Weekly Watch: August 22, 2025

Your weekly advocacy update: Stay informed, take action, and champion the voice of America’s defense credit unions!

​This week, DCUC reinforced its leadership in advocating for a clean, defense-focused NDAA by opposing efforts to attach the Credit Card Competition Act and a proposed commissary study—this time joining forces with the nation’s top bank and credit union associations.

In addition, we are driving discussions on how best to support military families and veterans who may be affected by a potential government shutdown, while continuing to champion key legislation such as the TRAPS Act. DCUC is also working to expand regional opportunities that empower credit union leaders and deliver even greater value to our members.

​Stay up to speed as we push forward! Follow along with our weekly announcements here.

Top Priorities This Past Week
DCUC and a coalition of the Nation's leading bank and credit union associations engaged Congress by strongly opposing Durbin-Marshall interchange amendments and unnecessary studies proposed to the FY2026 NDAA. Official release here.

The story and joint trades letter were covered in Politico's 'Morning Money' and Defense policy report earlier this week. Read here.

DCUC will continue to collaborate with financial trade partners on key issues that impact credit unions' ability to best serve their members and communities.

The NDAA is about national defense — not a vehicle for retail lobby wish-lists. Our servicemembers should not be used as bargaining chips in a fight over interchange fees.

...we have seen this scenario before. After debit interchange fees were capped by the Durbin Amendment in 2010, consumers saw little to no savings at the checkout. The Federal Reserve found that the vast majority of merchants did not pass along interchange savings to customers – about 75% of retailers made no price changes, and roughly one in four increased prices instead. At the same time, many banks were forced to cut back on free checking and debit rewards programs to make up for lost revenue. One study found that debit card reward programs essentially vanished for a large portion of consumers after the Durbin controls. Free checking accounts also became far less available, with banks subject to the cap 35% less likely to offer free checking and instead raising monthly fees and balance requirements. We fear the proposed credit card routing mandate would repeat these failures, enriching a few large retail chains while ordinary Americans receive none of the promised price relief. In short, consumers would lose valued benefits and face higher risks, all without seeing lower prices at the register.

Read more about this effort on CUToday.

Advocacy Discussions
Why Congress should pass the TRAPS Act, featured by Tyfone
 
Every day, scammers target American consumers and siphon away millions of dollars – and military families are among the most vulnerable.
 
From fake investment schemes to imposter “relief” offers, fraudsters prey on servicemembers and veterans, many of whom juggle deployments, frequent relocations, and separation from support networks. It’s no surprise that consumer losses to fraud surged by 25% last year, reaching an estimated $12.5 billion in 2023. Iowans alone lost over $52 million to scams in the past year, according to Rep. Zach Nunn, and many of those scams targeted seniors and military families. This alarming rise in financial fraud demands a coordinated, decisive response.
 
As the Chief Advocacy Officer of the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) – the organization representing credit unions that serve our armed forces – I am calling on Congress to take action.
 
Read the full article here.

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Credit Unions Urged To Step Up As Guard Troops In D.C. Face Possible Pay Delays, featured by CUToday
 
With National Guard troops mobilized to patrol the streets of the nation’s capital, credit unions—particularly those serving military communities—are being reminded of their vital role in supporting service members and their families during uncertain times.
 
“If there are concerns about Guardsmen getting paid on time, credit unions—whether defense-focused or not—have an opportunity and responsibility to step in,” Hernandez told CUToday.info
 
Hernandez noted that the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) automatically provides protections for Guard troops on active-duty orders, including capping loan interest rates at 6%. But he emphasized that credit unions must proactively identify affected members and adjust loan terms.
 
“Awareness is the first step,” he said. “Credit unions need to know who among their members has been called up, so they can act quickly to honor SCRA protections and ease immediate financial pressures.”
 
Beyond statutory obligations, Hernandez pointed to a range of voluntary programs that credit unions can offer to Guard troops and their families...
 
Read the full article here.

DCUC and Strategic Partner, Allied Solutions, Join Together Credit Union CEOs to Advance Northeast Regional Impact

The Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) and DCUC Strategic Partner, Allied Solutions, recently joined over a dozen credit union CEOs from NY, NJ & PA for a regional luncheon—sparking plans for a DCUC “Interstate” Sub-Council.
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"DCUC continues to press forward in ensuring stronger representation for our members nationally, overseas, and, as this luncheon signifies, regionally," said Anthony Hernandez, DCUC President/CEO. "Together with our strategic partners, we’re building greater access, value, and support across the entire credit union movement."

READ MORE

DCUC's Communications Update: Driving Advocacy & Member Support
As part of DCUC’s 3- and 5-year strategic plans, we've set a clear, forward-looking direction for strengthening our communications.

This strategy has been in full motion since the Board meeting at our 2023 Annual Conference, and is especially critical as the credit union industry continues to evolve.

At its core, DCUC's communications plan is pressing forward on two main pillars: member engagement and public-facing representation.

For our members, we have prioritized being both accessible and responsive...delivering timely updates, insights, and opportunities to engage without overwhelming credit union leaders and staff with unnecessary noise. Email inboxes are already jam-packed, so our approach is centered on what's pressing, what's relevant, and keeping that consistent, shares DCUC Communication's Specialist, Haleigh Laverty.

And that intentionality for increasing our communications and member value also crosses over to our monthly MAC meetings, industry-wide strategy calls, annual and regional gatherings, and even webinars. We want to give credit unions access to opportunities where they can share their concerns or ideas in real-time, and know that DCUC values each and every member's voice.

Laverty adds, Externally, our strategy is actively evolving to elevate the role and impact of credit unions in America’s financial system. By working closely with Congressional press staff, building credible relations with national policy reporters, and ensuring credit union voices are heard in the legislative process, we are actively shaping how the public and policymakers understand the credit union difference.

​DCUC looks forward to sharing more about our member credit unions' impact, both with the press and in our ALERT monthly magazine, bringing new opportunities for our members to share their voice, and shaping the overall public's recognition and support of the credit union mission.

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