Advocacy in Action: Standing Strong in 2025 - Credit Union Advocacy, Unity, and the Work Ahead

​2025 was a defining year for credit union advocacy. It was a year marked by significant victories, hard-fought defensive battles, and a renewed commitment to strengthening unity across the credit union movement. From Capitol Hill to conference rooms across the country, credit unions proved once again that when we engage, coordinate, and speak honestly with one another, we are a formidable force.

​As Chief Advocacy Officer of the Defense Credit Union Council, I had a front-row seat to this work. I also saw something equally important unfold: a growing recognition that unity is not about suppressing disagreement or repackaging old structures to appear inclusive. Real unity requires tough conversations, respect for different perspectives, and a willingness to engage across asset sizes, charters, and missions. That mindset defined DCUC’s advocacy approach in 2025—and it made the difference.

Defeating the Durbin-Marshall Threat
One of the most consequential advocacy fights of the year was stopping the Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Competition Act. Marketed as a pro-consumer proposal, the legislation would have weakened cybersecurity, increased fraud risk, and ultimately reduced access to affordable credit—particularly for servicemembers, veterans, and working families.

DCUC consistently warned lawmakers that this bill was not about competition; it was about shifting costs and risks onto financial institutions that actually serve consumers, while delivering a windfall to large retailers. We worked alongside other financial trade associations, sent letters to congressional leadership, and engaged directly with key offices to explain the real-world consequences of this proposal.

That advocacy mattered. The final FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act was passed with no Durbin-Marshall language included. That outcome protected military families, preserved credit union operational stability, and demonstrated what coordinated, sustained advocacy can achieve. While proponents of this legislation will undoubtedly return, 2025 proved that credit unions are prepared—and united—when it matters most.

Defending the Credit Union Tax Exemption
Equally critical was the fight to preserve the credit union federal tax exemption. As broader tax debates intensified on Capitol Hill, bank trade groups renewed their long-standing effort to undermine the not-for-profit status of credit unions. These attacks, often framed as “transparency” or “fairness,” ignored the fundamental reality that credit unions exist solely to serve their members—not shareholders.

DCUC led an aggressive, multi-layered campaign to defend the tax exemption. We sent more than two dozen letters to Congress, coordinated coalition efforts across the credit union system, engaged in targeted education campaigns, and mobilized grassroots outreach from our member credit unions. The message was clear and consistent: taxing credit unions would not punish institutions—it would punish members.

That message resonated. In one of the closest votes of the year, the House passed major legislation without altering the credit union tax exemption. It was a narrow margin, but a decisive result. Lawmakers recognized the value credit unions provide, particularly to military and veteran communities, and chose to preserve a policy that allows credit unions to reinvest directly in their members through better rates, lower fees, and expanded services.
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This fight is far from over. Tax policy debates will continue, and so will bank-led efforts to blur the line between not-for-profit cooperatives and for-profit banks. DCUC remains fully engaged and fully prepared to defend the credit union model in 2026 and beyond.

Unity That Welcomes Debate
Behind these advocacy successes was something deeper: a deliberate effort to strengthen unity within the credit union industry—not through silence or conformity, but through engagement and dialogue.

Throughout 2025, DCUC convened industry-wide unity meetings that brought together national trade associations, state leagues, large and small credit unions, and specialized advocacy groups. These were not performative conversations. They were honest discussions about priorities, concerns, and differences of opinion.

We made a conscious decision to encourage debate rather than suppress it. Small credit unions raised concerns about regulatory burden. Larger institutions discussed operational and market pressures. Defense-focused credit unions highlighted the unique needs of military families. These conversations mattered because they happened early—before legislation reached the floor, before disagreements became public fractures.

Unity does not mean unanimity. It means listening, addressing concerns, and finding common ground so that when we engage policymakers, we are aligned on core objectives. When credit unions speak with one voice on Capitol Hill, that voice carries weight. When we fracture, others are happy to exploit it.

Playing Offense for Credit Unions
While much of 2025 required defensive advocacy, DCUC also pushed forward a proactive agenda. We advocated for modernizing the outdated Member Business Lending cap, which continues to limit credit unions’ ability to serve veteran-owned and small businesses. We supported bipartisan housing reforms to strengthen the VA home loan program and keep veterans in their homes during financial hardship.

We also fought for provisions to strengthen the Central Liquidity Facility and expand support for Community Development Financial Institutions—efforts that enjoyed strong bipartisan support but were ultimately excluded from final legislation. Those priorities remain unfinished business, and DCUC is already working with congressional champions to advance them through other vehicles.

At the regulatory level, we engaged the NCUA and other agencies on deregulatory opportunities, data security, and innovation— always emphasizing that credit unions need flexibility to serve members while maintaining safety and soundness.

Looking Ahead
If 2025 taught us anything, it is that advocacy works when credit unions show up, engage honestly, and stand together. The threats we faced were real, and the victories we achieved were hard-earned. They were made possible not by a single organization, but by a movement willing to collaborate and confront challenges head-on.

As we look to 2026, the environment will remain complex. Election dynamics, regulatory uncertainty, and renewed legislative threats are inevitable. But credit unions are entering the next year stronger, more aligned, and better prepared than ever.

DCUC will continue to champion open discussion, broad inclusion, and coordinated advocacy. We will defend credit unions where necessary and advance smart, member-focused policy where possible. Most importantly, we will ensure that credit unions of all sizes—small, medium, and large—have a seat at the table and a voice in the conversation.

That is how we protect our mission. That is how we serve our members. And that is how we ensure the credit union movement remains strong for generations to come.