WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 12, 2025) |
This week, the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) launched a targeted geofencing advertisement campaign across Capitol Hill and the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center — the site of the 2025 ICBA Annual Conference — to reinforce the importance of preserving the federal tax exemption for credit unions.
Running from May 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET through May 15 at 2:00 p.m. ET, DCUC’s advocacy campaign is designed to reach policymakers, congressional staff, and ICBA attendees in real time. Funded by DCUC’s Defending Credit Unions National Advocacy Fund, this strategic initiative delivers a clear message: credit unions serve a unique, mission-driven role that Congress has long recognized and must continue to protect.
DCUC’s campaign reaffirms the vital role credit unions play in the financial well-being of millions of Americans — especially service members, veterans, and their families. Through DCUC’s targeted video and digital ads, we continue to push forward in illustrating how eliminating or altering the longstanding credit union tax exemption would undermine access to financial services and harm the very communities who depend on these institutions.
In advance of the ICBA conference, DCUC also delivered a memo to every congressional office, directly refuting the bank industry’s latest attacks on the credit union tax exemption, including misleading claims about naming rights, mergers, and market competition.
“With growing rhetoric from the banking industry aimed at discrediting credit unions, it’s critical that lawmakers have the full picture,” said Anthony Hernandez, DCUC President/CEO. “Credit unions exist solely to serve their members, not shareholders. In the case of defense credit unions, that means delivering affordable, tailored financial services to military personnel and their families, often under circumstances traditional banks are unwilling or unable to address.”
DCUC’s video and digital ads are designed to educate and counter rising rhetoric from the banking industry that seeks to undermine the credit union model especially amidst budget reconciliation and tax debates. DCUC’s campaign also serves as a rallying point for credit union advocates on the Hill and across the country.
DCUC and its member credit unions continue to advocate tirelessly for the financial health of military communities through accessible, mission-aligned services. This campaign is part of a broader effort to keep credit union priorities and member stories front and center in national policy conversations.
For more information, please contact Jason Stverak at jstverak@dcuc.org and visit dcuc.org/advocacy.