DCUC Hosts Successful Defense Matters 2025

​WASHINGTON, DC – The Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) successfully hosted its annual Defense Matters event ahead of the Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) on Tuesday, March 4, at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC. This unique event brings together industry leaders, defense credit union CEOs and staff, and fellow advocates to discuss key initiatives supporting defense credit unions and military communities.

Anthony Hernandez, DCUC President and CEO, opened the event by highlighting The Watch, a groundbreaking documentary series produced by Educational Media Enterprises (EME) and Jeff Bolton of NPN Productions. The series sheds light on the global nuclear deterrence mission, one of the most secret yet vital military operations in U.S. history. “This initiative not only underscores the importance of leadership but also provides credit unions with a powerful opportunity to deepen their commitment to military service members,” Hernandez says.

DCUC then announced its recent strategic partnership with Allied Solutions. “Allied Solutions’ commitment aligns perfectly with DCUC’s mission, and this partnership will drive greater success for defense credit unions,” Hernandez says.

DCUC also welcomed several new members, including Telhio CU, United Savings Federal Credit Union, University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union, and Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union. The exciting announcements followed with DCUC recognizing the recipients of its George E. Myers (GEM) Scholarship Fund for 2025, which supports the professional development in the credit union industry. This year’s honorees included Kimberly Minnick (RG FCU), John Autry (Air Academy CU), George De Leon (Border FCU), and Al Rose (University CU).

The event transitioned into an advocacy discussion, beginning with Larry Seyfried from the Electronic Payments Coalition. Taking the stage, Seyfried provided valuable insights into ongoing and anticipated challenges at both the state and federal levels, particularly regarding proposed interchange legislation and CCCA-like amendments.

Seyfred explained they are “fighting battles nationwide. EPC is committed to pushing back on all these efforts. We’ve spent time and resources…making sure that we have boots on the ground and people speaking on our behalf and your behalf there in the states.”

Afterward, Hernandez welcomed the Honorable Todd Harper, National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board member and immediate past Chair, to the stage to discuss the impact credit unions have in the defense community, the importance of preserving an independent NCUA, and several other priorities.

Harper first shared a story of a young woman who struggled with a low credit score, but while serving in the armed forces, her credit union from her home state assisted her in rebuilding her credit and supporting her on financing the mortgage on her house.

“That’s the difference credit unions make in the defense sector,” said Harper. “You make a difference in the lives from day to day and it's our job at the NCUA to make sure, of course, that you operate safely and soundly and that you are working to protect your members, and I know that you do that.”

​Harper and Hernandez later dove into several of DCUC’s priorities. Hernandez referenced DCUC’s recent letter to the NCUA prompting the need for better support of homeless veterans in their financial struggles. Afterward, Harper stressed the importance of maintaining the independence of the NCUA and preserving the credit union tax status.

​“For me what's important about the NCAA is we've got a really, tough, complex job. Our largest credit union is $187 billion in size, our smallest credit union is under $100,000 in size, and we have to scale, regulate, and examine. If you were to put the NCA into an entity that examines banks of trillions of dollars in size, yeah, I'm very much worried about it one-size-fits-all approach,” said Harper. “Not understanding the nuances of how credit unions operate, it's also why we’re concerned about the taxation issue, which is in some ways are intertwined…the primary way in which credit unions build their capital is through retained earnings and if you are taxed, you're retained earnings are going to grow more slowly, they're going to have less capital to make loans, and there are going to be certain safety and soundness issues that could evolve out of that. So, watching the independence and the taxation issues as you've been doing are very important.”

DCUC’s Chief Advocacy Officer, Jason Stverak, led the next presentation to Defense Matters attendees covering DCUC’s recent advocacy successes and top initiatives. Stverak urged the audience of the importance in advocating for support on the Hill of the Veterans Member Business Loan Act (VMBLA), also sharing DCUC’s recent video on this important initiative.

“DCUC has shared how, with over 18 million veterans in our country, there is an incredible need, and opportunity, to better serve this important population. For nearly six years, DCUC has pressed for legislation that would significantly empower credit unions in better supporting veteran entrepreneurs’ financial success,” said Stverak. “These key pieces of legislation are a testament to DCUC’s perseverance in advocating for better support of our member credit unions and the communities they serve.”

Hernandez concluded the session by announcing key upcoming events, including DCUC’s Overseas Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark (May 5–9) and Annual Conference in Palm Desert, California (July 28–31), where DCUC’s Hall of Honor 2025 inductees will be recognized.

Hernandez said after today’s session, “It was really great to see our members here in Washington, D.C. Our Defense Matters continues to serve as an important part of this week’s meetings. We always look forward to this session every year where we can join together in advocating for all credit union industry issues.”

DCUC’s 2025 Defense Matters was made possible thanks to its generous sponsors: AFFN,
DDJ Myers, ECG, RefiJet, ALM First, LendKey, Gallagher, Parc Street Partners, Risk Strategies (IZALE), TruStage, The Sheeter Group, Defense Storm, and AURA.

For more information about DCUC initiatives, visit www.dcuc.org/resourcecenter.