WASHINGTON–-A congressional hearing on minor league baseball may seem an unusual field for credit unions to make a pitch for their roles in communities, but that’s exactly what the Defense CU Council is taking a swing at this week.
The House Committee on Small Business’ Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development Subcommittee will host a hearing today titled, “Beyond the Ballpark: The Role of Minor League Baseball in Economic Growth.”
Ahead of the hearing the DCUC sent a comment letter offering the credit union viewpoint.

“Why would we want to be commenting on that?” asked DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer Jason Stverak, before answering, “Because it’s part of a larger argument that DCUC has been speaking out on, and that is the constant criticism from the banking lobby (over) credit unions as they sponsor sport teams, partner with supporting organizations to name a stadium or host an event.”
Bank Industry Criticism
Such criticism has come particularly the Independent Community Bankers of America, which argue, as Stverak put it, that credit unions have gotten “out of their lane” with such sponsorships and that as a result the federal tax exemption should be revoked.
What the criticism overlooks, according to Stverak, is that credit unoins have been “willing partners” in reinvesting in their communities, including with minor league baseball teams across the country.
CUs have also invested in Little League teams, softball teams, and other community athletic programs, Stverak said.
‘Under the Rug’
“The big banks try to push under the rug” that they are making even bigger investments in sports teams, said Stverak, citing the $400 million Citbank has spent on the naming rights to Citi Field in New York City, home to Major League Baseball’s Mets.

“We need as an industry to continue to speak out to ensure credit unions do not lose not only their marketing rights, but their ability to speak with their current members and their new members in the environment that they participate in all throughout the community,” said Stverak.
Questions Not Expected, But…
In response to a question from the CU Daily during a media call, Stverak said he does not expect credit union sponsorships to be raised during the congressional hearing.
“We see it as an opportunity to inject ourselves into the discussion, that as we talk about the importance of minor league baseball to communities and local economies that this is able to happen in many communities because of the investment from the local credit union,” Stverak said.
Involved in NDAA Discussions
In addition, DCUC said it continues to be active as deliberations continue over the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“DCUC is advancing a strategy that goes beyond reactive defense—we’re actively shaping the narrative, amplifying the credit union story, and ensuring our voice is represented on Capitol Hill and in national media,” DCUC said in a statement.