DCUC Engages Armed Services Committees to Prioritize Financial Readiness in FY2027 NDAA

WASHINGTON, DC – This morning, the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC), the national association representing more than 200 defense-affiliated credit unions serving over 40 million members worldwide, directly engaged both the House and Senate Armed Services Committee leadership outlining bipartisan priorities for inclusion in the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). ​

In its letter, DCUC voiced how credit unions continue to lead as the cooperative financial stewards in supporting servicemembers, veterans, and their families.  
 
“Credit unions commit to providing an impactful presence on and near installations, often serving as the only regulated financial institutions with a daily presence. As Congress begins drafting the FY2027 NDAA, it is essential that policies reflect the real-world financial needs of those who serve,” says Anthony Hernandez, DCUC President/CEO, Ret. USAF Colonel. “Defense credit unions are not just financial institutions—they are mission-critical partners that strengthen force readiness, resilience, and long-term financial stability for military communities.” 
 
DCUC’s message to Committee leaders reinforces that military financial services should be treated “as a defense-readiness issue, not as a peripheral banking matter,” because “financial readiness is mission readiness.”  
 
DCUC reminded that the Department of War’s own policies recognize that financial readiness is part of mission readiness and also assign senior DoW responsibility for on-installation financial institutions as those services directly affect morale, welfare, counseling, consumer protection, and resiliency across the force. 
 
DCUC also pointed to examples of how, during government shutdowns, credit unions delivered critical relief—including 0% emergency loans, paycheck advances, fee waivers, and mortgage assistance, helping thousands of military families avoid financial hardship: 
 
“America’s Credit Union offered a zero-percent shutdown loan program tied to prior payroll deposits; Andrews Federal Credit Union offered assistance loans up to $5,000, penalty-free certificate withdrawals, mortgage assistance, and counseling; ABNB Federal Credit Union advertised short-term 0% loans and fee waivers…” 
 
Within the letter, DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer Jason Stverak called for targeted provisions: 
 
“Accordingly, DCUC respectfully asks the Committees to take four concrete steps as FY2027 NDAA drafting proceeds: first, include the advisory-committee concept and a recurring DoW reporting requirement on installation level financial-services access; second, incorporate the CLF, board-modernization, loan-maturity, and VMBL provisions in chairman’s mark or other base text; third, use report language to direct DoW to integrate qualified on-base financial institutions more effectively into financial-readiness delivery; and fourth, keep the NDAA clean of  
unrelated provisions, including any attempt to extend NCUSIF coverage to non-members.” 
 
“We’re also asking Congress to preserve the integrity of the credit union system and ensure financial readiness remains a core component of national defense policy,” says Hernandez. 
 
Learn more about DCUC’s advocacy on this topic here. ​