The Connecticut Credit Union League announced this week it is broadening its two-year-old program to aid small credit unions.

The league said it will provide credit unions with what it called a state-of-the-art free service education package that will address a wide range of compliance, strategy, and legal topics. The material should be sent out on Aug. 1 as part of its no-cost "Professional Education Series" encompassing both full and half day sessions that will start next March and extend over an eight-month period.

"Unlike anything else we've seen, we are using our business partners to help fund an education series which is provided free to affiliated Connecticut credit unions covering a broad subject area," explained Tony Emerson, CEO of the league.

In debuting the free package, the trade group, is determined to prove "real value" in league membership at a stressful time for CUs, he said.

Topics covered during the 16 separate sessions include: BSA and RESPA compliance, UCC/check law, HR and security workshops, bankruptcy/collections, elections and marketing/PR among others.

Speakers and workshop leaders will include nationally recognized professionals, said Emerson noting the league is able to finance the series through long-standing tie-ins with vendors and business partners.