Annual Dues Investment

Impact Report

"As we go forward together in 2024, let our collective influence continue to drive positive change for GoWest credit union members and their communities while we wholly lean into our greater purpose. The future shines bright, and GoWest is honored to stand alongside you."

- Troy Stang, President and CEO of GoWest

Advocacy Cooperative Value Community Impact

Federal Advocacy

Data-Driven Approach

Collaborated with industry partners to develop research and data sets to educate policymakers and support credit union advocacy positions.

Educating Policymakers

Met with 47 out of 48 members of our GoWest Congressional delegation to advance public policy issues that impact credit unions.

Securing Legislation

Successfully advocated for and influenced legislation in Congress including Credit Union Board Modernization, SAFER Banking, CDFI transparency, MBL flexibility, etc.

Leveraging GoWest Leadership

Engaged Congressional leaders and secured original bill sponsors Crapo, Lummis, Merkley, Pettersen and Sinema to advance credit union priority legislation.

Funding Support

Provided PAC support and/or hosted in-person fundraising events for 34 members of our delegations.

State Advocacy

Arizona

  • Defeated all anti-ESG legislation.
  • Safeguarded liability protections for credit unions as lienholders.
  • Protected credit union interests in record-keeping requirements.
  • Convened first State Issues Work Group to create a future-focused legislative agenda.

Colorado

  • Engaged in the sunset process to modernize the Credit Union Act.
  • Developed strategic relationships with legislative leadership, committee chairpersons, and new legislators.
  • Protected credit union interests in lending, GAP insurance legislation.
  • Defeated all anti-ESG legislation.

Idaho

  • Stopped interchange legislation.
  • Protected credit unions from liability risks on MCC gun code legislation. Category Codes Bill.
  • Passed financial education requirements legislation (HB 92).
  • Convened State Issues Work Group to create a future-focused legislative agenda

Oregon

  • Passed significant Credit Union Act modernization.
  • Passed legislation in support of electronic titling.
  • Passed bipartisan financial education bill.
  • Protected credit union interests in data privacy, state bank, and garnishment legislation.

Wyoming

  • Prevented harmful gun merchant code legislation.
  • Supported elder abuse prevention legislation.
  • Limited the homestead exemption to $50,000.
  • Protected credit unions in ESG conversation.

Grassroots Advocacy

2,500+ unique points of engagement between legislators and credit union advocates to advance public policy agenda.

250+ credit union advocates received training across programs to prepare them as advocates, advocacy coordinators, and key contacts.

Solidified advocacy coordinators and key contacts programs in credit unions across the six-state region in coordination with member credit unions.

Developed and released the Advocacy Toolbox to organize relevant resources for member credit unions.

Implemented CULAC/PAC Engagement Plan with significant progress made in increasing contributions to CULAC and ensuring healthy state PAC fundraising.

Regulatory Advocacy

Successful Advocacy with the NCUA to Improve the Credit Union Operating Environment

Engaged and helped shape rules related to expanding field of membership authority, member expulsion, expanded loan participation, and improved mortgage servicing account treatment.

Ensured GoWest Member Participation on CFPB Rulemaking

Led effort that resulted in successful appointments to the Credit Union Advisory Committee and ensured representation on SBREFA panels.

Colorado Sunset Review Negotiations with DORA

Led successful advocacy efforts resulting in six legislative recommendations included in the Colorado Sunset review.

Reduced Assessments

Led effort to substantially reduce assessments on Oregon credit unions and currently evaluating ways to reduce assessments on credit unions across the GoWest footprint.

Cooperative Value

Pro-Credit Union Messaging
Credit unions were positively positioned in 277 media outlets across our six states, reaching 2.8 million consumers.

Powerful Stories of Impact
Media attention on bilingual financial education classes, scam avoidance, affordable housing solutions, and cybersecurity.

Advancing Compliance
31+ training sessions provided in risk and compliance.
1,700 member questions answered.

Accessing Resources
8,500 InfoSight sign-ons to access compliance and risk management resources.
3,900 CU PolicyPro sign-ins to access policies.
34 compliance bulletins distributed.

Development & Engagement

Talent Development

150+ leaders developed through GoWest programs including Leadership Institute, Advanced Leadership Program, Executive Ready, YP Leads, YP Summit, and CU Community Workshop.

Committees & Advisory Groups

Nearly 400 credit union professionals representing 131 credit unions served on committees and advisory groups, collaborated on sharing best practices, informed Association strategy, and shaped the operating environment for credit unions.

CU Communities

138 CU leaders served on chapters, 38 young professional group leaders fostered collaboration across regional groups, and the GoWest YP Steering Group has helped shape and organize 17 professional leadership development events.

Councils

1800+ participants across 24 discipline-specific councils focused on collections, commercial services, compliance, HR and training, lending, marketing, risk management, and more.

Small CUs

GoWest serves over 150 small credit unions with customized resources including roundtables, event pricing discounts, a complimentary salary survey, compliance resources, access to a legal retainer, and more.

Leveraging collective strengths, specialized expertise and essential partnerships, we provide innovative business solutions and thought leadership to accelerate growth and expand capacity for credit unions to deliver greater value and better serve their members.

9

emerging technology solution companies vetted through the Innovation Acceleration Committee to further industry evolution.

$2Million+

in business partner commissions to sharpen advocacy mission and community impact.

$1.3Million+

in industry sponsorships to create opportunities for members to convene, network and collaborate.

10+

unique business partnerships extended across the six-state region to advance operational efficiencies and accelerate growth.

20

fintech companies invested through the Curql Fund to extend member opportunities and drive innovation forward.

30+

credit unions using GoWest AffirmX platform to reduce risk and better manage the complexities of regulatory compliance.

Focused on the future, solutions for today

Community Impact

$44.2 million awarded to GoWest credit unions in NCUA and CDFI funding to expand affordable financial products and services that meet the unique needs of economically underserved communities.

$1.2 million+ raised in volunteer-driven Credit Unions for Kids Auction benefiting 11 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

Nearly $200,000 secured in grant funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank to address workforce housing in Wyoming and Idaho, which was made possible through the support of GoWest credit unions.

By understanding the distinctive needs of our members and those they serve, we are uniquely positioned to leverage our network, diverse experiences, and resources to act as a catalyst for community impact initiatives that enhance the financial well-being of individuals and communities.

Small Business Success
$9 million awarded to the GoWest Foundation for their work in partnership with credit unions to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in Washington State.

Scholarships
$219,942 awarded to credit union professionals to increase access to education and advancement within the Movement.

Financial Education
5,400 students in high school and college engaged through 63 in-person Bite of Reality Fairs to improve financial literacy.

Workforce Housing
$100,000 grant to NuVista Federal Credit Union to support launching community land trust construction and mortgage products for the rural Colorado Western Slope region. 

Disaster Relief
$46,800 raised to support relief efforts in the region in response to wildfires affecting Eastern Washington and Maui.

Accelerating Collective Impact
Convened regional credit union conversations in Tucson, Boise, and Spokane to generate collaborative solutions to housing challenges with local organizations, leveraging untapped funding.

Generating meaningful impact

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