LANHAM, Md. — The National Small Credit Union Association (NSCUA) has launched its official website, while also announcing the opening of membership and Strategic Partner applications.
The recently formed organization said the new announcement are major steps forward in building a national association dedicated specifically to the future of America’s small credit unions.
As the CU Daily reported here, organizers said the National Small Credit Union Association has been formed with a “clear and focused purpose: to support, strengthen, and elevate small credit unions across the United States.” The organization will represent CUs under $500 million in assets and said it has been built to “deliver practical solutions, strategic guidance, and a collaborative network tailored specifically to the needs of smaller institutions.”
Applications Now Open for Membership
Alongside the launch of the website, NSCUA said it has also officially opened the application process for credit unions interested in becoming members, as well as organizations and vendors seeking to become Strategic Partners of the association.
“The application includes a series of questions designed to help NSCUA identify the current priorities and operational challenges facing small credit unions across the country, allowing the association to prioritize its focus and direct resources where they are needed most,” according to the NSCUA.
Rather than operating on assumptions, NSCUA is building its priorities directly around the needs and experiences of the institutions it was created to serve, organizers added.
‘Based on What Credit Unions are Asking For’
We are not interested in building an association based on assumptions,” Joshua C. Urbick, president and CEO of NSCUA and president and CEO of IBEW FCU in Lanham, Md., said in a statement. “We want to build an organization based on what small credit unions are actually asking for and what they genuinely need to survive and thrive in today’s environment. This association is being built by small credit unions, for small credit unions.”
Urbick emphasized that the current focus is participation, collaboration, and relationship building — not dues collection.
“Right now, we want credit unions involved,” Urbick added. “Help us shape this organization from the ground up. Share your challenges, your successes, your ideas, and your priorities. We can address long-term structure and dues down the road. At this stage, the priority is building something that will be genuinely useful for small credit unions across the country.”
Sponsorships Being Accepted
In addition to credit union memberships, NSCUA said it is now accepting sponsorships and support from carefully selected Strategic Partners whose “services, expertise, and long-term vision align with the mission of strengthening these countries small credit unions.”
“At NSCUA, vendors are intentionally referred to as Strategic Partners, because the association believes the future success of small credit unions will require strategic collaboration between credit unions and the organizations that support them,” the organization said. “NSCUA’s goal is to build relationships with partners that want to help small credit unions modernize, grow responsibly, remain competitive, and continue serving their communities.”
It added that prospective Strategic Partners will undergo a vetting process to ensure alignment with NSCUA’s goals, values, and commitment to supporting small credit unions in a constructive way.
‘More than Transactional’
“We are looking for partners who, like us, believe in the future of small credit unions and want to help them succeed,” Urbick said. “This has to be more than transactional. We want aligned partners who understand the importance of preserving strong, independent, community-rooted cooperative financial institutions across America.”
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