BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Like credit union leaders elsewhere, worried CEOs of Minnesota CUs were trying last week to make some sense out of the fast-moving events surrounding two of their own, Wings Financial and Think FCU, amidst heightened alarm about internal damage to the industry nationwide.

For the moment, attention among managers of the Minnesota Credit Union Network was focused on harm to CU well-being in this state which has now witnessed the newly-cleared conversion of Rochester-based Think FCU to a mutual bank and the furor over Wings Financial's bid to forcibly take over Continental FCU of El Segundo, Calif.

“Here we have the state's two largest credit unions with all they represent in leadership, technical innovation and talent out of the network which to us is a major loss,” observed Mark Cummins, who took over as president/CEO of MnCUN four months ago and found himself thrust into both the Think and Wings fireworks.

Cummins previously served as vice chairman of the Credit Union Association of Colorado where he was CEO of the $46 million White Crown FCU. He called both the $1.6 billion Wings, based in Apple Valley, and the $1.2 billion Think, a former IBM-linked CU, “well managed” and sought-out institutions for leadership roles.

However, in the official view of MnCUN's management, Wings has definitely lost its way by engaging in unsavory, harmful and “very divisive” steps to merge Continental after the California CU's board has repeatedly said no to Wings' very public overtures.

In a reported dispute with CUNA over CURIA, Wings formally dropped its affiliation a year ago while Think has long been a nonmember of CUNA and the MnCUN.

Still, Cummins, following a speech here to the MnCUN's annual meeting last week, said the olive branch is still out for Wings to rejoin MnCUN and CUNA if it so chooses, and though an unlikely event in the current climate, Wings about a month ago signed up for the MnCUN's item processing services through its subsidiary, Minnesota Item Processing Corp.

“I would echo Mark and say we'd love to have them back,” declared MnCUN Vice Chairman Harry Carter. “Those credit unions have both been led by very sharp people and we're disappointed to lose this kind of horsepower to improve the charter.”

In a comment voiced widely here, Carter, who also is president/CEO of Topline FCU of Maple Grove said he was really uncertain “what motivated Wings” into its aggressive action on Continental.

Nonetheless, beside Wings and Think, he said there are other strong and large CUs in the state which have picked up the leadership mantle and “are part of the team.”

In his opening day conference speech to delegates assembled at the Sheraton Bloomington, the chairman of the trade group, Richard Nesvold, touched briefly on Wings/Continental and Think without mentioning them by name.

He said such disquieting events have presented diverse challenges or “clouds on the horizon” that raise alarms about how to enhance the CU charter to prevent more conversions.

Nesvold, who also is president/CEO of SouthPoint FCU, Sleepy Eye, argued the industry must be concerned about UBIT and bank attacks on the tax-exemption. And while the trade group is “willing to carry this torch for you” is it also willing to support the required legislative effort “with human and financial capital,” he asked.

Providing an example of more work, Nesvold noted membership in the MnCUN's “Capital Club” which raises individual donations for lobbying, had only 33 CEOs contributing, a low figure given the state is home to 160 credit unions.

“If we are compassionate about credit unions, show me the money,” quipped Nesvold.

And he added, “Did you know that the average cost of network dues is less than one basis point of the total operating costs of credit unions statewide.”

In his debut speech to the conference audience, Cummins also appealed for greater lobbying help by CEOs and in one key area, CURIA, where the state's record is rather poor, he said, considering there are no Minnesota lawmakers as co-sponsors.

In seeking to change that performance, Cummins urged more involvement in the political process by CUs calling on executives to contact lawmakers on the proposed plastic card bill, a model measure on breaches now awaiting action on both the House and Senate floors.

The network, said Cummins, has taken a lead role on this bill and in the process has won praise from consumer and law enforcement groups for pushing for penalties in requiring merchants follow data security standards prohibiting the storage of mag stripe data on credit and debit cards. In addition, the bill protects against the misuse of consumer card information and moderates the impact and cost to financial institutions on card re-issuance.

Cummins said that several national media outlets including the Wall Street Journal have interviewed him and other top CU executives for articles on what CUs are doing to help consumers in card breaches.

On a personal note, Cummins, a former Colorado banker before joining CUs, told conference attendees he was grateful to the warm acceptance of Minnesota's credit union community greeting him “as a new guy on the block.” Since taking the job, he has traveled 5,000 miles across the state meeting with 35 CEOs.

Based on his past experience, he also told Credit Union Times he has found the attitude of Minnesota CEOs as “free thinkers” both refreshing and challenging. “We have people willing to speak up freely and willing to divert from the party line,” he said.

“Sometimes that's good for fresh perspective or ideas but it can also be a problem when trying to bring consensus “or a united front to legislators,” he concluded. –jrubenscut@aol.com

Instant Insights /

Industry Harmed by Wings Furor, Think Conversion, Say Minnesota CU Leaders

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