ST. LOUIS — Advocacy, artificial intelligence, fraud prevention and regulatory changes topped the agenda at the Defense Credit Union Council’s 2026 Midwest Sub-Council Conference.
Co-hosted by Scott Credit Union at The Westin St. Louis, the conference examined how credit unions can prepare for changing technology, policy and consumer expectations while maintaining member service and trust, according to DCUC.
“The future of the credit union movement is being shaped by the choices we make now. We have to be effective advocates, understand where technology is taking us and protect the trust our members place in us,” President and CEO Anthony Hernandez said in a statement.
Advocacy And Regulatory Changes
Federal advocacy discussions and state legislative updates examined how policy decisions can affect the cost of serving members, access to financial services and credit unions’ ability to compete, DCUC said.
The sessions emphasized the importance of credit union leaders remaining engaged with policymakers and bringing members’ needs into legislative discussions.
The Defense Council further said regulatory sessions covered developments at the National Credit Union Administration, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Treasury Department and other federal agencies, with a focus on issues credit unions should monitor as they prepare for 2027.
According to DCUC, those discussions connected regulatory developments to decisions about investments, risk management and resource allocation.
AI, Fraud and Future Growth
The conference addressed AI as a leadership and planning issue, including how credit unions should govern emerging tools and use them to support member service. A separate fraud discussion examined threats institutions are encountering, DCUC said.
Other sessions explored how changing demographics, uneven consumer demand, the growth of digital payments and continued consolidation are influencing credit unions’ growth prospects and members’ financial choices.
“Whether you are weighing a technology investment, responding to a fraud threat or planning for growth, you need to know what is coming and what your peers are learning,” Scott CU President and CEO Frank Padak said in a statement. “This conference gave us room to work through those questions together.”
Supporting Veterans and Community Connections
The program also highlighted Scott Credit Union’s partnership with the St. Louis Blues as an example of building community relationships beyond branches. A discussion of the Veterans Community Project focused on veterans’ needs in St. Louis, according to DCUC.
At the conference’s conclusion, Scott Credit Union presented a $2,500 donation to the Veterans Community Project. Hernandez announced DCUC would match the contribution, bringing the combined commitment to $5,000.
“The credit union commitment to our military and their families doesn’t end when they take off the uniform,” Hernandez said in a statement. “There are too many veterans struggling to make ends meet, and we are honored to support a program doing the hard work of meeting these needs.”
