To reach a broader audience with more consumer-friendly lingo in mind, The League's REAL Solutions Program is now The Difference, though there's no difference in our mission!
Just as before, the purpose of The Difference is to impact public and policymaker perceptions of Wisconsin's credit unions by showcasing how credit unions maximize their people-before-profit cooperative potential to meet the needs of members and their communities. Since this program began, Wisconsin consumer approval for credit unions' corporate tax exemption has increased by 34% and membership has grown by 1.4 million!
As an industry, we know there is truly a credit union Difference, and through this program The League seeks to share this widely and inspire credit unions across Wisconsin to find new and exciting ways to live out their purpose!
There are three pillars to The Difference program:
- Scorecard - Our annual scorecard illustrates the positive impact that Wisconsin's credit unions have on Wisconsin families, businesses, local organizations, and the economy as a whole. Here was ours in 2020, complete with member videos.
- People Before Profit Stories - Whether it’s helping a member escape predatory lending, rebuild credit, weather an illness, save for a home, or simply be given a second chance, credit unions are uniquely equipped to provide a lifeline when other financial institutions can’t or won’t. Your credit union's stories of putting people before profit are critical to illustrating The Difference, and we're excited to launch a whole new way to share your stories outside of our annual Convention!
- Programs & Partnerships - The League is invested in creating new programs and partnering with other organizations to help member credit unions better serve their members and communities. This includes programs like Saver's Sweepstakes® and Wisconsin Saves.
But--we need your help!
Please submit your latest People Before Profit stories by August 15 to be featured on our website and during our Virtual Convention! From accounts of above and beyond member service, to granted second chances, to responses to disaster, to meeting community needs, to returning funds back to their members through patronage, and more—these stories educate policymakers and the public about their banking options!
Questions? Feel free to reach out to Director of Communications, Sammy Dennis.