Columbia, SC (March 26, 2026) |
The Carolinas Credit Union League (CCUL) this week hosted America’s Credit Unions (ACU) President/CEO Scott Simpson for a series of CEO roundtables and credit union meetings across the Carolinas. The visit brought together leaders from credit unions of all sizes to strengthen alignment on advocacy priorities and deepen collaboration between state leagues and the national association.
Collaborative dialogue with large credit union CEOs
Large credit union CEOs gathered in South and North Carolina for roundtable discussions hosted by S.C. State Federal Credit Union and State Employees’ Credit Union. Participants appreciated the opportunity for candid, CEO-level discussions on strategy and industry direction.
“It was a pleasure to host the Large Credit Union Advocacy Roundtable at S.C. State FCU, and to join fellow CEOs for a conversation about the issues defining our work,” said S.C. State FCU President/CEO Jim Kinard. “All in all, the meeting was very informative and productive.”
Members CU CEO Bob Donley echoed that sentiment following the North Carolina gathering. “Seeing so many large credit union leaders come together—and be so actively engaged—was incredibly encouraging,” he said. “It showed how valuable these conversations are in shaping our shared direction as a movement.”
The roundtables also featured remarks from Cory Phariss, acting director of the NCUA Southern Region and AMAC, who provided supervisory updates and joined CEOs for an interactive Q&A.
National strategy and state-level opportunity
Throughout the discussions, Simpson provided a broad national perspective, highlighting key federal advocacy efforts underway and sharing his view of where the industry is headed. He stressed the value of unified messaging and the importance of close coordination between state leagues and America’s Credit Unions.
“Our greatest strength is the unified credit union system and the real impact credit unions have in their communities,” Simpson said. “These direct conversations reinforce that by allowing us to understand the challenges and opportunities credit unions face.”
To build on that national perspective, CCUL President/CEO Dan Schline and Chief Advocacy Officer Billy Boylston presented on the political landscape in both states and the opportunities credit unions have to strategically engage. Their message centered on practical, high‑impact advocacy and the importance of CEO participation in shaping outcomes.
Engaging small and midsize credit unions across the region
In addition to the large credit union roundtables, CCUL facilitated credit union meetings in Columbia, Greensboro, and Raleigh, giving leaders from small and midsize institutions direct access to national association leadership. These conversations with Simpson explored how these credit unions are collaborating with one another, innovative ways they can support each other’s growth and shared challenges related to technology advancement, regulatory pressures, fraud trends, and more.
Leaders shared valuable feedback about the resources available to them through America’s Credit Unions, and the conversations also gave them a chance to learn more about the full scope of their member benefits, such as compliance support and operational tools.
“We appreciate Scott and the ACU team taking the time to visit us and other small credit union leaders in the Carolinas,” said Brian Bone, CEO of American Partners FCU, who hosted a group of his peers for one of the meetings. “We shared ideas of how we believe ACU can help small credit unions thrive. We want small credit unions to grow and succeed!”
Strengthening a unified voice for the Carolinas
Across all sessions, a consistent theme emerged: collaboration at every level—local, state, and national—is key to advancing the credit union movement.
“At the end of the day, everything we do comes back to serving members,” Schline said. “Hearing directly from our CEOs ensures our advocacy remains grounded in the real needs of credit unions and the communities they serve across the Carolinas.”
Explore more reflections from these meetings in ACU’s article on Simpson’s visit to the Carolinas.
