Why NACUSO Shows Up in Washington
Each year, thousands of credit union leaders gather in Washington, D.C. for the Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC). While the conference is known for its energy, scale, and tradition, at its core GAC represents something far more important: the collective voice of the credit union movement engaging directly with policymakers about the future of our industry.
This year, NACUSO was proud to be part of that conversation.
For the CUSO community, advocacy matters. Credit Union Service Organizations have long been one of the credit union system’s most powerful tools for collaboration, innovation, and scale. From lending platforms and payments infrastructure to insurance and operational services, CUSOs allow credit unions to work together to build solutions that none could create alone.
Yet despite how much the industry has evolved, the regulatory and statutory framework governing CUSOs has largely remained unchanged for decades. That is why NACUSO continues to ensure that the voice of the CUSO community is represented in policy conversations in Washington.
Throughout the week at GAC we spent time engaging with industry partners, regulators, and policymakers about the role CUSOs play in strengthening credit unions and expanding their ability to serve members. A central theme of these conversations was the need to modernize policies that affect credit union collaboration and innovation.
In particular, NACUSO continues to advocate for reforms that would modernize the CUSO investment cap, which today limits how much credit unions can invest in collaborative ventures designed to benefit the broader system. While the details of any potential legislative approach are still evolving, one encouraging takeaway from this year’s conference was the growing recognition across the credit union ecosystem that modernization may be necessary to reflect how CUSOs operate today.
Another recurring theme during the week was the importance of data and transparency around the CUSO sector. As policymakers increasingly evaluate how collaboration and innovation function within financial services, having reliable information about the scale and impact of CUSOs will be critical in shaping future regulatory discussions.
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the week, however, was the broader spirit of collaboration across the industry. Credit union leagues, trade associations, regulators, and policymakers all share a common goal: ensuring that credit unions remain strong, innovative, and capable of serving their members in an increasingly competitive financial marketplace.
CUSOs are a vital part of that equation.
They represent the credit union system’s ability to pool resources, share risk, and create solutions that benefit the entire movement. As new technologies emerge and financial services continue to evolve, the role of CUSOs in supporting credit union innovation will only grow more important.
That is why NACUSO’s advocacy efforts remain so critical. Ensuring that policymakers understand the value of collaboration—and the role CUSOs play in enabling it—is essential to protecting and expanding the opportunities available to credit unions in the future.
The conversations that begin at events like GAC rarely end there. Instead, they serve as the starting point for the ongoing work of education, coalition-building, and policy development that takes place throughout the year.
For NACUSO, that work continues.
Because when credit unions collaborate, the entire system becomes stronger—and advocacy ensures that the framework supporting that collaboration continues to evolve alongside the industry it serves.
Interested in supporting our efforts on Capitol Hill? NACUSO Advocacy Fund
“uncertainty does create an opportunity for credit unions and CUSOs to leverage their collaborative relationships”
Support NACUSO’s Advocacy Efforts
NACUSO is committed to ensuring that CUSOs, credit unions, and their service partners have a strong, unified voice in regulatory and legislative conversations—especially as rules around innovation, data sharing, and consumer choice continue to evolve.
Your support makes this work possible.
If your organization believes in the importance of thoughtful, future-focused advocacy, please consider contributing to the NACUSO Advocacy Fund. Together, we can shape a regulatory environment that empowers collaboration and keeps credit unions competitive.