State of the (Credit) Union

Join us for a day dedicated to advocacy, economics, peer networking, and credit union system updates. We are excited to welcome credit union professionals, volunteers, regulators, legislators, and industry experts to the picturesque Water's Edge Resort in Westbrook, CT. Experience engaging speakers, stay updated with industry insights, and enjoy fantastic networking opportunities.

The day will be split into three primary sections, depending on legislator schedules.

Speaker Section

• Commissioner Jorge Perez, Department of Banking
• Clement Abonyi, Director of Advocacy, America's Credit Unions
• John Kolhoff, SVP of Policy and Supervision, NASCUS
• Tom Slefinger, Market Strategist, Alloya Corporate FCU
• Rep. Jeff Currey, Co-Chair Education Committee, Connecticut General Assembly
• Dan Tapper, Sullivan Leshane Public Relations
• LT Slater, EVP & Head of Strategic Partnerships, CHAMP Titles

Peer Networking Section

During this time, attendees will break into one of five peer networking groups of their choosing. This is an opportunity to foster connections with your peers from other credit unions, share best practices, and identify ways to collaborate.

• Compliance Network
• Marketing Network
• Leadership Network (C-Suite & Board)
• Small Credit Union Network
• Lending & Collections Network

Legislator Section

Engage with elected officials, have your voice heard, and ensure credit unions remain visible on the issues that matter to you and your members. As financial cooperatives, credit unions stand apart from other financial service providers because of their unique structure and purpose.

This event will be free of charge for affiliated credit union executives, staff, and board members. There is no limit to how many people a member-credit union can bring.

Economic Update | Is the Love Affair with Bonds Over?

Tom Slefinger, Market Strategist, Alloya Corporate FCU

Post pandemic, the Fed raised rates by 500 basis points and Treasury yields rose sharply across the yield curve as inflation soared to a 40-year high. Today, the consensus is that inflation will remain "sticky" and the Fed will be forced into higher rates for longer. Cash is king and bonds will underperform.

But this is nothing new. Over the past four decades, pundits have declared the end of the bond market many times, yet this scenario has not yet come to fruition. To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the death of the bond bull market have been "greatly exaggerated."

Despite challenges over the past two years, there are reasons to believe that there are better days ahead for the bond market.

In this session, we will flesh out the bullish case for bonds by reviewing historical economic trends and current market data, and explain why credit unions should position their portfolio by capitalizing on the highest yields in decades. In addition, as the election looms large, we will discuss the economic and market implications of public policy decisions, including debt dynamics and trade policy, which could end the long standing "love affair" with bonds. We will also explore fixed income strategies that may be effective in either bullish or bearish environments.

E-Title Update | Help is Coming Soon to Connecticut

LT Slater, EVP & Head of Strategic Partnerships, CHAMP Titles

In this session, we will hear more about some exciting developments in titles, lending and state government. Special guest LT Slater from CHAMP Titles, an innovative company bringing digital title, registration and lien technology to state governments, will explain and update credit union leaders on a new solution for Connecticut's aging title and registration system. Working with CULCT, Champs solution is a SaaS-based tool that requires no upfront cost and is run under a pay-as-you-transact model, which can be launched quickly. Champ currently works with four states, including New Jersey, Illinois, Kentucky and West Virginia with other states coming online shortly. And it's not just state workers at the DMV who will benefit from CHAMP, it will benefit credit union lenders, fleet managers, insurance carriers and service providers who will all see more efficient title, registration and lien transactions. Their work has helped to eliminate more than 5 million pieces of paper annually on average in states that they operate in, reducing processing time from 40-60 days to a matter of hours for credit union lenders and other industry participants such as car dealers, insurance carriers and fleets.