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Why it Matters: Attend the Oregon Legislative Luncheon

Posted by on December 19, 2025

As Oregon lawmakers head into the 2026 legislative environment, conversations around revenue, taxes, and fiscal priorities are already intensifying. In that climate, credit unions cannot afford to be passive observers. We must be present, engaged, and united in reminding policymakers who we are—and why our role in Oregon’s economy and communities matters.

That’s why attending the Oregon Legislative Luncheon on February 11 is important. You can find more details and register here.  We would love to see you and your team there or talk about what your participation could look like.

In times of increased pressure on revenue, fundamentals matter. For credit unions, that fundamental truth is our not-for-profit, member-owned structure.

Credit unions are built for people, not profit. We don’t answer to Wall Street or outside shareholders—we answer to our members. Every decision we make is driven by what is best for the people and communities we serve. That DNA difference is what sets credit unions apart, and it is essential that lawmakers understand it clearly and consistently.

The Legislative Luncheon provides a critical opportunity to reinforce that message early—before misconceptions take hold and before policy proposals are put on the table.

Built for People, Not Profit

Oregon credit unions exist to serve their members and strengthen local communities. As not-for-profit cooperatives, our structure directly shapes how we lend, how we serve, and how we invest back into the Oregon communities we serve.

That member-first model allows credit unions to:

  • Provide affordable financial services
  • Increase access to credit and savings
  • Empower underserved individuals and communities
  • Act as long-term financial partners, not transactional institutions

This isn’t theory—it’s reality. In 2023 alone, Oregon credit unions delivered $229 million in direct financial benefits to 2.3 million members through dividends, fewer fees, lower loan rates, and higher returns on savings.

Protecting Community Assets in Oregon

Where financial assets live—and who benefits from them—matters.

Today, 77% of bank deposits in Oregon are held by out-of-state banks, meaning profits generated here often leave the state. Credit unions, by contrast, keep financial benefits local, reinvesting them in Oregon communities and households.

At the same time, big banks continue to pull back:

  • 388 bank branches have closed in Oregon over the past 15 years, a 35% reduction
  • 6% of Oregon census tracts are already banking deserts, with another 6% at risk

When banks leave, credit unions often stay—because our mission isn’t driven by profit margins, but by community need. In many areas, credit unions are the only financial institutions committed to maintaining access to essential services.

Why Showing Up Matters

Relationships are built face-to-face. Trust is built through conversation. And policy decisions are shaped by those who show up early and often. Your presence helps ensure they understand that credit unions are not a revenue source to be tapped, but a community asset to be protected.

More than half of Oregonians—2.3 million people—have chosen credit unions as their financial partner. Attending the Oregon Legislative Luncheon ensures their voices, values, and impact are part of the conversation.

We hope you’ll join us in Salem and help tell the credit union story where it matters most.

 

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Oregon Advocacy.

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