A Defining Year for Credit Union Advocacy
At CrossState, our mission is simple but critical: protect the credit union model, advance policies that allow you to serve members more effectively, and ensure that regulators and lawmakers understand the real-world impact of their decisions.
In 2025, our collective efforts delivered measurable, meaningful results, proving what’s possible when credit unions get engaged in advocacy.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to further the movement. We look forward to ensuring that our credit unions have another great year in 2026!
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2025: A Defining Year for Credit Union Advocacy
Defending the Credit Union Tax-Exemption
Last year, a serious threat emerged to the credit union tax-exemption status in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). This was not symbolic or theoretical. It was a direct challenge to the foundational structure that allows credit unions to reinvest earnings back into their members and communities.
Through coordinated federal advocacy, direct engagement with lawmakers, and rapid grassroots activation, CrossState successfully helped defeat that threat. Protecting the tax-exempt status safeguarded billions of dollars in member value and financial access for millions of members across NJ and PA.
A National Grassroots Leader
Our “Don’t Tax My Credit Union” campaign ensured that credit union voices were heard by lawmakers, generating more than 115,000 emails to members of Congress in NJ and PA.
This level of engagement translated directly into a legislative win and positioned CrossState as the number three grassroots advocacy association and a national leader in credit union advocacy.
Unprecedented Legislative Engagement
In 2025, CrossState conducted more than 90 meetings with members of Congress and reached the majority of NJ and PA offices. We also engaged key state officials on priority legislation impacting credit unions at home.
As a result of our meetings, we secured sponsors and co-sponsors for several critical bills, including:
- Veterans Member Business Loan Act (H.R. 507)
- Expanding Access to Lending Options Act (H.R. 4167)
- Increasing Credit Union Lending for Business Growth Act (H.R. 1791)
- TABS Act of 2025 (H.R. 654)
- Credit Union Board Modernization Act (H.R. 975/S.522)
Many of these co-sponsorships were secured with the help of our grassroots outreach, proof that advocacy works when credit union leaders and advocates engage directly with policymakers.
Stopping Harmful Legislation Before It Became Law
Advocacy is just as much about prevention as progress. This past year, CrossState successfully prevented hostile legislation and amendments from being added to several major legislative bills, including:
- Credit union taxation amendments to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1)
- Credit card interest rate and credit card interchange amendments to the GENIUS Act (S. 1582)
- Credit card interchange amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 2296)
- PA overdraft legislation (H.B. 1553)
These efforts may not always make headlines, but stopping bad policy is just as important as passing good policy.
Advancing Pro-Credit Union Legislation
While playing defense, CrossState also delivered key legislative advancements. Most notably, the Credit Union Board Modernization Act (H.R. 975/S.522) was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, and we secured a key co-sponsorship from Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ).
In New Jersey, we proactively introduced amendments to legislation (S. 3497) that would require financial literacy as a core curriculum for high school students to ensure it aligned with credit union principles and member interests. In Pennsylvania, legislative efforts are underway to provide financial institutions with additional tools to protect seniors from financial exploitation (S.B. 738).
Regulatory & Compliance Wins That Matter
On the regulatory front, CrossState delivered tangible results that directly impact your operations:
- Serviced thousands of compliance inquiries across PA and NJ
- Hosted nearly 20 compliance advocacy webinars
- Submitted multiple regulatory comment letters to the NCUA, CFPB, and U.S. Treasury on topics including:
- Penny production
- CDFIs
- NCUA succession planning
- Reputation risk
- Regulatory review
- CFPB regulatory rollbacks
These efforts helped:
- Secure concessions in the NCUA’s Succession Planning Final Rule
- Influence a 20.6% reduction in the NCUA’s proposed 2026–2027 budget
- Extend exam cycles for well-rated credit unions over $1 billion in asset size
- Contribute to the rollback or withdrawal of several CFPB rules, including the 1033 Rule, Overdraft Rule, and Buy Now Pay Later interpretive guidance
We also continued advocating for structural reforms at both the CFPB and NCUA to promote stability, bipartisan governance, and accountability.
2026: Standing Tall with a United Voice
As successful as last year was, the work isn’t done—the challenges ahead are real and will require even stronger advocates.
Join us in writing to members in Congress on the following essential issues currently impacting credit unions.
Ask to Oppose:
Ask to Co-Sponsor:
- Increasing Credit Union Lending for Business Growth Act
- Expanding Access to Lending Options Act
- Veterans Members Business Loan Act
Want to get involved in grassroots advocacy and stay up to date on the latest updates? Join the CrossState Credit Union Advocacy Network (CUAN)!