Annual CUSO Conference
December 12 - 15, 2024
TradeWinds Island Grand Resort
St. Petersburg, Florida
Now more than ever your credit union’s success depends on collaboration, communication and cooperation! Join fellow credit union and CUSO board of directors, board chairs, CEOs, and supervisory committee members for this informative conference.
Earn 12 CPE credits while attending this conference.
Registration & Hotel Information
Conference Registration
We offer an excellent educational return on your conference investment. Register early for the best conference rates!
On or Before September 12, 2024: $1245
September 13, 2024 – October 10, 2024: $1295
October 11, 2024, and Beyond: $1345
Guest Program: $225
Guest Program
Our guest program enables your registered guest(s) to join you during the following conference events: ($225 additional per guest)
Thursday's Welcome Reception
Friday's Breakfast
Friday's Sit-Down Lunch
Saturday's Breakfast
Hotel Reservation
Call The TradeWinds Island Grand Resort at 800-808-9833. Be sure to mention CU Conference's Code CUSO2024 to receive rates starting at $234.
The resort fee is WAIVED when you book your room your room through CU Conferences' room block.
Rates are based on availability. If you are unable to book a room, call CU Conferences at 888-465-6010 for assistance.
Airport and Ground Transportation
Tampa International Airport (TPA) and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) are both 40 minutes from the Tradewinds Island Grand Resort
Bats Taxi is approx. $54 from the airport to the hotel
**All rates listed are subject to change and are estimates. Please check rates with the ground transportation taxi and shuttle booth prior to departure.
Weather
The weather in St. Petersburg during the month of December is generally warm. The average temperature reaches a high of about 73° during the day and 58° in the evenings.
Speaker Information
John Dearing, Partner, Capstone
Bill Farley, President/CEO, aCUmen America, LLC
Sundeep Kapur, Founder, Digital Credence
Brian Lauer, Attorney, Messick Lauer & Smith P.C.
Conference Agenda
The Annual CUSO Conference is full of timely sessions packed with fresh ideas and innovative solutions to the issues facing today’s credit unions.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Conference Registration
1:00 – 1:15 p.m.
Opening Remarks
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
Using CUSOs to Provide Shared Services
Brian Lauer
Attorney
Messick Lauer & Smith P.C.
Pressures on credit unions increase with every passing year. Each year brings additional regulations and rising operating costs along with vast competition within the financial arena. These pressures have resulted in mergers, and a significant decrease in the number of credit unions.
Brian Lauer will talk about a new trend in using CUSOs as an alternative to mergers. Your credit union does not need to give up its identity or connection with its members. In fact, this is your credit union’s strength in the financial industry.
In this session, we’ll explore the use of a CUSO to help alleviate the financial pressures and maintain the individual identity of your credit union.
2:15 – 2:30 p.m.
Networking and Refreshment Break
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
CUSOs: The Best Kept ‘Growth Vehicle’ Secret for Credit Unions
John Dearing
Partner
Capstone
Innovation and adaptation are the keys to success in the rapidly evolving credit union industry. By investing in and partnering with CUSOs, credit union leaders can accelerate their growth trajectory.
CUSO collaborations open a world of new opportunities, from reducing operational costs, to launching new growth pathways, and increasing investment returns. And since CUSOs are owned by credit unions, their best interests are served by doing what is best for credit union members.
Join John Dearing for a test drive in this exciting “growth vehicle” and discover how CUSOs can put your credit union on the road to the future.
Considering your growth strategy and the evolving market
How to take your credit union to the next level through partnerships
Leveraging CUSOs to accelerate growth
Learn how to add alternative income, new members and non-interest income
Understanding different partnering structures and best practices
3:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Daily Wrap Up
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. (GP)
Welcome Reception
Join us for cocktails, light dining, and great conversation. Registered guests are welcome to attend.
CU Conferences is grateful for the support of its sponsor, PARC Street Partners, and would like to thank them for co-sponsoring the reception.
Friday, December 13, 2024
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. (GP)
Breakfast
Join us for a hearty breakfast. Registered guests are welcome to attend.
9:00 – 9:15 a.m.
Opening Remarks
9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
Making a Powerful Impact with an Insightful 2025 Strategy
Sundeep Kapur
Founder
Digital Credence
As we bring 2024 to a close, this session will reflect on key initiatives, highlight key challenges, discuss consumer & business expectations, gauge competition including the impact of embedded finance, and prescribe a strategy that continues to deliver success at five very progressive (not "just" large) credit unions. Gain accelerated insight to drive your success!
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Networking and Refreshment Break
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Strategic Acquisitions: Exploring External Growth for CUSOs
John Dearing
Partner
Capstone
Right now, you have access to an incredibly powerful tool that can add new products and services to your credit union and substantially increase benefits for your members. What is it? External growth with CUSOs.
Acquisition is one of the fastest and most effective ways to grow CUSOs and expand your outreach to potential new credit union members. John Dearing will help you determine if external growth is the right growth strategy for your credit union and show you how you can successfully develop an external portion of your strategic plan that meets your expansion goals.
New ideas for strategic growth
Acquisition as a growth strategy
Developing strategic criteria
Tools for exploration & execution of an acquisition
11:35 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.
The State of CUSO Regulation and the Threat of CUSO Examination
Brian Lauer
Attorney
Messick Lauer & Smith P.C.
Credit unions of all sizes have been working together and collaborating through CUSOs for decades to provide better and more cost-effective services. This increased focus by credit unions has led the NCUA to increase its focus on CUSOs.
In this session, Brian Lauer will walk you through the current and future states of CUSO regulation.
The current CUSO regulation
The proposed CUSO regulation
The framework for CUSO “exams”
The impact of regulation on the industry
12:35 – 1:35 p.m. (GP)
Group Luncheon
Join us for lunch. Registered guests are welcome to attend.
1:35 – 2:35 p.m.
Insurance Distribution Models
Bill Farley
President/CEO
aCUmen America, LLC
According to the Consumer Federation of America, 73% of non-interest income is at risk. With the increasing value and accessibility members demand, growing win/win sources of non-interest income has never been more important. Discover all the insurance options available to your credit union, along with the ropes to skip and know for each.
2:35– 3:20 p.m.
Topic and Presenter TBD
3:20 – 3:30 p.m.
Daily Wrap-Up
Saturday, December 14, 2024
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. (GP)
Breakfast
Join us for a hearty breakfast. Registered guests are welcome to attend.
9:00 – 9:05 a.m.
Opening Remarks
9:05 – 10:15 a.m.
Economic Update
Bill Farley
President/CEO
aCUmen America, LLC
GDP, interest rates, unemployment, housing, inflation, recession…all of these are top of mind when navigating our credit unions into the future. We’ll review these key economic indicators as well as an analysis of the credit union marketplace to help you make better strategic decisions through 2024 and beyond.
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Networking and Refreshment Break
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
The Super-CUSO: Won’t You Join Us
Sundeep Kapur
Founder
Digital Credence
A few credit unions are planning to come together to create an entity that will make a dramatic difference. Remember, a CUSO is an excellent way to collaborate - innovate, excel, and share risk. This presentation will discuss the solution components of this Super-CUSO - covering five impactful areas -Technology, Solutions, Services, Learning, & Insight and also covering more than 10 strong fintech solutions that are prime for this Super-CUSO.