CRI Home Page > About CRI

CRI was conceived early in 2004 by the Michigan Credit Union League as a way to combat growing criticism by the banking industry, community groups and some members of Congress that credit unions had strayed from their original social mission. CRI was also seen as an opportunity for expanding credit unions’ good works on behalf of members and their communities.

Since its inception, CRI has focused on two primary objectives:

• The first objective is to develop ways to document and track existing practices of Michigan credit unions related to fulfillment of their social mission; and to report that information to key audiences.
• The second objective, in partnership with the state of Michigan, is to develop additional programs to strengthen Michigan communities by expanding services to underserved communities and people of modest means.

Raising our social mission to a strategic level
Community involvement is nothing new to credit unions. Since the credit union movement began in Michigan some 80 years ago, credit unions have engaged in any number of activities that enhance their communities, whether holding financial education seminars, selling raffle tickets to support local charities, holding flu immunization clinics or countless other outreach activities. Michigan credit unions are socially and economically embedded in their neighborhoods, and together, they’re helping create stable and thriving communities.

The Credit Union Social Mission is the impetus behind community involvement. It’s what compels credit unions to reach beyond the confines of their membership to positively impact society at large, including people of modest means.

Broadly speaking, has CRI challenged credit unions to elevate that social mission to a strategic level, to make community involvement standard operating procedure. Such a strategy communicates clearly a credit union’s commitment to their neighborhoods and communities, builds consumer awareness and community good will, and finally helps protect the status of credit unions as not for profit financial cooperatives.

CRI is good for credit unions, it’s good for consumers and it’s good for Michigan.

CRI Changes in 2008

In 2008 the MCUL elevated the importance and value of CRI to the League and the credit union community. The CRI Task Force has become the CRI/Future Visions Committee of the League. The new CRI/Future Visions Committee has been charged with: planning and implementing cooperative efforts within the credit union community and in coalition with other groups that will expand credit unions’ community outreach efforts and document their good works for purposes of communications with lawmakers and the general public. There are five new working groups within the CRI/Future Visions Committee. The working groups and their assigned responsibilities are as follows:

Economic Solutions Council

· This Council will focus on researching, developing and implementing new lending programs what will help credit unions individually and collectively respond to major economic challenges.

· The Council will also gather examples of best practices by individual credit union s for lending programs that demonstrate credit unions commitment to offering non-traditional lending programs.

Financial Education Council

· Formerly the Family Involvement Council (FIC), this Council will foster full family membership by acting as a resource to credit unions that want to grow their full family marketing programs.

· The Council will work to expand credit union commitment to financial literacy/education by assisting credit unions with classroom presentations, student branching, credit union youth clubs/programs and adult financial education resources.

· The Council will also assist the MCUL with showcasing best practices in financial education by credit unions.

Modest Means Council

· This Council will focus on the implementation of and expansion of cooperative credit union programs that focus on lower income demographics and alleviating poverty.

· Examples would include the MCUL “Just file it! We’ll help.” program. The Council will also coordinate efforts and showcase best practices with low-income designated credit unions and community development credit unions.

CU Access and Growth Working Group

· This working group will focus on the expansion of credit union shared branching and other programs that will help credit unions grow and expand their membership.

· Programs such as CUcorp’s Sprint and AAA programs are examples.

· The group will also coordinate with the Cooperative Advertising Forum to find ways for credit unions to grow and serve more people.

Public Communications Working Group

· This working group will coordinate all efforts of the CRI/Future Vision Committee into publications documents for purposes of communicating credit unions’ good works to the local media and with state/federal lawmakers.

· Examples include the CRI Aggregate Report, Congressional Reports and Year-End Report.

· The MCUL President/CEO and key staff will participated with local credit union spokespersons to communicate CRI results throughout the year.

· Lawmaker communications will be coordinated with the MCUL Government Affairs Department.

The CRI/Future Vision Committee Charge