Contact: Christopher Morris
608-231-4374 | cmorris@ncuf.coop
Madison, Wis. – The Filene Research Institute recently released a new research brief detailing the solutions to six fictional industry case studies presented from participants of the Credit Union Development Education (DE) Training held on April 6-13, 2011 in Madison, Wis.
The Filene research brief, “Credit Union Development Education Program,” is authored by Mark Meyer, Chief Executive Officer, and George Hofheimer, Chief Research Officer, of the Filene Research Institute. Both Meyer and Hofheimer attended the April DE Training and completed the research brief as their post-training project.
During the week-long DE Training program, participants learn critical lessons in cooperative principles and credit union philosophy while incorporating challenges credit unions face today. In addition to group exercises and speaker presentations, training participants are required to complete and present team case studies proposing solutions for credit unions to help alleviate or eliminate challenging situations in any given area. Filene’s new research brief details the solutions to these case studies put forward by participants. Included in the April DE Training were case studies on:
- Interchange income
- Mergers and small credit unions
- Plans for credit union growth
- Plans for increasing financial capability in America
- Leveraging 2012 as the ‘Year of the Cooperative’ to promote cooperatives (and credit unions)
- Credit union development in Iraq
To download the report, click here. The report can also be found on filene.org or ncuf.coop. It is free to download for both Filene members and non-members.
“First, we feel DE is a unique and important program for the future of credit unions, as it teaches the fundamental differentiators between credit unions and other consumer financial providers,” writes Meyer and Hofheimer in the research brief. “If more professionals apply these concepts in their organizations, credit unions could be poised for a renaissance. Second, the DE class of 2011 presents novel ideas about some very realistic issues in the credit union system. While the case studies are fictional, they do represent scenarios your organization may be facing today.”
About the DE Program:
The mission of the Credit Union Development Education (DE) program is to promote credit unions’ social responsibility and domestic and international development through interactive adult education and professional networking. By linking credit unions’ past and present, the DE program brings renewed relevance to credit unions’ seven cooperative principles and the philosophy of “People Helping People.”
Over the past 29 years, more than 1,000 credit union advocates from over 30 countries have graduated from DE Training to become Credit Union Development Educators (CUDEs). Once they earn their CUDE designation, people return to their jobs with a sense of personal enrichment and renewed energy to share what they have learned. This growing corps of credit union advocates devotes professional and volunteer time to spreading the credit union message to audiences throughout the country.
The National Credit Union Foundation is the primary sponsor of the DE program. Support is provided by CUNA Mutual Group, the Credit Union National Association, the World Council of Credit Unions, state foundations and leagues.
For more information on the DE program, visit www.ncuf.coop under Foundation Programs. The next DE Training will be held at the Lowell Center in Madison, Wis. on April 18-25, 2012. Anyone who is interested in attending the upcoming class can email cude@ncuf.coop to be put on a list to be notified when registration is open.
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About the Filene Research Institute (filene.org):
The non-profit Filene Research Institute is a consumer finance think tank serving the North American credit union system of 100 million members and $950 billion in assets. Filene publishes objective research and fosters consumer-focused financial innovation. The Institute collaborates with leading researchers and academic institutions worldwide.
About the National Credit Union Foundation (ncuf.coop):
The National Credit Union Foundation is the US credit union movement’s primary national philanthropic program provider, fundraiser and grant-maker. Through NCUF grants and programs, credit unions provide widespread financial education, create greater access to affordable financial services, and empower more consumers to save, build assets, and own homes.
The National Credit Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization and continues to earn the Better Business Bureau seal of approval as an “Accredited Charity” for meeting all 20 BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for national charities.