Dave Adams, president/CEO of the Michigan Credit Union League& Affiliates, said any speculation that CUNA Mutual Group isplanning to cut revenues to the state leagues and their leagueservices corporations, is “completely false.”

“I can tell you that it is absolutely false that [CUNA MutualPresident/CEO] BobTrunzo has said anything publicly that I am aware of aboutdramatic cuts in these marketing agreements,” Adams said. “It's aprocess that is discussed every year and I am confident we willcontinue to have very strong good partnership with CUNA Mutual Group.”

Adams' comments followed reports provided to CU Timesby multiple sources that said Trunzo told league presidents CUNAMutual would cut its support of CUNA and its affiliate leagues byas much as 50%.

According to Adams, what Trunzo has said was that he wants tocontinue to look for the ways to enhance the agreements so thatCUNA Mutal rewards performance by those league servicescorporations helping to drive deeper levels of engagement by creditunions for CUNA Mutual services.

“We always recognize every year that there is always going to besome give and take to make those agreements stronger and better,”he said.

Adams pointed out that what Trunzo has said to league presidentsis nothing different from what his predecessors have said when theytook over the helm at CUNA Mutual.

He also said Trunzo is the not the kind of executive who isgoing to do something draconian.

“He [Trunzo] is going to take a very thoughtful results-basedapproach with plenty of open communication,” Adams said. “I believethat if there were to be reductions in marketing reimbursements, itwould be something that would be well thought out, discussed andplanned for. The reality is that CUNA Mutual will continue topay its own sales staff, pay its marketing partners based onresults, and that's the way it should be.”

Adams' statement conflicts with another league president whotold CU Times CUNA Mutual would reduce its support whenthe contract between the parties expires in 2016.

“There will be changes in our agreement and the total amountwill be reduced. At this time it has not been defined between theparties,” DianaDykstra, president/CEO of the California and Nevada CreditUnion Leagues, said.

Phil Tschudy, media relations manager for CUNA Mutual, declined to comment on the matter, calling itspeculative.

According to a CUNA Mutual brochure, the firm provides $39million in annual financial support to the state leagues and otherorganizations such as CUNA, CUES, the American Association ofCredit Union Leagues, World Council of Credit Unions, America'sCredit Unions and America's Credit Union Museum.

Don Cohenour, president/CEO of the Missouri Credit UnionAssociation, said he was unaware of CUNA Mutual's allegedreductions.

CU Times contacted several other league president/CEOsbut they declined to comment and referred calls to TracieKenyon, president/CEO of the Montana Credit Union Network, whowas named the new AACUL chair this week.

Kenyon did not return calls and emails seeking comment.