Credit Union Support Tops Washington, D.C. Agenda

Takeaways: Member-first advocacy at the credit union industry's national conference

• BECU sent key leaders, including CEO Beverly Anderson, to Washington, D.C., for the credit union industry's national advocacy conference.
• The conference focused on emerging issues, including artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and stablecoins, and engaging younger members.
• BECU met with Washington lawmakers to support affordability, fraud prevention, and stronger data protections.
• Key priorities included protecting the not-for-profit credit union model and strengthening fraud-fighting tools.
• BECU received national recognition and supported leadership development through the "GAC Crasher" program.

This March, BECU staff and executives — including CEO Beverly Anderson — traveled to Washington, D.C., to represent members. The trip was part of the five-day Governmental Affairs Conference, the credit union industry's largest annual advocacy event.

BECU attends each year to advocate for members and support the credit union model alongside credit unions of all sizes.

"Policy decisions made in Washington have a real impact for our members," Anderson said. "Our job is to make sure members' voices are part of the conversation."

Why We Made the Trip

Four Days of Big Ideas

This was the first Governmental Affairs Conference led by America's Credit Unions new President and CEO Scott Simpson. He opened the event with a clear message: The member-owned, not-for-profit credit union model exists because Congress decided decades ago that everyday Americans deserved financial services. That mission is still alive and must be actively supported.

Speakers included Brené Brown on leadership, Adam Grant on human potential, and trend forecaster Rohit Bhargava on what's ahead for financial services.

BECU attended panels and workshops on industry topics, including artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and stablecoins, and engaging younger members and emerging leaders.

Anderson spoke in a featured session March 3 alongside CEOs from other large credit unions about the responsibility larger credit unions have in supporting the cooperative movement for credit unions of all sizes. "When we advocate together, we protect the cooperative model," Anderson said. "Our shared mission is to keep financial services fair and accessible in communities across the country."

Meetings With Congressional Leaders

Each year during the Governmental Affairs Conference, credit union leaders have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with members of Congress. This year, 115 Washington state credit union advocates met with lawmakers and made the case for policies that help keep financial services affordable and protect member data.

Every conversation with lawmakers was on behalf of the people who bank with BECU, because when lawmakers hear from credit unions, they hear from their own constituents.

"When we are in the room, we can connect policy to real member experiences," said BECU Vice President of Government Relations Alison Phelan. "We can advocate for the tools and protections all credit unions need to keep financial services affordable and secure."

BECU met with nine members of Congress from Washington state, representing more than 1.5 million BECU members.

Anderson was a lead attendee for the meeting with Rep. Adam Smith, D-Renton, ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee and a staunch credit union champion.

BECU also met with:

• Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell
• Staff for Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Seattle
• Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Kirkland
• Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Issaquah
• Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-Tacoma
• Rep. Emily Randall, D-Bremerton
• Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Vancouver
• Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane
• Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett
• Staff for Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Tri-Cities

What BECU Went to Protect

In their meetings with lawmakers, BECU discussed the issues that matter most in the effort to protect the financial health of members.

Preserving the Credit Union Model

Credit unions' unique not-for-profit, cooperative financial structure allows them to provide advantages including first-time homeowner down payment assistance, lower rates to member-owners and support for local community needs. Every dollar Congress forgoes in credit union taxes is multiplied and returned to members in the form of benefits, lending and community investment.

Fraud and Data Protection

Credit unions pushed Congress to give them better tools to protect members from increasingly sophisticated scams. Credit unions safeguard members' data through enhanced security measures, fraud protection and proactive monitoring efforts and must comply with strict state and federal laws.

All industries are seeing an increase in sophisticated fraud scams, with just-released 2026 numbers indicating American consumers lose $119 billion in scams annually. Credit unions urged lawmakers to generate bipartisan solutions.

BECU in the Spotlight

A yearly highlight of the conference is a chance to celebrate credit unions for their contributions to the communities they serve and their efforts to develop new credit union leaders.

BECU's work didn't go unnoticed. James Thomas, BECU vice president of organizational equity, inclusion and belonging, accepted the National Association of Latino Credit Union Professionals' Institutional Amigo Award on BECU's behalf, recognizing the credit union's collaboration and commitment to financial inclusion for the Latino community.

"We're honored to receive this award and even more grateful for the relationships behind it," Thomas said. "This recognition reflects BECU's commitment to being a trusted partner and investing in financial inclusion so more Latino members and communities can build opportunity and thrive."

Verity Swearingen, BECU director of business strategy and delivery, represented Washington state as a "GAC Crasher," a program that develops young credit union professionals and amplifies their voices in advocacy.

"Leaders shared their wisdom and helped us understand what's at stake in government advocacy," Swearingen said. "On the last day, we put that inspiration to work, telling Congressional leaders why credit unions are important and how they can support our mission."

Rafael Saucedo, BECU philanthropy program manager, served as a Crasher mentor after participating in the program in 2025.

"The Crasher program reminds you of the importance of investing in future leaders," Saucedo said. "As a mentor, I want emerging leaders to feel confident telling the credit union story and connecting it back to the members and communities we serve every day."

See You in 2027: The Work Continues

With the 2026 Governmental Affairs Conference in the books, BECU representatives returned to their work of serving members and communities with new energy. Congress created the legal framework for credit unions to exist, and BECU joins thousands of credit union representatives in Washington, D.C., each year to protect and strengthen the model for the benefit of members.

"Advocacy is a year-round commitment," Anderson said. "We'll keep working with lawmakers and industry partners to protect the cooperative model, strengthen fraud-fighting tools and help members reach their financial goals."

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