At the State Level

Service

At the state level, credit unions cooperate to create economies of scale, and in Montana we have several entities that are part of the system.

The MONTANA CREDIT UNION NETWORK is an umbrella for three organizations:

• The Montana Credit Union League is the not-for-profit trade association. Montana credit unions pay dues to the League, which provides legislative and public relations advocacy, compliance and regulatory assistance, educational opportunities, and creates avenues for cooperation.
• The League Service Group provides a wide range of fee-supported services. LGS works with a number of vendors to provide Montana’s credit unions with services they can count on. LSG administers the Health Insurance Trust and has spearheaded the Healthy You! Campaign this past year.
• Montana Credit Unions for Community Development is the Network’s charitable arm. MCUCD works with Montana credit unions to provide financial education, free tax preparation services, and asset development programs that help Montanans become financially independent. MCUCD helps credit unions in fulfilling the social responsibility of serving their communities.

KANSAS CORPORATE CREDIT UNION is your credit union’s credit union…they provide lending services, wire transfer services, investments, check collection, corporate share drafts, coin & currency, ACH, securities safekeeping, savings bonds settlement, and Internet access to your account.

CUSOURCE is a credit-union owned credit union service organization or CUSO with offices in Great Falls and Helena. A cooperative venture, CUsource offers credit unions of all sizes a variety of essential services (from data processing, real estate programs, statement mailing, computer services, or bulk ordering) and works to keep prices lower by cooperatively sharing.

The CREDIT UNION ADVOCACY COUNCIL or CUAC is a political action committee that most of Montana’s credit unions contribute to. CUAC raises funds to support credit-union-friendly candidates who are running for state and federal offices. Montana credit unions have a choice of PACs, but can only sign up with one. Montana CUAC’s sole fundraiser is an annual raffle, and participating credit unions sell raffle tickets to their members.

Regulation

Montana currently has eight credit unions that have a state (instead of a federal) charter. These are regulated by the Montana DIVISION OF BANKING AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. Housed in the Montana Department of Administration, this division is headed by the State Commissioner of Banking. It’s important to note that all of Montana’s credit unions are federally insured through the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund.

fun facts

MCUCD works with Montana’s credit unions to serve people with low- or moderate-income who live in Montana. One of MCUCD’s areas of focus is in Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). The program is in its fifth year, and it’s racking up some impressive numbers. MCUCD's official press release said that...

During the 2010 tax season

• 20 credit unions sponsored
• 17 VITA sites
• filing tax forms for 2,620 taxpayers who received
• over $2.5 million in federal refunds and $407,000 in state refunds
• and saving over $300,000 in tax preparation fees.

That’s a lot of money that flows back into the local economies in these credit unions’ communities.