ATLANTA — CUCommunities.org, a new subscription-based online learning and mentoring platform for credit union professionals and volunteers, will officially launch in July with the “bold goal of becoming the most affordable, practitioner-led support ecosystem in the credit union industry.”

“My initial background is in governance, enterprise risk management, internal audit, and strategic planning,” said Ancin Cooley, founder of CUCommunities.org and principal of Synergy Credit Union Consulting. “We’re building CUCommunities because we see a vacuum. Credit union professionals — especially those at smaller institutions — are often under-supported.

‘Keep Hearing the Same Thing’

“I keep hearing the same thing: ‘Where can I privately and on my own time get step-by-step guidance? Where can I get mentorship? Where can I ask questions without being judged for what I don’t know? Where can I find guidance to actually execute our strategy?’” he added.

According to Cooley, CU Communities will fill that gap with practical, consistent, and role-specific learning — “all offered at a price that an individual can afford and an institution can supplement.”

Cooley said CU Communities will include more than just content, and will be a community of practice, with subscribers gaining access to tools, policies, job aids, micro-videos, and guided learning experiences “designed to empower, not overwhelm.”

Getting ‘Geeky’

Cooley said that without the overhead of other organizations, CUCommunities.org will be able to dive deep into very niche and highly specific practice areas — areas that other organizations either can’t or won’t support. 

“If you want to get ‘geeky’ about BSA risk assessments, economic value of equity, or look to book ratios this will be the place to stay locked in,” Cooley said.

The Organization

According to Cooley, CU Communities will be organized by:

• Districts: Topical areas such as credit, ALM, compliance, lending, and collections, with more to come)
• Neighborhoods: Curated, private forums and learning tracks based on role and region (e.g., “Louisiana CEOs,” “Western Lending Leaders,” “Small CU Directors”)

Subscription and Access

Cooley said the first phase of the rollout gives individual subscribers access to all districts for just $8/month. For $15 per month individual subscribers will be able to unlock specialized neighborhood access and peer mentoring features, he said.

“This $8 price point is personal. It’s intentionally low because it reflects a core belief: that graduate-level insight and leadership development shouldn’t be gatekept,” Cooley stated. 

According to Cooley, the subscription model allows anyone — even those further down the org chart — to access the kind of content, coaching, and perspective usually reserved for senior staff or conference attendees.

“It’s for the teller who wants to understand ALM.  Or the collector who dreams of being a CLO,” Cooley said. “If they’re willing to invest in themselves — even quietly — they can grow. No permission slip required. No budget approval needed. Just initiative, access, and a community that sees their potential.”

Credit unions can enroll teams of up to 10 employees for $80/month, with additional seats available upon request, according to Cooley.

Strategic Goal: More Value, Less Cost

Cooley said CU Communities has set an ambitious three-year goal: to create and distribute more courses, policies, tools, and mentorship hours than all of the leagues combined — at a fraction of the cost.

“We believe education should be practical, affordable, and usable — whether you’re a volunteer, an ALM manager, or a VP preparing for the CEO seat,” said Cooley. “We want people to experience something rare these days: that they’re finally getting more for less.”

The Value Proposition

Cooley said CU Communities is curated and run by practitioners, not theorists or special interests. Current and retired CEOs, CLOs, and CFOs will contribute their time and wisdom to support the community, he said, noting that CU Communities will also elevate often-overlooked contributors.

“We’re shining a light on the collections manager with the best recovery rates in the region,” said Cooley. “The marketing officer who is growing membership organically. The branch supervisor who quietly rebuilt morale and processes. The loan officer who’s mastered organic auto lending.”

“And we’re not just asking them to share. We’re partnering with them.”

Retaining Ownership

Cooley said all workshop instructors and content contributors retain ownership of their materials and receive revenue in perpetuity. 

“No other platform in the financial services space offers this. Most webinars pay a flat $500 and retain full rights forever. Not here,” said Cooley.  “We’re creating a cooperative economy within a cooperative industry.”

‘Guardrails to Protect the Mission’

To ensure CU Communities stays independent, Cooley said strict structural safeguard has been put in place: no single revenue source — sponsor, vendor, or institution — will exceed 25% of total funding.

“This isn’t just a business model,” said Cooley. “It’s a statement of trust. We’re not just here to educate. We’re here to restore what it means to learn and grow within a cooperative system.”

For more information or to join the newsletter, visit www.cucommunities.org, or email [email protected]