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Membership in the Illinois Credit Union League provides a great investment return by offering a wide array of services that can help credit unions control costs, educate staff and volunteers, insure laws and regulations are enacted to achieve a favorable operating climate, and provide the technical assistance necessary to assist with day-to-day activities involved with running a credit union.
 Membership with the League enables the credit union movement to take advantage of its collective grassroots strength to preserve and enhance the dual chartering system, an autonomous regulatory agency dedicated to the interests of credit unions, and the rights and privileges credit unions enjoy under their statutory and regulatory framework.
"We receive outstanding support from all the League departments, across the board," said Karen Hohlbauch, CEO of Alton Bell Community CU.
League membership is designed to “pay” rather than “cost” your credit union. Payment comes in the form of preserving and enhancing the credit union chartering and a favorable operating environment — the most basic needs that credit unions require.
Virtually all state and federal credit union lending and member transactional and depository services are subject to state law (debit, credit, ATM services, collections, lending, deposits, etc.). The League plays a leadership role in initiating state legislative and regulatory changes that directly impact a credit union’s ability to offer those types of services. In conjunction with the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), the League closely monitors and helps frame legislative and regulatory initiatives at the federal level that impact credit union operations. To that end, the League has two full-time lobbyists, two retained lobbyists, three staff lawyers, two technical specialists, and a regulatory expert who work year-round interacting with legislators and regulators.
The League maintains a legislative office in Springfield for state issues and has a full-time staff member dedicated to federal issues. Governmental Affairs Conferences — both state and federal — are held each year. As a League member, you receive legislative bulletins and legislative alerts. Your credit union also benefits from the League’s comprehensive political action program, which includes the Credit Union Political Action Council, a bi-partisan organization that supports candidates who are sympathetic to credit union-friendly legislation, and which features a proactive relationship with legislators.
The League’s Web site provides around-the-clock access to the latest information. The Legal & Technical Information Manual and L&T Bulletins are available online to members. In addition, credit unions, their staff and board members can use the Web site for contacting legislators. Through another members-only service, CUs can post job openings at no charge and gain access to a number of job search and posting resources. Publications from the League include the annual credit union directory, regular legislative bulletins, and a compensation survey, as well as electronic communications that are delivered straight to your e-mail box, including the Indepth, the League E-News Direct, the Weekly Government News, a monthly education brochure, and information from the Office of General Counsel. Small CUs (under $20 million), chapter officials, and IT professionals can participate in their respective listservs established by the League. In addition, those who are interested can also choose to receive educational resources and information via email.
"I can't imagine operating my credit union without the support of the League," said Hohlbauch. "I can always get assistance when I need it, and my Regional Director, Roger Brainerd, is a great help."
Membership in the League provides you access to a Regional Director as well as a chapter contact, support and communication network. Regional Directors also provide annual basic credit union and board planning sessions as part of your dues.
Whether a one-hour “Quick Bites” teleconference or a multi-day workshop, the League offers a wide array of educational conferences, seminars and self-study programs designed to keep credit union staff and board members informed in our highly regulated, fast-paced industry. As a member of the League, you receive discounted pricing for education sessions and qualify to apply for scholarship assistance from the Illinois Credit Union (ICU) Foundation. Grant assistance, in the form of Small Credit Union Development, Marketing and Business Development, Financial Investment & Revitalization Effort “FIRE” Grants and Community Service, are also available from the ICU Foundation.
"The grants and scholarships that are available have been a big help to us, and have enabled us to offer more services to our members," said Hohlbauch.
The League offers the Illinois Cooperative Advertising Reaches Everyone (I-CARE) statewide public awareness campaign, along with information on nationwide programs like International Credit Union Day and the National CU Brand Campaign. It also provides public relations support to individual credit unions. League members can participate in the Credit Union Match-Up Program, which is a national database of credit union fields-of-membership that consumers use to find local credit unions to join. League members that use ICUL Service Corporation transactional products are eligible to receive a year-end rebate and pay lower fees for services.
The strength of the credit union movement and the ability to succeed on core legislative and regulatory issues flow from unity. Membership in the League and CUNA provides the foundation by which the credit union charter is preserved and a favorable operating environment is maintained and enhanced. The value of League membership is demonstrated every day in the quality and variety of the products and services available, as well as in the collective strength of its members.
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