Small Credit Union Leaders Gather for a Powerful Day of Strategy and Connection

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on May 6, 2026

On April 28, small credit union leaders from across the region came together for the inaugural Small Credit Union Summit in Seattle. The energy in the room made one thing clear: there is nothing quite like being together in person.

Designed to maximize collaboration, the Summit intentionally moved away from a traditional conference format. “The format of the day was highly interactive,” said Carmen Vigil, GoWest’s SVP of Credit Union Engagement & Development. “We skipped the formal speakers and kept things interactive, which led to a full day of sharing ideas and swapping notes.”

That spirit of open dialogue created space for candid conversation, shared challenges, practical solutions, and renewed focus on what makes small credit unions essential to the communities they serve. Having that many small credit union leaders in one room fostered meaningful discussion that simply can’t be replicated virtually.

Key Takeaways from the Summit

Discussions centered on practical strategy and governance insights tailored specifically to small credit unions:

• Be intentional about where you compete — and where you don’t.
• Define success by member outcomes, not just growth.
• Create healthy, structured tension between board and leadership.
• Keep governance simple: shorter packets, clearer roles, more strategy time.
• Involve operations early to avoid execution breakdowns.
• Invest in frontline staff — they operationalize your strategy.
• Use AI to reduce friction and create capacity, not complexity.
• Lean into what makes small credit unions different: relationships, trust, and community impact.

“The engagement from the small credit union leaders in attendance is what makes these programs shine,” Vigil added.

The conversations reinforced that small credit unions don’t need to mimic larger institutions to succeed. Their strength lies in their relationships, agility, and deep community roots.

Momentum from the April Summit is already building anticipation for the next in-person Small Credit Union Summit on Nov. 5 in Boise.

Small Credit Union Accelerator: Enrollment Now Open

Enrollment is now open for GoWest’s Small Credit Union Accelerator Program, a multi-year initiative designed for credit unions with assets up to $250 million.

The Accelerator is tailored to enhance culture, operations, and business strategies. Participating credit unions gain access to expert consultants across key areas, including:

• Executive and leadership coaching
• Marketing strategy
• Web and digital optimization
• Technology-forward project support

If your credit union is interesting in participating in the Accelerator Program, submit the interest enrollment form here.

This work has been shaped in partnership with the Small Credit Union Advisory Council — thank you to the council members for your guidance and perspective in bringing this program to life.

More Opportunities Ahead

The work doesn’t stop here. In addition to the November Small Credit Union Summit in Boise, leaders can continue engaging through the ongoing monthly Small Credit Union Roundtable series.

To learn more about the vision behind the Accelerator Program, listen to Carmen Vigil’s recent conversation with Point West Credit Union CEO Amy Nelson on The Credit Union Connection podcast, where they discuss removing barriers to growth and strengthening small credit union impact.

Small credit unions are essential to the cooperative movement — and the collaboration, innovation, and commitment demonstrated at the Summit prove that their future is strong.

“GoWest is honored to make the space and we appreciate the credit union leaders for showing up to bring the program to life,” concluded Vigil.

Posted in Events, Leadership, Small Credit Unions, Top Headlines.