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dawn.kennedy@cuda.ie

CUDA Meeting with RCU

By Owner Members, Representation

CUDA attended its most recent quarterly meeting with the Registrar of Credit Unions and other members of the RCU team on 8th October.

Draft Agenda for Quarterly CUDA/RCU Meeting

Central Bank of Ireland

8th October 2019

Subject Matter Area Query
Credit Union Regulations CP125

–         Seek update on content and timelines re Regulations

Request for Clarifications Accrued Interest –         Seek update
  AML Launch –         Complaints received from Credit Unions re. launch of the Guidelines on Preventing Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
  CEO Forum –         Seek update and insight on planned next steps
  Levies –         Discussion on CUDA Submission to DoF on Consultation Paper re Resolution Levy and additional correspondence re Regulatory Levies.

–         Seek transparency from CBI on methodology in reaching proposed funding targets [along with DoF]

–         Seek thoughts on future intent for Stabilisation Fund.  No visibility on the CBI’s viability model.

–         Seek transparency from CBI on methodology in reaching funding applicable to credit unions for Industry Levy

  Dormant Accounts –         Seek CBI on research underway on behalf of Dept of Rural and Community Development
  ICURN –         Seek update on report and findings
Financial Service Sector & Credit Unions An Post –         Actively offering car loans and personal loans.  Discuss regulation of An Post in the financial service sector.
AOB

A full update was provided to the National Council members, and many of the items are expanded on below. If there is any item that you would like further information on, or if there is a matter that you would like included on the agenda for future meetings with the RCU please let us know by contacting either Kevin or Elaine (kevin.johnson@cuda.ie / elaine.larke@cuda.ie).

CUDA Communication with all TDs and Senators

By Owner Members, Representation

As 17th October was International Credit Union Day, CUDA availed of the opportunity to communicate with each individual Minister, TD and Senator. We personalised each communication, and for TDs included also personalised their constituency. In thanking them, and their predecessors, for their contribution to the success of credit unions to date, we highlighted specific actions they can take to ensure the continued great work of credit unions in both geographic and workplace communities.

See below for an example of the communication sent to members of the Oireachtas.

 

Credit Unions outperform competitors for commitment; they deliver for consumers; they focus on what’s important in society

…but they need your help!

 

Dear Deputy <<Last Name >>,

 

As we celebrate International Credit Union Day on Thursday 17th October, it is timely to remember the hundreds of thousands of individuals, families and communities that have been helped by credit unions over the past 60 years. It is the ordinary people in your << Constituency >> constituency that keeps the credit union movement alive; they identify with the availability of, and access to credit from a local provider – a local provider that can be trusted. Their uniqueness and importance in our society is enshrined in legislation, and we thank you and your predecessors for this support.

Today a staggering 3.3 million people in Ireland are members of credit unions, improving their lives thanks to access to affordable credit and trustworthy financial services. Credit unions have kept loan sharks at bay while ensuring competition is kept honest and communities cohesive. Working together we can achieve so much more – we want to meet competition head on; keep modernising; and to diversify to help more people, and that’s where you can help by supporting the four enhancements set out below.

Without your help the future is bleak:

Over 3,500 credit union staff and 9,200 more volunteers are working hard to modernise our services to keep us relevant, however, despite best efforts, your credit union sector faces an uncertain future in part due to Government controlled factors such as Credit Union Acts and Regulation.

Credit unions will continue doing what they can but need you to provide a fair and level playing field too! Those credit unions that continue to invest in improving their capabilities should not be held back from helping people improve their lives.

Vision for Credit Union sector

Credit unions that own CUDA have developed a collective vision:

improving the financial, social and environmental well-being of credit union members and their communities

This is our goal; our aim, as the most trusted financial service provider in the country, having been voted the number one brand in all five years of the Customer Experience survey, credit unions will continue to provide loans for members’ individual needs. Our goal is to dramatically expand access and offer people real choice across a range of ‘Lifetime Financial Health’ products that encompass insurance, pensions and investment. Small and medium sized enterprises, the main employer in many communities, should also be supported more.

How can you help – key changes needed: 

CUDA now has 50 credit unions in its membership, with 16 new services rolled out over the last 24 months, including a digital capability, new products such as mortgages and home improvement loans to improve energy efficiency as well as CUDA’s advice and solutions in regulation, training, FinTech and compliance and partnerships with giants such as Microsoft ensuring the very best solutions are available to credit unions. To ensure we have a vibrant, modern and relevant credit union movement into the future, we urgently need:

  • Changes to credit union legislation to allow credit unions provide loans for social, cooperative and affordable housing. A simple addition to include bodies such as Approved Housing Bodies, Cooperative Housing Bodies and Local Authorities, into the common bond allowing them become members of credit unions for this purpose;
  • Changes to credit union legislation to allow credit unions introduce loans to each other and share larger loans. This multi-lender approach is where credit is granted by 2 or more credit unions as part of the same credit arrangement works well in North America and is permitted for regulated entities in SME regulations.  SMEs need access to affordable credit. Credit union need to be allowed meet this demand. Did you know credit unions in Ireland can refer business to a bank but not to each other?  – we need to stop the nonsense.
  • A multi annual budget commitment of at least two years from the Government for SEAI grants. Did you know CUDA, in collaboration with SEAI, developed an initiative that combines low cost credit union loans and SEAI grants to improve energy efficiencies in the home? We call this “Pro-Energy Homes”. Due to the current budgeting structure which limps from year to year, the scheme is effectively mothballed from the 3rd quarter of each year. Where is the real commitment from Government to get behind energy saving initiatives like this? We are not asking for more money, just a demonstration of commitment.
  • A demonstration of innovation from the Government to help solve the impending pension crisis. We need to encourage credit union members to transfer some of their long term savings to pensions. We need the Government to provide incentives such as allowing the saver claim the standard rate of tax relief entitlements they would have enjoyed if their savings were made originally as pension contributions;

You can make such an enormous difference. We need these changes to keep the great story going. Credit unions are working together towards an ambitious shared vision and a better society for current and future generations. Your support for the four changes outlined above will make an enormous difference to the lives of many in your local community and to 3.3 million people across Ireland.

Please contact us – write to us, email us, ring us, meet us. We know what’s needed and welcome and need your support to make it happen.

 

Kevin Johnson

Chief Executive Officer

CUDA Membership

By Governance, Owner Members

CUDA is delighted to welcome Sarsfield Credit Union Ltd., Limerick, as our latest Affinity Member. This brings the total membership of CUDA to fifty.

Founded in October 1962 for the members of the Arch-Confraternity at the Redemptorist Church in Limerick, it changed its bond of association to an area-based Credit Union and was renamed Sarsfield Credit Union Ltd.

CUDA Resources

By Governance, Owner Members

We extend a very warm welcome to Neil Mathieson who working with the CUDA team to finalise the determination and commence implementation of the CUDA strategy. Neil has collaborated with CUDA for the past 3 years on areas including FinTech whitepapers, Techbridge innovation session, presenting at CUDA Annual Conferences, CEO workshops and as an occasional sound-boarding on strategy.

/.Neil is one of very few people able to take an integrated view on applying financial strategy, technology and service delivery. This will assist CUDA grow our understanding of where and how value is created for you, the owners of CUDA, and ensure each owners business strategy and CUDA’s business model are aligned accordingly.

CUDA Strategy

By Governance, Owner Members

Following an extensive series of engagements to garner input from as many stakeholders as possible, the Management Committee and National Council held a joint session on 11th September to review the work in progress. There were a set of questions posed at the session and these were circulated to National Council members for further consideration.

  • Will your credit union adopt this Shared Vision into your strategic plan?
  • Are you willing to use the services & move to a more collaborative CUDA model?
  • Are you willing to recommend CUDA to your peers?
  • Do you support a new membership class?
  • Do you agree that the planned actions will…
    1. Assist to grow your loan book?
    2. Make you more competitive?
    3. Improve your credit union’s capabilities?
    4. Provide you with a stronger leadership role?
    5. Provide a clear articulation to you of what CUDA does?

Subsequent meetings of both Management Committee and National Council, in October, saw a refinement of key deliverables planned, the introduction of the concept of individualised relationship plans for each Owner credit union, and consideration of the determination of funding model cognisant of developments in the credit union environment in recent years. It is clearly demonstrable that high level of utilisation of CUDA services and growth in Owner membership are the most beneficial to existing Owners of CUDA.