a single mom raising three children under the age of
participated in a matched savings account program,
VITA SITES (continued on page 16)
15 credit unions are developing an affordable alter1849
Credit Societies were formed using
funds from wealthy investors
1901
First credit union chartered in
North America (Quebec)
1864
Credit Unions were formed where
individuals pooled their savings to
create opportunities for others to borrow
1929
Montana Credit
Union Act passed
1909
First credit union chartered in
the United States (New Hampshire)
network news—5
for your dues
Your Network Staff
Tracie Kenyon
President/CEO
[email protected]
Robert Coble
Program Support Coord., MCUCD
[email protected]
Tabitha Garvin
Chief Operations Officer, LSG
[email protected]
Jamie Guenther
VP–Marketing
[email protected]
Janet Harper
Dir.– Governmental Relations
[email protected]
Katie Lockett
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
Marcy Martin
Dir.– HR and Accounting
[email protected]
Coleen Noziska
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
Donya Parrish
VP–Dues Supported Services
[email protected]
Bob Pyfer
General Counsel
[email protected]
Jeanne Saarinen
Executive Director, MCUCD
[email protected]
Beth Satre
Dir.–Communications/PR
[email protected]
Karen Smith
Dir.–Outreach Services, MCUCD
[email protected]
Ranel Smith
Education Services Director
[email protected]
A History of Advocacy, continued from page 3
In the 1990s, bankers filed 19 lawsuits in 12 states,
one-member one-vote basis, and return all excess
including Montana, seeking to restrict credit union
earnings to members.
fields of membership. One case
Credit unions do not have acgot to the U.S. Supreme Court.
cess to capital markets. They
In February, 1998, the Court narcan only build capital reserves
rowly interpreted the FCU Act
to weather difficult times by
to disallow multiple employee
allocating earnings to capital.
groups. The “Credit Union CamTaxing our earnings would
paign for Consumer Choice”
mean taxing our capital, crebegan immediately, culminating
ating a safety and soundness
in 1998 with HR 1151, the “Credit
problem.
Union Membership Access Act.”
taxation would also
The bill had the support of the
dis-incent our consumer
entire Montana delegation, inorientation and lead to the
cluding Representative Rick Hill
demise of our volunteers, as
(R-MT) who cosponsored the
credit unions would eventubill as a member of the Bankally seek to pay directors and
ing Committee. The campaign
Ken
Meske,
then
Great
Falls
Teachers
FCU
get the tax deduction—put
was a bitter battle, played out in
President/CEO visits Capitol Hill in the 1990s.
another way, we would lose
the media as well as the legislaour philosophy, our “soul” if you will.
tive arena, with bankers pulling out all the stops to
pressure Congress. Instead of previous hefty banker
banks have absolutely no right to complain. They
campaign contributions, Rick Hill started getting
have numerous advantages, including unrestricted
checks for $11.51.
commercial lending powers, greater investment
powers, full trust powers, unlimited customer
Without a doubt, credit unions owe their success to
fields, more lenient capital standards, and greater
the ability to mobilize rank-and-file members in adeconomies of scale (The two largest banks have asdition to employees and volunteer officials. Members
sets that exceed all credit unions put together.)
love their credit unions because they are the owners and they are treated as owners. Despite their vast
no bank has ever converted to a credit union.
resources, bankers can’t match this. In political adYet over 30 credit unions have converted to bank
vocacy, people truly are “worth more than money,”
charters to avoid restrictive regulation. This is
as stated in the “America’s Credit Unions” brand.
proof positive that the bank charter is more adBut vigilance is essential and we need to continue to
vantageous from the purely business standpoint.
build the corps of credit union advocates who can
Credit union advocacy would be much easier
articulate the credit union difference, the reasons for
without the incessant complaining and resisthe tax exemption, and why banker whining about
tance from banks, but our grassroots strength
unfair competition is totally misplaced. Here are a
wouldn’t be as great. We can always count on
few simple points about credit unions.
our friends the bankers to give us a good workCredit unions are exempt from income tax because
out. As we’ve proved time and again—if we stay
they are not-for-profit cooperatives, without capiin shape, the collective pectorals and triceps of
tal stock, run by volunteer directors elected on a
89 million members can bench press a bank!
1931
Montana's first credit union
chartered (see story–pg 4)
6—network news
1935
CUNA National Board meets and creates
the CUNA Mutual Insurance Society
(see story–pg 14)
1934
Federal Credit Union Act passed
and CUNA formed
1937
Montana Credit
Union League formed
1974
U.S. Central Credit Union formed
(see story–pg 8)
1938
Federal income tax
exemption granted
1975
Montana's Credit
Union Act modernized
for your dues
Ask Compliance
League Board
Q: Has the support the Network Compliance Department provides to affiliated credit unions changed
over the years?
A: Yes and no. Credit unions have relied on the Network for assistance in complying with regulations
for years. Whenever a new regulation comes along,
credit unions anticipate resources and training being
provided to them in a timely manner. The Network
held regional training sessions in the late 1980s on
the Bank Secrecy Act and CTR reporting, in 2001
when Privacy regulations were implemented, and
for refreshers on many other topics in between. This
in-person support continues today with the recent
regional training sessions on the Red Flags of Identity
Theft Rule (held in May 2008).
The biggest change in the Compliance Department is in availability of information. Credit
union staff at nearly every level has
access to the Internet and email
now, and so many resources are on the Web, including the compliance TABs manual the Network produces. Once nearly all contacts with the ‘Compliance
Hotline’ were via phone, but now many questions
come in through email. The fax machine is rarely
used anymore since so many documents are available
with the click of a mouse. Even the manual updates
and alerts go to credit unions via email and the research files at the Network have shrunk from several
file drawers to only a few!
This modernization of information makes support
timely and efficient, but also means the Network
needs to keep up with the expectations of our clients.
For that reason, an email quarterly compliance newsletter is being started and new training venues
and methods are being researched.
A podcast may be the delivery
means for the next new regulation. What hasn’t changed is that
questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome!
From My Perspective, continued from page 2
ment while continuing to maintain the personalized
manner of serving their members.
The same is true of the League and LSG. Our services and expertise changed through the years to help
Montana credit unions offer more to their members.
LSG's supply department for credit union forms
closed, the cards processing center ran its life cycle,
consultants residing in Billings and Great Falls centralized in Helena and started to spend less time “on
the road” and more time on the telephone. Now
those consultant tasks are a part of the responsibilities
of administration and the compliance, government
relations, and education departments.
Conversely, some things have remained the same.
The credit union philosophy has been tested by time
and remains strong. Credit unions were started to
assist the little man. “Not for charity, not for profit,
but for service” remains the credit union ideal. Credit
1977
TSCCU chartered and began
operations (see story–pg 8)
Chair
Kathy Shea
Vice Chair
Chris Sisco
Secretary
Jeremy Presta
Controller
Wally Berry
Director
Bob Bjelland
Director
Tom Boos
Director
Bernie Neibauer
Director
Greg Strizich
Director
who are
these People?
unions continue to be not-for-profit, tax-exempt, led
by volunteer boards of directors, sensitive to the needs
of their members, and encourage thrift. The motto
“credit unions—where people are worth more than
money” remains true.
The standard of excellence, strong ethics, and high
ideals has made the journey through the years something I have been proud to be a part of. And the
bonus has been rubbing shoulders with the caring
people who make up Montana’s credit unions and
the Network. Thank you for the great friendships
over the last 28 years. It has truly been a pleasure to
be a part of credit unions.
answers
1. Janice Lehman
SEG FCU
2. Clint Van Atta
Billings FCU
3. Dolly Sawitke
Rocky Mountain CU
4. Wally Berry
Montana FCU
5. Herb Walberg
Montana CU League
6. Roxie Wedgewood
Helena Community CU
7. Myrt White
Treasure State Corporate CU
8. Gene Rice
Patricia Garvin was the Network's Senior VP for
Education Services before she retired on May 2, 2008,
after serving Montana's credit unions for 28 years.
We'll miss you!
1991
Operations Grassroots (see story–pg 3)
1988
CUsource formed (see story–pg 10)
Leslie Hunter
Rocky Mountain CU
9. Bob Bjelland
Fergus County FCU
1998
Credit Union Membership
Access Act passed
1995
UniPro formed
(see story–pg 12)
2003
Montana's Credit Union Act updated
and MCUCD formed (see story–pg 5)
network news—7
CEO Corner
Taking a jaunt down history lane is
occasionally very instructive. It gives us
a sense of just how fast and furiously
the changes in our industry have taken
place, and it gives us a chance to speculate on the future. Not only that, but it’s
fun, too!
For many, reminiscing conjures up feelings that romanticize “the good old
days.” Of course, people who spent the
Steve Howke, President/CEO
“good old days” working in operations
are a major exception. Rarely do you
hear about the glories of calculating interest and dividends by hand or balancing individual ledger cards
on a daily basis. … In fact, those conversations often
Your TSCCU Staff
take on a “we had to walk seven miles uphill both
ways just to pump two hours from a well to get a
drink of unflavored water” story line. However, it is
precisely these individuals to whom we owe our current level of productivity.
And, thank goodness for progress!
In the years since it was born out of a need to provide liquidity to a rapidly growing and evolving
credit union movement, Treasure State has changed
immensely. If you've forgotten some of our past, the
articles on these pages will nudge your memory. One
thing is clear: special people, with special foresight
and talent, spent many hours to organize Treasure
State and direct its future success. Under my direction, we will continue to enhance and build upon
the service our members have come to know and
expect.
Steve Howke
President/CEO
(128
[email protected]
Sylvia Jackson
Director of Compliance
and Risk Management
(129
[email protected]
Tracy Thornburg
Director of Administration
and Operations
(139
[email protected]
Kara Connors
Business Development Analyst
(137
[email protected]
Frances Calhoun
Operations Assistant/MSR
(125
[email protected]
Diane Halferty
Member Services Representative
(130
[email protected]
www.tsccu.org
8—network news
Serving the Past, Present, and Future Needs of Credit Unions
The Corporate Credit Union Network
The leaders of the early credit union system, including
Edward Filene and Roy Bergengren, firmly believed
that credit unions needed to control their own destiny
if they were to survive and prosper. They believed that
central credit union facilities were vital to the credit
union movement’s future.
With the concept of a “credit union helping credit
unions,” the corporate was chartered and began operations February 14, 1977, with a deposit from Great
Falls Teachers FCU. Treasure State's first elected officers were Donald Schroer, President; T. Eugene Rice,
Vice President; Herbert Walberg, Jr., Secretary/Treasurer; and Glenn Lardy and Charles McLean, Directors.
In 1974, the National Credit Union Administration
(NCUA) created a regulation for a defined central
credit union structure under the leadership of General
Herman Nickerson, NCUA's first director.
As Montana's credit unions achieved growth and success, Treasure State mirrored their success. From 1977
to 1982, total deposits grew from $7 million to $43
million. Bob Bjelland had assumed the post of Chief
Operating Officer. With the passage of the 1980 Monetary Control Act and the designation of corporates
as “bankers’ banks,” Treasure State launched a variety
of correspondent services to member credit unions.
Those services included check collection, corporate
share drafts, coin and currency delivery, wire transfers, automated settlement, and ACH services.
The 1974 NCUA regulation set the corporate credit
union system into motion immediately. Jim Jukes,
former president of the Kansas Credit Union League,
was one of the organizers of U.S. Central Credit
Union, which began operations on March 25, 1974.
U.S. Central was designed to meet the growing liquidity needs of corporate credit unions and the credit
union movement on a national level.
Treasure State opens its Doors
The history of Treasure State Corporate reflects and
revolves around the entire credit union movement.
By 1987, total assets in Treasure State had reached
$100 million. Under the leadership of Myrt White,
the 1990s brought further refinements and enhancements in investment, liquidity, and correspondent
services to meet the evolving needs of our member
Transferring Money … No More Paper Checks
The Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments
system was designed to allow corporations and consumers to reduce or eliminate the use of paper checks
to make routine payments.
to allow an originator to debit the banking account
of the payer, it increasingly is used for other types of
payments, such as insurance premiums, purchases of
stock, and consolidation of corporate cash balances.
The ACH system can process large volumes of individual payments electronically, and it has become the
largest payments system in the country. In 2000, over
4.8 billion items with a total value of more than $12
trillion were processed using ACH. By year-end 2007,
those totals had reached 13.97 billion transactions and
involved a value of $28.8 trillion.
The need for a credit union-centric ACH product
drove the development of APEX-ACH—a flexible,
user-friendly, and low-cost solution for ACH receipt
and origination designed specifically for the credit
union network. APEX-ACH is a turnkey solution,
performing all back office processing duties used by
more than 2,500 credit unions and by more than 400
select employee groups nationwide. The software is
built with Internet-based technology, making it easy
to integrate with other credit union applications. Additionally, the application is all-inclusive; you do not
have to purchase separate modules.
To date, most of the payments transferred over the
ACH have represented recurring credit payments
intended for the accounts of the receivers. Typical
payments are salaries, consumer and corporate bill
payments, interest and dividends, and Social Security and other entitlement programs originated by the
U.S. Treasury. Because of the ACH’s ability to process
large volumes of payments efficiently and its ability
Are your members inquiring about ACH origination?
Call Tracy Thornburg today at 800-745-5546 ext. 139
for more information.
Your TSCCU
Board of Directors
Kevin Mayer
Chair • Richland FCU
Steve Grooms
Vice Chair • 1st Liberty FCU
Kathy Briggs
Secy/Treasurer • Family First FCU
Gary Clark
Director • Missoula FCU
Annamarie DeYoung
Director • Sky FCU
Rhonda Diefenderfer
Director • Avanta FCU
Paula Ruddock
Director • Rimrock CU
Asset/Liability
Committee
Brent Martin
Chair • Helena Community CU
credit unions and service organizations. The automation of processes freed up time to develop robust
payment systems.
Treasure State Today
Treasure State was created in order to provide liquidity to a growing and rapidly changing credit union
movement. Today, the corporate provides a myriad
of investment, payment system, and liquidity services to its membership, and members continue to turn
to Treasure State for service solutions as their primary financial institution. In addition to our expanded
investment, liquidity, and correspondent services,
former CEO Brad Miller introduced ALM education and management services, bill pay services, and
member business services.
Our rich and successful history—combined with the
tremendous support Treasure State Corporate receives
from its membership—builds the foundation for future success. In addition, the remarkable contributions
by our official family (Board of Directors, Asset/Liability Committee, and Supervisory Committee) and
our staff ensures we will keep member needs at the
forefront of everything we do.
Annamarie DeYoung
Sky FCU
Gary Clark
Missoula FCU
Al Vukasin
Bear Paw CU
Steve Howke and
Sylvia Jackson
TSCCU
Supervisory
Committee
Teri Krakowka
Chair • Southwest Montana
Community FCU
Ed Gillig
Valley FCU
Laura Scoville
Gateway Community FCU
Greg Strizich
Helena Community CU
network news—9
Corporate Office
501 Park Drive S • Great Falls, MT
406.452.2731
Shirley Bailey
President / CEO
[email protected]
Mark Mauler
Sr Network Service Specialist
[email protected]
Kevin Hollingworth
Technical Dept. Supervisor
[email protected]
Brandi Holefelder
Application Dept. Supervisor
[email protected]
Tracy Houck
Marketing & Business Dev.
[email protected]
Patty Nicholls
Executive Administrative Asst.
[email protected]
Judy Morran
Sr. Administrative Asst.
[email protected]
Leona Reese
Sr. Application Representative
[email protected]
Heather Doland
Application Representative
[email protected]
Sue McKenzie
Sr. Software Specialist
[email protected]
What Did Credit Unions Want in 1988?
Big hair bands? Levi Jeans? Computers without
green screens? Credit unions wanted the same thing
in 1988 they want today: control of their data processing system. Their expectations also included best
pricing, high values, and state-of-the-art, memberdriven products and services.
Throughout the cooperative movement, both in
Montana and the rest of the nation, credit unions
have always been leaders. So it is not surprising that
back in 1988, the President/CEOs from a trio of
Great Falls Credit Unions—Jim Balzer of Montana
Federal Credit Union (FCU); Steve King of Golden
Triangle FCU,* and Ken Meske of Great Falls Teachers FCU—joined together and started a feasibility
study to see just what it would take to form a cooperative credit union service organization (CUSO) to
handle their data processing needs.
As They Say … “The Rest is History”
Since the first credit union was brought on to the
UltraData Enterprise platform in October of 1988,
CUsource has handled 27 mergers and data-processing conversions. Over the years, CUsource has
merged with similar companies when it made finan-
As a result, CUsource is able to support credit
unions with over 20,000 members as well as credit
unions serving less than 1,000 members. We are still
using the UltraData Enterprise package to manage
our credit unions’ transactions and back office functions, and our credit unions control the products and
services they offer.
Cooperative ownership and a commitment to credit
unions have allowed CUsource to maintain low prices and great customer service. Throughout the years,
there has been tremendous change in technology as
well as numerous other changes in the credit unions
we serve including: hair styles, fashion, and lobby
music; yet our vision has never changed. Shared vision ~ Shared Solutions.
In 2008, we are celebrating 20 years of excellence.
While our services have expanded, our technology
expertise has increased, and—just recently—our
logo and Web page have been updated, you can still
expect the great service that has made us Montana’s
premier full service data processing CUSO.
*Golden Triangle FCU became Community FCU, which recently merged with Montana Federal FCU
Terri Vaden
Sr. Software Specialist
[email protected]
Gary Burnley
Sr. Technician
[email protected]
Sam Algeo
Technician
[email protected]
Joe Wasilewski
Technician
[email protected]
Heath Fudge
Technician / Operator
[email protected]
Clyde Bonde
Operator
[email protected]
CUsource, LLC
800.823.2876
www.cusource.com
10—network news
cial sense and added services as the credit unions’
needs changed.
Remember this training!
Moving Forward by Shirley Bailey
Based on the principle of cooperation and the ability
to offer products and services with joint purchasing
power, CUsource was very pleased to announce significant price reductions for our clients and investors
at the begining of 2008.
Our staff recommitted to our mission promising to
employ high-quality, innovative, value-added, competitively priced solutions—backed by outstanding
support. We committed to building long-term relationships with our credit unions and their members
while ensuring the long-term financial stability of
both your credit union and our organization.
We appreciate the opportunity to provide Montana
credit unions with solutions they can use and can
Highlights from 1988 The Winter Olympics were held
in Calgary, Alberta
George H. W. Bush was elected
President of the USA
People paid $3.50 to see Rain
Man, Die Hard, and A Fish Called
Wanda in movie Theaters
George Michael, Bon Jovi, INXS,
Areosmith were on the radio
At year end, the Federal Reserve
interest rate was 10.50%
A Gallon of Gas Cost 91¢
The 1st major computer virus
infected computers connected
to the internet
A First Class Stamp Cost 24¢
afford. With the new UltraData Open Path Technology, Montana’s wide
open sky is your limit.
Our corporate values represent our commitment
to the cooperative effort:
to provide solutions for
Shirley Bailey
credit unions. By practicCUsource President/CEO
ing these five core values,
we continue to meet the challenge of being a leading
service provider in the credit union industry.
Real Estate Office
3212 Central Ave • Billings, MT
406.259.3636
Dan Eggen
Sr. Processing Specialist
[email protected]
Chandra Thronson
Sr. Processing Specialist
[email protected]
Audrey Arnold
Sr. Processing Specialist
[email protected]
Stacy Anderson
Processing Clerk
[email protected]
Our five corporate values are
Cooperation CUsource is 100% credit union
owned, bringing to the table what we need at a cost
that is shared by all;
Service CUsource backs the products we offer
with qualified, trained, and dependable staff;
Vision Providing what our customers /investors
need, before they need it;
Solutions Remaining flexible in order to grow
(both ourselves and our credit unions);
Integrity Displaying the highest standard of character and ethics by respecting our members, vendors,
competition, and each other.
Your CUsource
Investors and
Board of Directors
Rhonda Diefenderfer
Chair • Avanta FCU
Tom Boos
Vice Chair • Billings FCU
Wally Berry
Secy/Treasurer • Montana FCU
Anna DeYoung
Director • Sky FCU
Deb Evans
Director • Great Falls Teachers FCU
The Check is in the Mail
The Federal government is not the only one issuing rebate checks this spring. CUsource, for the first
time in their history, is issuing rebate checks to their
clients.
In 2007, CUsource, under the direction of Shirley
Bailey, President/CEO, increased business and decreased costs. This resulted in higher-than-expected
net profits at the end of the year.
With true cooperative philosophy, CUsource is sharing that profit with their investors and clients. Each
client will receive a portion of CUsource profits in
relationship to their product usage. Thanks to all of
our credit unions who cooperatively share together.
Tom Kiely
Director • EDTECH FCU
Bernie Neibauer
Director • Russell Country FCU
Chris Sisco
Director • Montana First CU
Greg Strizich
Director • Helena Community CU
Larry Tompkins
Director • Summit CU
CUsource, LLC
800.823.2876
www.cusource.com
network news—11
Credit Unions Take Control … and Form UniPro
UniPro
Management Team
Tom Dedman
President/CEO
(
101
[email protected]
Eddie Black
Executive Vice -President
(
103
[email protected]
Kelly Calnan
Draft Processing Supervisor
(
115
[email protected]
Mickey Kunnary
PMSD Supervisor
(
104
[email protected]
Rebecca Rearden
NET Services Supervisor
(
107
[email protected]
UniPro
Board of Directors
Chris Sisco
Chair • CUsource
Kathy Shea
Vice Chair/Personnel • LSG
Ed Stofko
Director • Rocky Mountain CU
Teresa Voorhees
Alternate • Rocky Mountain CU
Tracie Kenyon
Alternate • LSG
Shirley Bailey
Alternate • CUsource
UniPro Systems, LTD
800.430.0215
www.uniprosystems.net
12—network news
UniPro Systems was founded on the belief that
Montana's credit unions needed to work cooperatively to build a share draft processing facility that
would give them control over the share draft processing service.
During the early 1990s, credit unions were paying
exorbitant fees to the banks for share draft processing. A group of credit union executives met
to discuss the possibility of forming a new credit
union service organization (CUSO) that would offer a great product and exceptional service at a fair
price. In 1995, that belief became reality. CUMont
(a Billings-based CUSO), CUsource (a Great Fallsbased CUSO), the League Service Group, and State
Capital Employees’ CU (now Rocky Mountain CU)
formed UniPro Systems and hired Tom Dedman,
UniPro's current President/CEO, in March 1995 to
get the process started. UniPro processed its first
share draft for State Capital Employee’s credit union
in July 1995. UniPro currently processes share drafts
for 52 credit unions in Montana.
Expanding Services to Meet Credit Union Needs
It was clear that share draft processing was not the
only service UniPro could offer Montana's credit
unions. After a brief settling in period, UniPro went
to work on its next product offering: statement printing. In July 1998, UniPro processed, printed, and
mailed out their first statements for Missoula FCU.
UniPro now prints and mails statements for 32 Montana credit unions and 9 additional clients.
In 2002, UniPro lead the Montana Credit Union Security Initiative. A study group of IT professionals,
compliance experts, and credit union staff researched
the requirements of complying with the Graham,
Leach, Bliley Act and NCUA’s Regulation 748. UniPro's
Security Services was formed to help Montana’s credit
unions come into compliance. In May 2003, Great
Falls Teachers became the first client to come under
UniPro Systems security arm. We currently provide
security services for 30 of Montana’s credit unions.
Sherry Walter –now Essman (CUMont), Wade Whitmus (LSG),
Dolly Sawitke (State Capitol ECU), Tom Dedman(UniPro),
Helena Mayor Kay McKenna, and Elaine Balzer (CUsource)
took part in UniPro's 1995 ribbon-cutting ceremony.
A Brief History of Share Draft Processing
Checks started to become popular in the United
States in the early 1800s. The Federal Reserve System
was formed in 1913, in part, to began serving as a
clearing house for them.
Three credit unions, including one in Montana, simultaneously piloted share draft programs in the
1970s: Dearborn FCU in Michigan, Travis AFB CU
in California, and Montana Central CU in Great
Falls, which was created in the mid-1950s to offer
loans to credit union officials in Montana. Montana
Central began offering check services in 1973.
In 2001, over 40 billion checks were processed—an
all-time high. Since then, however, check volumes
have decreased each year as people (and financial service providers) started to use electronic payments, the
use of which has increased at a rate of 12.4% during
the last six years. The federal Check Clearing Act of
the 21st Century, has enabled credit unions to electronically process checks. The number of institutions who process checks electronically has grown
by 250% over the past two years.
In October 2005, Sky FCU was the first credit
union to electronically capture a deposit item and
present the item to the Federal Reserve for payment. There are now 25 credit unions that participate in a co-mingled Image Cash letter presentment. In February 2008, Montana First CU, Billings FCU, and Summit CU were the first credit
unions to receive and process their In-Clearings
and Returns electronically.
Many thanks to Gene Rice, Ed Naughton and Wally
Berry for contributing the history for this article.
Recognition
Montana Credit Union Awards
Each year Montana credit unions confer two special awards that are
designed to honor certain individuals whose work and dedication
stand out in Montana's credit union landscape. The recipients of those
awards—the Mitch Reed Credit Union Volunteer of the Year and the
Credit Union Professional of the Year—are nominated by their peers.
This year the awards committee selected Gary Clark, President/CEO
of Missoula FCU, as the Professional of the Year and the entire Avanta
FCU Board of Directors as the Mitch Reed Volunteers of the Year.
2008
professional of the year
Gary Clark, President/CEO of
Missoula FCU, was named the
2008 Montana Credit Union Professional of the Year. This award,
conferred by his Montana peers,
recognizes Clark’s contributions
to credit unions over the course of
his 31-year career.
While Clark has been Missoula
FCU President/CEO for 13 years, Gary Clark, Montana CU Professional
of the Year, MCUN President/CEO
he started his credit union caTracie Kenyon smile for the camera.
reer as a lender and collector and
worked his way up through senior management positions. Along the
way, he learned the financial services business inside and out and solidified his belief in credit unions and his commitment to the credit union
mission of people helping people.
“Gary,” said Tracie Kenyon, Network President/CEO, “is a stalwart
supporter of Montana credit unions and credit unions in general. He
is an amazing volunteer, willing to share his time and expertise in so
many ways.”
Over the course of his diverse career, Clark has served on national, regional, and state-level boards and councils and has actively participated
on key committees that benefited credit unions around the state. Under
his tenure as CEO, Missoula FCU has expanded services and is in the
process of opening the first “green” credit union branch in the state.
In addition to his work in and on behalf of credit unions, Clark is also
actively involved in a number of Missoula community organizations,
volunteering for CASA, Habitat for Humanity, the Missoula Chamber
of Commerce, and the United Way.
Richard Lohof,
Bill Pedersen, Robert Fox,
Richard Nauman, Sr., and Greg Erpenbach take
a minute to pose with their awards at the Annual Meeting.
[Dave Grubbs and Michael Mennie are not pictured.]
2008
mitch reed volunteers of the Year
The seven members of Avanta FCU’s board of directors were honored for their constant commitment
and countless contributions to the Montana Credit
Union movement when they were recognized as the
2008 Mitch Reed Volunteers of the Year.
Richard Nauman, Sr. (Park City), Robert Fox and
Richard Lohof (Laurel), Greg Erpenbach, David
Grubbs, Michael Mennie, and Bill Pedersen (Billings) have racked up a combined total of 158 years of
experience volunteering for credit unions.
“We’re very fortunate to have a group of board members that are so engaged in our credit union, our activities, and the credit union movement overall,” observed Rhonda Diefenderfer, Avanta FCU President/
CEO. “They exemplify the credit union philosophy
of ‘People Helping People.’”
As credit union directors, Avanta FCU’s board
members donate their time and expertise, working with staff to make sure the credit union runs
smoothly and partnering with other credit unions to
keep Montana’s credit union movement strong.
“These seven directors are so deserving, it’s amazing!
This award is a small tribute to the incredible contributions they have made to their credit union and to
their communities over the past 20-plus years,” said
Tracie Kenyon, Network President/CEO.
This is only the fifth “Montana Credit Union Professional of the Year Award.” Clark joins previous recipients
Wally Berry (Montana FCU), Clint Van Atta (now retired, Billings FCU), Chris Sisco (Montana First CU),
and Gene Bowen (now retired, Helena Community CU) in receiving this honor.
network news—13
league service group
LSG Business
Partners
CO-OP Financial
Services
Counterfeit Cop
CUAdvantage
CU Auditing
CU Recovery
CU Succeed
CUNA Mutual Group
CUNA Strategic
Services
Fidelity Card Services
HRValue Group
ICUL Service
Corporation
Indirect Lending
Technologies
(DILLS)
John M. Floyd &
Associates
Mountain West
Benefit Solutions
Office Depot
PolicyWorks
Student Assistance
Foundation
Wolters Kluwer
Financial Services
Adding or
Reviewing
Services?
Think of
LSG First!
call
Tabitha Garvin
800.745.5546 ext 132
[email protected]
14—network news
from modest roots to modern insurance society
A Short History of CUNA Mutual Group
In order to meet credit unions’ need for adequate,
low-cost borrowers protection, the original CUNA
National Board voted to create a life insurance society at its first meeting in Kansas City, MO, in
January 1935. This marked the beginning the CUNA
Mutual Insurance Society, born
of necessity and nurtured by
the strong belief of credit union
people in the self-help principle of
credit union philosophy.
CUNA Mutual opened for business August 16, 1935, at Raiffeisen
House in Madison, WI. Four days later, Wichita
Postal Employees Credit Union issued CUNA Mutual’s first credit life insurance contract. On October
8, CUNA Mutual paid its first claim, for $40, on the
death of Milwaukee Road railroad switchman. Later
that year, CUNA Mutual introduced Loan Protection Insurance—an industry first—which the credit
union (not the member) purchased.
CUNA Mutual’s low rates had an immediate effect
on the competition. Historians have reported that its
simple organization caused commercial companies
writing credit life insurance to cut their rates in half.
By 1949, CUNA Mutual was growing faster than
any other life insurance company on the continent.
Insurance rating agencies gave it the highest marks
for security, and the Society returned almost 90
cents of every premium dollar to members—double
the industry average. CUNA Mutual continues to
fulfill that mission today, paying millions of dollars
in claims every day.
Fast Forward … Providing Services and Support
Today, CUNA Mutual is the leading provider of financial services to credit unions and their members
in 60 countries worldwide. It offers lending, protection, financial, employee, and member solutions
through strategic partnerships, technological innovations, and multiple service channels.
As the company transforms to better serve its customers, it continually reaffirms the values its founders established more than 70 years ago.
In 2007, CUNA Mutual provided a record
amount—more than $1.47 billion—in benefits to
credit unions and individual policyholders. The
company also handled 6 million service calls, processed 1.2 million member applications, installed
3,300 credit union products, and trained 9,000 credit
union employees. In addition, CUNA Mutual paid
out $265.3
million in
reimbursements and
experience
refunds
to credit unions. It also provided $32.1 million in league
reimbursements to support member credit union
activities.
Under increasing pressure from the banking lobby,
as well as state and federal lawmakers and regulators,
CUNA Mutual has helped the credit union system
defend itself. The company has contributed significantly to support the tax exemption for memberowned credit unions. CUNA Mutual is an advocate
for credit unions on such matters as RESPA mortgage-lending reform, curtailing the scope of UBIT,
and protection against plastic-card fraud.
CUNA Mutual financially supports many key organizations in the credit union movement, including
• Credit Union National Association
• World Council of Credit Unions
• National Federation of Development Credit Unions
• African American Credit Union Coalition
• The Filene Research Institute
• America’s Credit Union Museum
• Children's Miracle Network
• and state Credit Union Leagues.
Through the CUNA Mutual Foundation, CUNA
Mutual routinely donates money to relief efforts for
disaster victims and provides financial support to the
National Credit Union Foundation.
All the while, CUNA Mutual continues to focus on
building a stronger organization to support credit
unions by increasing its financial strength and operating with integrity. As the trusted partner of the
system, CUNA Mutual Group will continue to provide financial support and leadership for the credit
union mission of “people helping people.”
league service group
New Partner provides CU Marketing Services
Started in 1972 as a quick printer by Ron & Mary
Reimold, Reimold Printing Corporation soon became a leader in quality printing servicing the midMichigan market. As the company grew, so did the
list of national clients. It was the constant investment in new technology that helped to drive this
growth and offer clients quality products that represented a true value.
Serving Credit Unions
In the 1990s, Reimold Printing Corporations started
to work with credit unions, opening the door to
new opportunities. As more and more credit unions
turned to the company for their marketing needs,
the company decided to specialize solely on the credit union market and changed its name to CUAdvantage Marketing Solutions to reflect its new focus.
Michael & Cathleen Reimold-White purchased
CUAdvantage in 2003, and the company now serves
the marketing needs of over 100 credit unions across
the United States. With representatives in Michigan,
Virginia, Arizona, and now Montana, CUAdvantage
is proud to work with credit unions to help promote
the philosophy of “members helping members.”
cuadvantage.com
877.799.0784
Amy Fuerstein
406-465-5368
In Montana
Our Montana representative, Amy Feuerstein, resides in Helena and will be happy to personally show
you how CUAdvantage can help you with your
marketing. We provide custom copy writing, layout
and design, large format posters, printing, and direct
mail services for all of your needs. We specialize in
newsletters, statement inserts, direct mail offers, and
annual reports—all catering strictly to the credit
union market. We are proud to have been selected to
partner with MCUN and look forward to working
with you and your credit union.
LSG services
Human Resource
Management Service
Strategic Planning
Home Equity
Loan Program
Network Compliance
Service
LSG … Helping Credit Unions serve their members
Originally formed as the CUSERV Corporation,
LSG operates as the for-profit arm of the Montana
Credit Union Network. Like the other branches of
the Montana credit union system, the historical roots
of the League Service Group (LSG) are firmly planted in the soil of self-help and cooperation.
As credit unions started to grow and wanted to better serve their members by offering them increased
services, it became clear that Montana’s credit unions
would benefit from an organization owned by, and
dedicated to, credit unions. CUSERV’s initial product-offering was providing the documents and forms
that credit unions used for their operations. By considering credit union needs and pooling their resources and leveraging their buying power, CUSERV was
able to help credit unions keep pace with the times.
In the 1980s, this included starting the Correspondent VISA credit card program and inking an agreement with Instant Cash to open the doors for credit
unions to offer members ATM cards. The 1990s was
a busy decade for CUSERV. It underwent a namechange, helped create UniPro (see story on page 12),
and created CU Creations, which provided marketing services for credit unions.
Change is fast and furious in the financial services
industry, and LSG continues to work on behalf of
Montana’s credit unions by exploring new services
and partnering with other organizations, CUSOs,
and businesses to help Montana’s credit unions grow
and offer more to their members.
Adding or
Reviewing
Services?
Think of
LSG First!
call
Tabitha Garvin
800.745.5546 ext 132
[email protected]
network news—15
calendar
VITA Sites, cont. from page 5
ten. Despite working three jobs, she only managed to bring home a little over $6,000 in 2007.
As I prepared her return I told her about the
different credits she was eligible for, like the
Earned Income and Child Tax Credits, and
her excitement grew. But when I told her that
she would get nearly $2,500 back, she looked at
me with disbelief. With tears welling up she responded, “But that is almost half of what I made
last year.”
Moments like this will stick with me forever and
remind me that the credit union mission is more
than a piece of paper—it is a call to action. By
supporting VITA and other MCUCD programs,
Montana credit unions continue the proud tradition of “standing up for the little guy” and making our communities stronger.
We will be celebrating 100 years
of credit unions in the United
States in 2009!
Plan to join us at the Montana
Historical Society on Tuesday,
January 13 at 5:00 p.m. for
Legislator Appreciation Night.
The American Credit Union Museum
display will be on hand to help
commemorate this historic event.
Events Calendar
June 11-13
July 8-11
Aug 4-6
Sept 23-26
Oct 14-15
Executive Staff Symposium, Double Arrow Resort................................................................... Seeley Lake
Mountain Regional Credit Union Roundtable.............................................................................. Cody WY
CEO/Managers Roundtables, Rock Creek Resort......................................................................... Red Lodge
Montana Credit Union System Conference, Best Western GranTree Inn........................................ Bozeman
Compliance Conference..................................................................................................................Helena
In addition to these conferences, the Montana Credit Union Network offers many distance learning
opportunities covering a wide variety of topics. Watch for the monthly Education & Events flyers for details.
Montana
Credit Union
Network
1236 Helena Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
Phone
406.442.9081
800.745.5546
Fax:
406.442.9085
Web Site
www.montana
creditunions.coop
network news—16
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