Without providing any details, CUNA President/CEO JimNussle announced Wednesday that he plans to reduce member dues in2016.

“Total dues income for CUNA will be less than 2015,” Nussle wrote in an email message. “The reduction recognizes theneed to continue to make CUNA leaner and more agile and tocalculate dues in a way that celebrates and rewards credit unionsuccess and asset growth.”

He did not respond to a CU Times email request seekingdetails about how much the dues would be reduced. CUNA MediaRelations Manager Vicki Christner said more details about thedues reduction will be released in the future.

Even though the industry has been losing about 200 to 250cooperatives annually because of consolidation, CUNA's dues havebeen steadily increasing over the last four years.

CUNA collected $26.4 million in membership dues in 2014,according its Form 990 filed earlier this year with the IRS. In2013, CUNA collected $25.6 million in dues, which was preceded by$24.3 million in 2012 and $23.7 million in 2011.

Nussle also wrote that CUNA has been taking steps to streamlineits management and operations, which has saved $1.4 million so farthis year.

Senior Vice President of Engagement Patricia Sowick left thetrade association in August after 18 years at CUNA, according toher LinkedIn profile. The trade would not reveal the details of theseparation; Christner said CUNA does not comment on personnelmatters.

Mollie Bell, formerly an executive with Filene, joined CUNA asits Chief Transformation Officer Sept. 14.

Nussle also noted in his email that CUNA has proposed creating two new non-voting membershipclasses – one for professionals and volunteers, and one for systempartners and vendors.

“The goal is to encourage greater individual advocacy at alllevels of the CUNA/league system,” he wrote.

Nussle, a former Iowa Republican congressional representativeand director of the White House Office of Management and Budget forPresident George W. Bush, was hired as CUNA'spresident/CEO on Sept. 9, 2014 and took over the corner officeapproximately one year ago.

“I'm impressed about how our system works,” Nussle wrote.“However, I'm not satisfied. I know there is more we can do. Theseactions and others to still come will make the CUNA/league systemmore accessible, collaborative, innovative and successful.”