DUBUQUE, IA (March 24, 2014) – The Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL) welcomes Emily Kress, Marketing/Communications Manager at Alliant Credit Union to its 2014 Iowa Innovation Group (IIG) program. Kress joins 15 other credit union leaders from across Iowa in serving as an IIG participant. Launched in 2013 with consumer finance think-and-do tank Filene Research Institute, IIG fosters the development of new ideas and innovations for credit unions.
Each new IIG member will serve a six-month term and be responsible for building and piloting new ideas to benefit credit unions and their members. The participants will unveil their ideas at the 2014 Iowa Credit Union Annual Convention. ICUL received applications from a wide range of credit union executives throughout Iowa.
"On behalf of the Iowa Credit Union League, I would like to congratulate Emily Kress on being selected to participate in ICUL’s Innovation Group,” said Jim Niederhauser, ICUL V.P. of Member Services. “We appreciate Emily's passion to move the credit union industry forward and provide additional member value.”
Emily has been with Alliant Credit Union since 2007 and is responsible for all internal and external branding efforts completed at the Credit Union. This includes all campaign development, graphic design, website development as well as on-site communications and promotions at the Credit Union’s employer groups.
Modeled after Filene’s i3 (Ideas, Innovation, Implementation) program, IIG leverages the Filene Method innovation curriculum to bring an innovation competency to Iowa credit unions. With coaching from Filene and ICUL, participants create, test and implement financial products, services and business model ideas. In its inaugural year, 15 leaders helped Iowa credit unions improve the way they provide financial guidance to their members.
Visit www.IowaInnovationGroup.com for more information.
About Alliant Credit Union
Alliant Credit Union, and its division Health Services Credit Union, is an award winning, full-service, financial institution, with offices located at 1200 Associates Drive, 1402 White Street and 250 Mercy Drive, all in Dubuque and 1305 1st Ave SE and 200 First St. in Cedar Rapids. For more information, visit www.alliantcu.com or call 563-585-3737 / 800-928-4328.
About the Iowa Credit Union League
The Iowa Credit Union League is the trade association that represents the interests of Iowa credit unions and their more than one million members. Credit unions are not-for-profit, financial cooperatives owned and operated by their members. Iowans use their credit union membership to receive higher interest rates on savings and lower interest rates on loans. For more information on ICUL and Iowa credit unions, visit www.IowaCreditUnions.com. Follow ICUL on Twitter at www.twitter.com/icul or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iowacreditunions. To learn more about credit unions, visit www.ASmarterChoice.org.
About Filene
Filene Research Institute is an independent, consumer finance think and do tank dedicated to scientific and thoughtful analysis about issues affecting the future of credit unions, retail banking and cooperative finance. Founded 25 years ago, Filene is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Nearly 1,000 members make the nonprofit’s research, innovation and impact programs possible.