Credit Union Advocates Flood Olympia on Credit Union Day at the Capitol

Posted by Joe Adamack on January 29, 2026

Legislators hear from many voices. Credit unions have proven again and again that when they engage, lawmakers listen. This year in Olympia at Credit Union Day at the Capitol, more than 250 credit union advocates from 39 credit unions came together to do just that. Washington’s credit unions showed up in force with a strong message: to ensure lawmakers see credit unions as essential partners in Washington’s economic health.

Why Credit Unions Matter—Especially Now

Credit unions exist to help people stay financially stable, especially when costs rise. As families and small businesses face increasing pressure from housing, childcare, transportation, and everyday expenses, credit union members are often the first to feel it.

They are working families, first-time homebuyers, small business owners, and people without a financial safety net—the same constituents lawmakers represent.

Credit unions aren’t beneficiaries of public services. They act as a buffer. When people are stretched thin, credit unions help absorb financial pressure before it turns into crisis. If that buffer is weakened, the costs don’t disappear—they fall directly on households and small businesses.

Advocates arrived with stories to share. Real stories of real impact helping real people.

“Credit union advocates came prepared to speak to the direct value they deliver every day to their members through the financial services people need, deserve, and expect,” said Joe Adamack, GoWest’s SVP for Legislative Affairs. “This year the state will make decisions that will massively impact what Washington looks like in ten years. Credit union representatives underscored that future would see Washingtonians much worse off without a not-for-profit cooperative choice.”

2025 Washington Credit Union Advocate of the Year & Top of the Hill Awards

During the program, President and CEO Mina Worthington of Solarity Credit Union was named the 2025 Washington Credit Union Advocate of the Year.

Worthington has elevated advocacy engagement across her organization and beyond—building trusted relationships with lawmakers, opening her credit union to policymakers, and strengthening PAC participation statewide through her service as a Washington CULAF Trustee. Her leadership by example has made Washington’s credit union voice stronger, louder, and more effective.

Washington’s 2025 Top of the Hill credit unions, BECU and O Bee Credit Union, were also recognized for their leadership in advancing advocacy at both the state and federal levels and for engaging their teams to strengthen the credit union operating environment for members and communities.

Message Delivered

In the nearly 80 meetings with lawmakers throughout the day, they heard a clear message: Washington’s credit unions are built to serve people and communities others leave behind.

Advocates shared real examples of how credit unions help families build credit, reach homeownership, and support small businesses. They also underscored why the credit union model matters. More than 5.5 million Washingtonians choose credit unions, a reflection of a not-for-profit, member-owned approach that keeps decisions local and puts long-term community impact first.

The work continues, but advocates boldly reinforced that when credit unions show up and tell their stories, they help shape the conversation—which goes a long way in protecting the cooperative model that puts people first.

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Washington Advocacy.