In Washington, D.C.
Advocacy, as you know, is a long-term endeavor and one that requires constant and consistent investment. One such form of investment is through our trips to D.C., one of which occurs in the fall, this year taking place September 15 through 17.
During our Hike the Hill, as the event is called, we meet with elected officials or staff members from Kentucky, including both of our Senators and all six of our Members of the House of Representatives, to discuss our most pressing issues and to reinforce the importance of credit unions to all their members and communities across Kentucky.
Often, all that work and time invested in building relationships and educating elected officials can feel hard to quantify without tangible, visible results, which is why it’s so heartening to see the below entry in Senator Paul’s most recent constituent newsletter.
Not only did Senator Paul highlight that he spoke with credit unions, but he also took the step to state that he affirmatively “Stands with Kentucky Credit Unions.”
What This Means for You
I share this to demonstrate that your investment in advocacy does not go unnoticed and that elected officials are paying attention to what we say. So, please stay informed and engaged, and stay tuned for future opportunities to continue strengthening your advocacy muscles.
Please reach out with any questions or if we can be of service in any way.
Sincerely,
Kyle Hagerty
SVP & Chief Advocacy Officer
Signet Federal Credit Union Named Finalist in Three 2026 CU Times Luminaries Categories
Signet Federal Credit Union® has been named a finalist in three categories of the 2026 Credit Union Times Luminaries Awards, earning national recognition for Community Impact, Excellence in Marketing and individual leadership. Signet is a finalist for Community Impact — $1 Billion & Below and Excellence in Marketing — $1 Billion & Below, while Katelynn Rowe, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, has earned national recognition as a Rising Star — $1 Billion & Below finalist for the second consecutive year.
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The Credit Union Times Luminaries Awards recognize individuals, teams and organizations that are driving meaningful change and innovation throughout the credit union industry. Finalists will receive national recognition through CUTimes.com and Credit Union Times' digital channels in the months leading up to the awards ceremony.
“To be recognized nationally in three different areas is incredibly meaningful because each one represents a different part of who we are as a credit union,” Rowe said. “Community impact reflects why we exist. Marketing gives us the opportunity to tell those stories and connect people with the resources available to them. And to personally be recognized as a Rising Star alongside that work is something I’m incredibly grateful for. None of these recognitions happen because of one person—they are a reflection of a team that genuinely believes in what we do and the communities we serve.”
Founded in 1939 by local railroad workers who pooled their resources to help one another, Signet has remained rooted in the cooperative philosophy of People Helping People for more than 87 years. Today, that philosophy continues through financial education, community partnerships, local outreach and storytelling designed to strengthen connections with members throughout Western Kentucky.
The Community Impact finalist recognition highlights Signet’s commitment to extending its mission beyond traditional financial services and investing time, resources and education into the communities it serves. The Excellence in Marketing recognition reflects the credit union’s continued focus on authentic, community-centered storytelling and campaigns designed to make financial services more relatable, accessible and meaningful.
Rowe’s Rising Star finalist recognition represents the individual leadership category among credit unions with $1 billion or less in assets. As Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Rowe leads Signet’s marketing, communications, public relations, community engagement and brand strategy, with an emphasis on connecting the credit union’s history and cooperative mission to the needs of today’s members.
The recognition adds to a growing year of state and national industry recognition for Signet. Earlier in 2026, the credit union earned its first-ever America’s Credit Unions Diamond Award, receiving Category’s Best in Brand Awareness for its Voices of the Vault campaign. Signet has also received recognition at the state level through Kentucky’s Credit Unions, further highlighting the credit union’s impact across the Commonwealth. The 2026 CU Times Luminaries finalist selections continue that momentum, recognizing Signet across Community Impact, Excellence in Marketing and Rising Star and reflecting the credit union’s growing impact in marketing, community service and leadership.
Credit Union Times will publish finalist profiles from Sept. 8 through Oct. 30, with winners selected by the Luminaries judging panel. The 2026 Credit Union Times Luminaries Awards dinner and gala will take place Nov. 5 in Orlando, Florida, where winners will be announced and honored live.
“Being a credit union from Western Kentucky and seeing our work recognized on a national stage is something our entire team can be proud of,” Rowe said. “You don’t have to have the largest budget, the biggest team or the most resources to make a meaningful impact. You have to know who you serve, understand why your work matters and be willing to show up for your community every single day. That’s what our team continues to do, and I think these recognitions are proof that meaningful work can come from organizations of any size. Together, we are Signet.”
Service One Credit Union Announces Promotion of Lucretia “Cree” Patrick to Human Resources Manager
Service One Credit Union has announced the promotion of Lucretia "Cree" Patrick to Human Resources Manager. Bringing years of human resources expertise to the role, Patrick will oversee daily HR operations, employee relations, and talent development across the credit union.
Patrick has been with Service One for 4 years and most recently has been in the HR Generalist role.
"Cree is a valued member of our team and a trusted HR partner, consistently demonstrating a genuine commitment to our associates,” said Michelle Dyer, Chief People and Strategy Officer. "We are excited to see her leadership growth and look forward to the impact she will continue to make.”
Patrick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Western Kentucky University. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, she currently resides in Bowling Green. Active in the community, she is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Outside the office, she enjoys shopping and cherishes spending time as a proud "Nana" to her grandson.
From the President's Desk
The FDIC Just Counted Us. Now Let's Make Sure It Counts Us Right.
For decades, federal bank regulators measuring local competition acted as if credit unions barely existed. When a bank merger came up for review, credit union shares were typically discounted or left out of the math entirely. That changed last week.
On September 17, 2026, the FDIC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to modernize and reform its framework for reviewing transactions under the Bank Merger Act. Buried in the technical detail is a significant shift: the initial Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) screen would be revised to treat the deposits of banks, thrifts and credit unions equally for purposes of market share calculations.
In plain English, Washington is formally acknowledging what Kentuckians already know. When a family in Pikeville or Paducah chooses where to keep their savings or finance a truck, a credit union is a full competitor in that decision.
Why this matters
The practical effect runs mostly in one direction. According to Sullivan & Cromwell's analysis, these changes generally would make it easier for banks to merge in markets with a significant thrift or credit union presence. In rural Kentucky counties where a credit union holds a meaningful share of local deposits, bank consolidation just got easier to approve.
That is not necessarily bad news. But it carries two implications our movement should think about carefully.
First, recognition cuts both ways. Being counted as an equal competitor for merger purposes will inevitably be cited in conversations about tax status, perhaps including the study now underway here in Frankfort. Our answer should be confident and calm: credit unions compete for members' business precisely because of the cooperative structure, not in spite of it. Member ownership, reinvested earnings, and community focus are what we bring to the market, and that difference is the point.
Second, the methodology matters. Where only some of a credit union's branches are within the relevant geographic market, the FDIC would estimate the credit union's shares in that market by dividing its total shares by its total number of branches and multiplying the result by the number of branches located in the market, using the most recent NCUA Call Report data. That shortcut can misstate a credit union's real footprint, especially for institutions with a large headquarters office or members who bank mostly online.
What we're doing
The FDIC is seeking comments on all aspects of the Proposal and has included more than 100 specific questions. Comments are due on November 23, 2026. National trade groups are already engaging; one says it supports elements of merger reform but objects to provisions governing credit union buyers and how their competitive presence is measured.
Kentucky credit unions, particularly those in rural and multi-county markets, have real-world data that can sharpen the record.
We have long asked to be taken seriously as a competitive force. The FDIC has now done so. Our job is to make sure the accounting is accurate.
Sincerely,
Jim Kasch
League President
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