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April

• April 19, 2013

Crosswell named SC Palmetto Protégé; Ownby and Crawford runners-up

COLUMBIA, S.C. (04/19/13)—Will Crosswell of Florence, SC was named “Palmetto Protégé” on Friday, April 12 during the South Carolina Credit Union League 2013 Annual Meeting and as such will serve for one year as statewide spokesperson for young adults and the opportunities credit unions provide them. Crosswell, who is the business development officer at Palmetto First Federal Credit Union (Florence), will act through social media and occasional appearances at credit union events including chapter meetings and the fall SCCUL Leadership Conference. He also will lead the CU Forward group to foster peer development and the ongoing Palmetto Protégé Competition.

“I look forward to representing young professionals across the state as well as empowering our generation to make a stronger impact within the credit union movement,” said Crosswell. “I also would like to congratulate Stephanie Ownby, Amanda Crawford, Candice Brady, and Allison Gilmore for a job well done and for representing their regions proudly.”

SCCUL President/CEO Steve Fowler presents the 2013 SC Palmetto Protégé award to Palmetto First FCU Business Development Officer Will Crosswell.

His immediate benefit is first choice of developmental scholarships, and Crosswell has chosen the 2013 National Youth Involvement Board Annual Conference July 30-Aug 2 in San Diego, Ca. (registration and lodging, valued at $1,300). From NYIB and other options—an expenses-paid SC Hike the Hill trip to Washington, DC, the 2013 CUNA Marketing Management School, and one-year registration for the Southeast CUNA Management School—the two runners-up, Stephanie Ownby (SC Federal CU) and Amanda Crawford (Carolina Foothills FCU) have respectively chosen to attend the SE CUNA Management School (June 7-14, Athens, Ga.) and the 2013 CUNA Marketing Management School (June 3-6, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl).

2013 SC Palmetto Protégé Will Crosswell (center), first runner-up Stephanie Ownby (left), and second runner-up Amanda Crawford (right) stand for a picture following the Palmetto Protégé Competition at the SCCUL 2013 Annual Meeting.

“I want to thank the South Carolina Credit Union League for this program that allows regions from across the state to showcase their young professional talent,” Crosswell continued. “Through this program, they have elevated our presence within the movement and helped solidify our place as leaders of today and not just the leaders of tomorrow.”

“Finally, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity had it not been for those at Palmetto First Federal Credit Union, particularly Angie Burr and Starla Shelton. I appreciate their support, encouragement, and confidence in me to represent our credit union, the Pee Dee Chapter, and the state of South Carolina. I can’t wait to get started!”

Crosswell achieved the honor by combination of scores on a standard exam and on his presentation during the general session (sponsored by Your Marketing Co.) at the SCCUL Annual Meeting. All candidates’ presentations of no more than five minutes were judged by the panel of FCCCU CU Development Director Wanda Downs, credit union consultant Todd Harms, and CCUF President John McGrail.

For more on the South Carolina Palmetto Protégé Competition or CU Forward: The Leadership Initiative, contact SCCUL’s Brandon Pugh or Courtney Jackson at commpr@sccul.org or call 800-235-4290.

• April 16, 2013

NCUA awards $50,000 collaboration grant to SC credit unions

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 16, 2013) – A group of South Carolina credit unions are collaborating on a groundbreaking project to improve talent management with the support of a $50,000 National Credit Administration (NCUA) collaboration grant.

Health Facilities Federal Credit Union, a low-income credit union located in Florence, will collaborate with South Carolina Federal Credit Union, located in North Charleston, and its credit union service organization (CUSO), Optimal Talent Solutions, to provide free talent management consulting and training in areas including succession management, recruitment, performance management, and diversity and inclusion.

Two other credit unions, Greenwood Municipal Credit Union, Greenwood, and Spartan Federal Credit Union, Spartanburg, will also participate. NCUA's Office of Small Credit Union Initiatives (OSCUI) manages the process used by the agency to award the grant.

"Collaborations among small credit unions to help them develop best practices are important to their long-term success," NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz said. "We know credit unions can accomplish more working together than working alone. Employee recruitment, development, and succession are all core needs for any business, but small credit unions with limited capacity and resources have a difficult time managing those needs. This project can help provide that capacity and those resources."

"Small credit unions are infrequent uses of CUSOs," NCUA's OSCUI Director William Myers said. "Yet collaboration is necessary for small credit unions to compete. OSCUI will continue to seek out and fund areas of outstanding collaboration for small credit unions."

The group led by Health Facilities Federal Credit Union was chosen from seven applications. This is the first time NCUA has offered a grant of this size to low-income designated credit unions.

The grant is intended to encourage collaborative efforts that develop innovative, sustainable best practices to improve operations and reduce costs that can be adopted by other credit unions. To qualify, a single low-income designated credit union must partner with at least one other credit union. The collaboration can include other entities, such as state leagues and associations, additional credit unions, credit union service organizations and third-party vendors.

Funding for this grant is provided by the Community Development Revolving Loan Fund, which Congress created to support credit unions that serve low-income communities. NCUA’s OSCUI administers these funds under its grant and loan programs. 

NCUA’s OSCUI fosters credit union development and the effective delivery of financial services for small credit unions, new credit unions and credit unions with a low-income designation to enable them to survive and thrive.

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March

• March 6, 2013

Five pros named in 2013 South Carolina Palmetto Protégé Competition

COLUMBIA, S.C. (03/6/13)—Five regional chapters of credit unions have selected their respective candidates for the Second Annual South Carolina Credit Union League Palmetto Protégé Competition, recognizing emerging professionals and supporting the employment and membership opportunities credit unions provide. The five finalists will vie for selection as the South Carolina Palmetto Protégé on Friday, April 12 at the 2013 SCCUL Annual Meeting in Myrtle Beach.

Chapter winners in 2013 are: Candice Brady (SC State CU), representing the Columbia Chapter; Amanda Crawford (Carolina Foothills FCU), representing the Piedmont Chapter; Will Crosswell (Palmetto First FCU), representing the Pee Dee Chapter; Allison Gilmore (ArrowPointe FCU), representing the Catawba Chapter; and Stephanie Ownby (SC Federal CU), representing the Charleston Area Chapter.

Chapter candidates were judged on credit union knowledge, communication skills, personality, and professional appearance. Each candidate has completed a standardized exam and has chosen a presentation topic from a League-approved list that includes credit union philosophy, economics, viability, activism, and promotion.

“The Palmetto Protégé Competition showcases some of our brightest emerging leaders,” said SCCUL President/CEO Steve Fowler. “This year’s candidates provide a glimpse of our future and the quality of leadership to take South Carolina’s credit unions to new levels of success.”

The South Carolina Palmetto Protégé will serve as and peer advocate for credit unions and liaison to CU Forward: The Leadership Initiative—a group of forward-thinking, driven, cooperative, and connected leaders. Responsibilities for the Palmetto Protégé coordinated by SCCUL will include:

• Presentations at each of the state’s five chapters on his or her background, experience, CU Forward, and the Palmetto Protégé program
• Participation in the SCCUL Leadership Conference as secondary presenter and CU Forward advocate
• Liaison to CU Forward Roundtables held during his or her term as Palmetto Protégé
• Regular contributions via social media including the SCCUL Facebook page

An immediate benefit to the SC Palmetto Protégé is first choice of these developmental scholarships. Two runners-up will choose from remaining options.

• Southeast CUNA Management School (June 7-14, Athens, GA) – One-year registration, valued at more than $1,300 (requires commitment to three-year program)
• National Youth Involvement Board Annual Conference (July 29-Aug 1, San Diego, CA) – Registration and lodging, valued at $1,300
• South Carolina Hike the Hill (May 14-16 or Sept 10-11, Washington, DC) – Full participation including airfare and lodging, valued at $1,000
• CUNA Marketing School (June 3-6, Ft. Lauderdale, FL) – Tuition, valued at $1,495

For more information about the South Carolina Palmetto Protégé Competition, contact SCCUL’s Brandon Pugh or Courtney Jackson at commpr@sccul.org or call 800-235-4290.

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January

• January 4, 2013

CUNA's four-pillar legislative agenda aligns with state priorities

WASHINGTON, DC and IRMO, SC (1/4/13)--On Thursday, January 3, Credit Union National Association (CUNA) President/CEO Bill Cheney unveiled CUNA’s 2013 legislative priorities, emphasizing its plan to explore every option and take every opportunity to represent credit unions on Capitol Hill in 2013. The priorities follow closely the position established by South Carolina credit unions in their October 25 All-Credit Union CEO Roundtable.

The national legislative agenda this year stands on four pillars:

1. Preservation of the credit union federal tax status. A top priority, the tax status is likely to be examined this year as the 113th U.S. Congress scrutinizes comprehensive tax reform. The statutory credit union tax status provides credit unions with an exemption from federal income tax because of their cooperative business structure. CUNA and the state credit union leagues are prepared to wage a public advocacy campaign in support of current law. It will encompass a comprehensive and deliberate grassroots, communication and legislative strategy.

2. Reducing regulatory burden. The "crisis of creeping complexity" with respect to regulatory burden is another key priority of CUNA’s and is an area in which it had a series of victories in 2012.  Despite the gridlock that gripped Washington throughout the year--right up to and through the "fiscal cliff" negotiations this week--CUNA was able to secure a number of regulatory relief measures. Some examples include: (1) The president signed a CUNA-supported bill into law Dec. 21 that eliminates a duplicative and burdensome requirement that a fee notice be posted on an ATM machine, in addition to the electronic notice that appears on the screen prior to the transaction. The dual requirement had created legal and financial issues for some credit unions and other financial institutions; and (2) Signed into law the same day was a CUNA-backed measure (H.R. 4014) intended to ensure that groups or individuals that supply information to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) would not waive their right to privacy protections.
   

3. Engaging in housing finance reform. Working with its Housing Finance Reform Task Force, CUNA is prepared to deeply engage with Congress' efforts to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, expected to be a top priority of House Financial Services Committee Chairman-designate Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas).
   

4. Advancing credit union charter enhancements.  CUNA will continue to pursue charter enhancements that improve the operating environment for credit unions. Two major initiatives that remain as priorities from 2012 are supplemental capital and increased member business lending. For supplemental capital to advance, CUNA and the leagues will continue to educate and generate support for the issue within the credit union system and raise it in the context of Congress' consideration of bank capital issues, such as Basel III rules.

   In 2012, CUNA supported H.R. 3993, which would modify the definition of credit union net worth to include supplemental forms of capital for credit unions. It was referred to the House Financial Services subcommittee on financial institutions and consumer credit for consideration.

   Legislation in both the House and Senate that would increase the credit union member business lending cap to 27.5% of assets, up from 12.25% (MBL bills H.R. 1418/S. 2231) enjoyed strong support in both chambers with 145 backers in the House and 22 in the Senate. CUNA and the leagues will seek to reintroduce this legislation in both chambers this year.

For the most part, CUNA’s agenda matches South Carolina credit unions’ priorities, which SCCUL had submitted to CUNA within days of the roundtable:

1. Tax Exemption – Identified as the “number one emeritus” issue
2. Dodd-Frank – Reducing additional regulatory burden it creates
3. Interchange – Addressing loss of income and merchants not returning savings to consumers
4. CFPB Exemption – Urging the agency to exempt credit unions
5. Exam Fairness – Full support for greater transparency and standardization
6. Healthcare Act – Credit unions need clarification and assistance
7. Cyber/Data Security – Protection for financial institutions
8. Housing Finance – Ensuring credit unions and members will have access to the system
9. MBL – Not a major concern in SC, though there is support for job creation
10. ATM Disclosures – Bill eliminating physical disclosure requirement signed into law December 2012
11. Supplemental Capital – Not critical, though helpful in certain circumstances such as for troubled credit unions that need capital to survive.

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