Statement of Commitment to Member Credit Unions

The Texas Credit Union League (TCUL) is a professional trade association representing over 600 of the state's credit unions which in turn are owned by more than six million consumers. TCUL's mission is to advocate, educate and serve as the premier provider of resources to credit unions and to help further their success, unity and uniqueness.

We will uphold our fundamental responsibility to actively serve member credit unions in our state and will strive to deliver a range of cost-effective products and services to the diverse economic and social make-up of our credit unions. We will continually support credit unions in their efforts to improve the financial well being of all people.

We will monitor and communicate our service to members in a meaningful way so that their members and potential members, legislators, regulators, and the community at large will understand and appreciate the unique role that member-owned financial cooperatives play in people's lives.

The purpose of TCUL is to serve credit unions and promote their well being and unity. Through our partnership with the World Council of Credit Unions and initiatives such as TCUL's Texas and Mexico Credit Union Relations Committee, we are committed to strengthening and building credit unions not just nationally, but internationally as well.

The credit union movement was built upon a cooperative effort and we believe strongly in the movement's core philosophy, "People Helping People." And more importantly, we believe credit unions practice this philosophy every day.

This Statement of Commitment to Members is consistent with TCUL's mission statement.

Section I: Service to Members

TCUL strives to offer quality and valuable credit union-focused products and services designed to improve the economic and social well being of all member credit unions.

Current Services that Help Improve the Economic and Social Well Being of Members:

  1. Legislative and Political Advocacy
  • Provide Legislative support on issues that affect credit unions
  • Sponsor initiatives such as Hike the Hill in Washington, D.C. to protect the well being of credit unions
  • Support fundraising efforts for political action committees through credit unions and chapter initiatives

    2.  Regulatory and Compliance

  • Stay informed and communicate the latest federal and state regulations and proposals
  • Work with credit unions daily to provide answers to compliance inquiries and operations questions
  • Provide forum to share policies and procedures through Compliance Council

    3.  Communications and Publications

  • Communicate daily with credit unions through the "LoneStar Leaguer" email newsletter
  • Publish "LoneStar Perspectives" magazine, which features topics of interest to the credit union movement, as well as political and consumer news
  • Provide updates on legislative and regulatory issues via email in the "TCUL Advocate"
  • Produce annual "Credit Union Planning and Resource Guide" for credit unions
  • Continuously update our web site to reflect the latest training and resources available
  • Connect council members to other council members via e-Groups to share information and best practices
  • Connect chapter leaders via Listserv service to share chapter activities and information
  • Provide an Annual Report to keep members abreast of the year's programs and financial results
  • Generate media releases to raise awareness about credit unions, the League and the movement

    4.  Professional Development and Training

  • Direct numerous conferences, schools, seminars and workshops throughout the year, including:
  • Annual Meeting and Convention
  • Credit union-specific seminars, including but not limited to Lending, Basic and Advanced IRA training, Marketing, Bankruptcy, Collections, Compliance Review and Satellite Seminars
  • Leadership Conference
  • Southwest Lending Conference
  • Satellite Broadcasts
  • Southwest CUNA Management School
  • Supervisory and Audit Committee Conference of the Southwest
  • Marketing and Business Development Conference
  • Compliance Conference
  • Texas Governmental Affairs Conference
  • Certified Teller Schools
  • "Check It Out Library" featuring videos and books
  • Provide roundtables, seminars and networking opportunities to council members
  • Manage the STAR, VAP, MERIT, VLP, Certified Credit Union Executive and RegTrac certification programs

    5.  Texas Credit Union Foundation

  • 501C3 Public Charity
  • Provides educational grants and scholarships
  • Promotes financial literacy programs
  • Funds model programs
  • Supports the credit union movement
  • Promotes small credit union development

    6.  Leadership and Management

  • Provide credit unions with the necessary resources to thrive in a competitive marketplace through a variety of programs, including:
  • Coordinate numerous awards programs that recognize the efforts of credit unions and credit union leaders, including:
    • Hall of Fame
    • Professional of the Year
    • Volunteer of the Year
    • Marketer of the Year
    • Chapter of the Year
    • LoneStar Marketing and Public Relations Awards
    • Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Recognition Program
    • Louise Herring Award for Philosophy in Action
  • Support state, national and international initiatives, such as:
    • Texas and Mexico Credit Union Relations
    • Filene Research Institute
    • The National Endowment for Financial Education High School Financial Planning Program
    • Children's Miracle Network/Credit Unions for Kids

    7.  Resources and Partnerships

  • Empower credit unions by offering cutting-edge products and services, including:
    • Provides credit unions with assistance on accounting, financial, regulatory and technology issues.
    • Assists credit unions in increasing loan market penetration and developing tools and services to complement lending programs. Current programs offered include Car Sale Events-Lending Services, Student Loans Program and Recapture Program.
    • Offers a variety of solutions for a credit union's graphics, communications and promotional needs, including campaigns, copy-writing, creative services and print production.
    • Information Central
    • Serves as a compliance and regulatory resource center for credit unions and provides operational and policy consulting. Assist with special projects and research assistance upon request.
    • Provides "hands-on" consulting services in strategic planning, financial management and operations and is responsible for the small credit union development initiatives. The Consultants are the personal, day-to-day link between the League and credit unions.

Section II: Member Education

TCUL is committed to member and consumer financial education; in addition we are committed to educating members and consumers alike, about credit union uniqueness, philosophy, and values.

Section III: Involvement/Governance

TCUL will endeavor to preserve credit union democratic principles, including demographic representation and volunteer participation in credit union activities.

Current Programs that support Involvement/Governance:

  1. League Board
  2. Foundation Trustees
  3. CU Resources Board
  4. Chapter of Credit Unions
  5. TCUL Political Action Committee
  6. League Sponsored Committees and programs, including:
  • Texas/Mexico Relations Committee
  • Member/Owner Advocacy Force (FORCE FUND)
  • Government Structure Task Force
  • Legislative and Regulatory Committee
  • Legislative Expert Teams
  • Grassroots Director/Liaisons
  • TCUL Political Action Committee (TCUL PAC)
  • TCUL Coalitions
  • Key Contacts Program
  • Chapter Leaders Conference
  • Council Program

Section IV: Diversity

TCUL recognizes the value of demographic diversity in staff as well as in volunteers, and will strive to bring people of diverse backgrounds and experiences into leadership and other roles at the credit union.

Current Programs that Promote Diversity:

  1. Texas/Mexico Relations Committee
  2. Partnership with World Council of Credit Unions to further the movement in other nations
  3. Provided funding assistance to the Caja Popular Mexicana (CPM) public confidence campaign in Mexico
  4. Provide scholarships for international credit union professionals to attend TCUL educational seminars, workshops and conferences
  5. Diversity in board through asset category representation
  6. Section on serving documented and undocumented residents in the TCUL Compliance Manual
  7. Diversity in chapters through regional representation

Section V: Commitment to the Credit Union Movement and other Cooperative Activities

TCUL will continue to build and strengthen our unique credit union movement by providing financial and in-kind resources to others within the credit union community, and by actively advocating the credit union difference at all levels of government and in other appropriate public forums. In addition, TCUL will participate in local, state and national cooperative activities as appropriate, and will strive to build and strengthen relationships with other sectors of the national cooperative movement.

Section VI: Public Service / Corporate Citizenship

Through direct financial support or other in-kind contributions to worthwhile local organizations, and by participating in public service activities, the Texas Credit Union League strives to be an active partner in our community. We recognize that practicing good Corporate Citizenship supports the Credit Union Philosophy of People Helping People. Furthermore, it will help raise the overall level of social and economic well being of those in our community, help to strengthen ties within the community, and better position us to reach out and serve as only credit unions can those people in greatest need of affordable financial services.

Community/FOM Groups Currently Receiving Financial or Other In-Kind Support (including the support given) and Current Public Service Activities:

  1. Promotion and Coordination of Credit Unions for Kids program benefiting Children's Miracle Network
  2. Financial contribution to United Way
  3. Child ID program
  4. Foundation
  5. Number of TCUL employees volunteer outside office or are part of civic organization/church
  6. New Public Service Activities Planned for the Coming Year