WASHINGTON–The Defense Credit Union Council said it is partnering with Best Innovation Group (BIG) to introduce CU Unplugged, an all-new, industry-first event it said is “designed to reinvent how credit union leaders connect, collaborate, and create solutions.:
The event is scheduled for March 30-April 2, 2026 and will be hosted by Signature Sponsor Visa at Visa’s Market Support Center at Mission Rock in San Francisco.
“CU Unplugged promises a completely fresh format unlike anything the credit union industry has experienced,” the organizations said. “This is not a conference. This is not a workshop.”
‘Curated’ Group of Leaders
According to DCUC, CU Unplugged “brings together a curated group of credit union leaders, technologists, and innovators who share one goal: to accelerate the future of financial services. In a dramatic break from traditional conferences, CU Unplugged offers no pre-set agenda, no keynote speakers, and no passive sessions. Instead, attendees will drive the conversations in real time, choosing the topics, shaping the discussions, and setting the direction of the event.”
“CU Unplugged is about elevating the voices of the people doing the work every day,” DCUC President and CEO Anthony Hernandez said in a statement. “Our industry faces complex challenges, and we need a space where leaders can step away from the scripted format and have real, hard-hitting conversations. This event gives credit union professionals the freedom to collaborate, innovate, and design solutions together. It’s truly unlike anything else out there.”
Organizers said discussions could span everything from AI governance and cybersecurity to payments, digital member experience, emerging threats, operational challenges, and the issues keeping leaders up at night.
Where Innovation Happens
Added John Best, president/CEO of Best Innovation Group, in a statement, “Innovation happens in conversations between people who are passionate, curious, and unafraid to rethink what’s possible. CU Unplugged gives the industry a new kind of forum, where ideas can collide, evolve, and turn into real-world action. We’re excited to help create an environment where the future of credit unions can be openly built.”
For info: www.cu-unplugged.com.
