Mark Cummins, President and CEO of the Minnesota Credit Union Network, was honored with the 2022 Eugene H. Farley League Leadership Award last week from the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) in Washington, D.C. The Farley Award honors a league employee who demonstrates visionary leadership at the state and national levels.
Under Cummins leadership, MnCUN embarked on a goal to increase the percentage of Minnesotans belonging to a credit union to 50% by 2030. Minnesota was also the first state to launch the national Credit Union Consumer Awareness Initiative in 2019 and since then, has seen both increased average membership growth and consumer familiarity of credit unions. MnCUN analysis of NCUA and 2020 Census data shows that credit union membership increased to 34.5% with a 3.8% growth rate during the 12 months ending in June 2021.
Cummins was also instrumental in the establishment of the Minnesota Credit Union Employee Benefits Plan, an association health plan for Minnesota credit unions to collectively offer health benefits to their employees.
Cummin’s advocacy team led the passage of Prize Linked Savings Legislation in Minnesota and developed the WINcentive Prize Linked Savings program in Minnesota and MnCUN’s wholly owned subsidiary, TruLync, administers prize-linked savings programs in 10 states.
Further demonstrating Cummin’s collaborative attitude, MnCUN coordinates CU Forward Day, which started as one credit union dedicating one day to volunteerism and has grown to 64 credit unions and partners with 2,300 volunteers participating in community service projects totaling over 10,000 hours.
“Mark truly understands that good collaboration amplifies strength; to sustain the credit union movement, further promote, and move our mission in a positive direction, credit unions and leagues must continually find new, innovative ways to work together,” said Jeff Olson, President and CEO of the Dakota Credit Union Association and Chair of AACUL.
Cummins joined the Network in 2007, bringing 28 years of credit union and banking experience to this leadership role. Prior to his MnCUN role, Cummins was the president of a credit union for 12 years.
The Farley League Leadership Award was endowed by a contribution from Richard Heins, former CEO of CUNA Mutual Group, and named in honor of Gene Farley, former CEO of the Virginia Credit Union League, in recognition of his longtime leadership in the credit union movement.
