ALBANY, N.Y.—Another league has come out in favor of giving its member CUs the choice of joining the league without being a member of CUNA.
The New York Credit Union Association’s board of directors passed a resolution that calls on CUNA’s board to modernize its membership bylaws. The resolution urges CUNA to reconsider its position on the dual-membership requirement, citing recommendations made by CUNA’s System Structure and Governance Task Force.
In October, the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates said that next year it will allow its member CUs to join the league without being a member of CUNA, after its board voted unanimously to grant credit unions the option.
The topic of dual membership requirement in the leagues and CUNA has been hotly debated among credit unions. CUNA’s System Structure and Governance Task Force recently recommend allowing CUs such a choice, but the trade association’s board voted against the recommendation.
The NYCUA resolution came after the league’s board analyzed results of a statewide membership survey conducted last month. The survey was designed to gather feedback from New York credit union CEOs and managers on the NYCUA and CUNA dual-membership requirement, the league stated in a release.
According to the survey, nearly 80% of respondents believe that credit unions should be given the choice to join NYCUA without being required to also join CUNA. Overall, 169 credit union leaders responded to the survey, the league said.
Meeting in December
NYCUA stated that its board will meet again in December to review actions taken by the CUNA board and to make a final determination on membership requirements.
Out West, the board of directors of the Mountain West Credit Union Association has taken a different stance, supporting the current CUNA/league dual membership structure.
“The MWCUA board supports that the most effective model for credit unions is one in which credit unions are members of both their league/association and CUNA,” MWCUA stated in a release.
“Advocacy is at the heart of what we do for our member credit unions,” said Scott Earl, president and CEO of the MWCUA. “Our efforts are championed by CUNA and together, we are able to present a united front that best represents the interests of our members and the credit union movement.”