Underground Collision: This Ain’t a Revolution, But It's Close!


By Sue Mitchell, CEO, Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates

Credit unions are struggling to find their voice and have blended their purpose—their social mission—into a bland financial services message. The credit union community must cut through the noise of the politicians and unforeseen regulatory restrictions to establish mutually beneficial positions and practices. The Underground Collision is the forum for that revolutionary discussion, change from within rather than be forced to change. With the support of our key business partners, the Underground Collision community is not just talking about the issues today, but acting on them and looking ahead to position the credit union movement for the future.

Key Underground Results

  • Acceptance Corp., automating service to the most vulnerable consumers
  • Obtaining legal opinions on marijuana banking
  • Political advocacy task forces
  • Student lending initiatives
  • Social disaster recovery movement underway

Sitting through the business-as-usual seminars and roundtables is a true burden for leaders with vision.  Same voices. Same topics. Same political position. Same ‘wins’ that are minimal in impact for credit unions and consumers. More than 20,000 payday lenders are ripping the soul of financial empowerment from those whom cooperatives were meant to serve. Even credit union employees are using alternative lending sources to make it through to their next paycheck, and that’s just not right!

Make some noise at the Underground Collision, Feb. 25, at the Top of The Hay-Adams in Washington, D.C. Register at mitchellstankovic.com today!

When credit unions do speak out, wrists are slapped by the old guard. ‘One voice’ is a mantra that nullifies diverse opinions and disenfranchises their orators, rather than encouraging robust debate that shapes a vision for member-owners and cooperatives in the new world order.  

The Underground Collision is set to collide with major events in 2018, bringing our colleagues and friends together for an open forum for key yet politically incorrect topics. The February 25 Collision at the top of The Hay-Adams in Washington, D.C., will bring to bear topics like:  

Credit Union Diversity, or Lack Thereof - Credit Unions represent diverse communities from a socio-economic perspective, gender, ethnicities, sexual orientation, age, and many other categories you can name. But does the leadership recognize the importance of inclusion at all levels? The panel of experts will discuss how to get different types of people engaged in credit unions and the trade associations. 

Credit Unions’ Worst Practices - Credit union personalities who’ve been around the block discuss credit union business practices gone wrong. Wrong for the member-owners. Wrong per NCUA. Good intentions mean nothing when there’s poor execution.

Speed Dating Roundtable Discussions – Aging Board Members’ impact on the future, Social Justice and Financial Inclusion, Acceptance Corp. as an alternative to the usual payday lenders, credit unions’ role in long-term disaster recovery.

Media’s Role in CU Reality vs Fake News - Everyone from political pundits to the president of the United States is shouting “fake news,” but what does that really mean? In the race for website page views, credit unions maybe experiencing increasing difficulty in grabbing headlines in their local publications and the trade press. And even when you do, consumers’ mistrust of the media taints the picture you’re trying to paint as ‘good guys,’ to say nothing of the press coverage all the data security breaches have garnered.  

The Underground Community will own the story it’s telling. We look to attract and cultivate a group of leaders with no need to be politically correct, but also work from a foundation of respect for individual opinions and contribution. Don’t worry about offending, bending or shattering social norms. No fear of retribution or corporate editing: just raw, straightforward and sincere conversation with the notion that ideas are not reloaded for political acceptance. They are, instead, seeds in the ground that will be harvested by those willing to foster them forward with definitive action. 

Join the Underground Collision, on Feb. 25, from 10 am until 2 pm, at the top of The Hay-Adams in Washington, D.C. Register at mitchellstankovic.com today!