In a rare Saturday announcement, CUNA reported more than 90% ofits members voted in favor of historic bylaw changes that includeeliminating the dual membership requirement in 2017.

Additional bylaw changes will allow CUNA's board to develop adues formula that would favor neither small nor large credit unionsand permit the board to adjust its number of seats from the currentmaximum of 24 members to a minimum of 12 members.

More than 2,200 credit unions – about 43% of the nationalmembership – voted, according to CUNA.

“Clearly, there was strong support for these changes, and Ibelieve that this voting process has demonstrated our commitment tomeeting the needs of our membership,” Rod Staatz, CUNAboard chair and president/CEO of the $2.9 billion SECU inLinthicum, Md., said in a prepared statement. “What's more, thisnew membership model will help us build an even stronger, moreeffective and more united credit union system.”

Though credit unions will be allowed to join their league, CUNA,or both trade organizations, Staatz said CUNA maintains itsposition that the best choiceis dual membership.

“We wholeheartedly believe that CUNA/league interdependence isthe best way forward for the credit union movement, as do many ofthe leagues that have already approved optionality for theirmembers,” he said. “Interdependence has helped us serve the bestinterests of credit unions for many years and will continue to doso for many years to come. It stands for a united system that isthe best advocate for credit unions at both the state and federallevels and in any arena in which our support and participation isneeded.”

CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle said coordination with the stateleagues for the 2017 dues cycle has already begun.

“This is a tremendous victory for credit unions. I am gratefulto our members for this strong vote of confidence in CUNA andembracing a modern, national trade association model that will helpus build an even stronger, more effective and more united creditunion system,” Nussle said in a prepared statement. “This newmembership model allows us to enhance and build upon our alreadystrong interdependence with the leagues. Interdependence hashelped us serve the best interests of credit unions for manyyears.”

The bylaw changes vote comes after a months-long, industry-widefirestorm that erupted last September when the CUNA board rejectedrecommendations made by the CUNA System Structure and Governance Task Force to end thedual membership requirement, enhance cooperation andinterdependence with leagues in the delivery of advocacy for creditunions, and streamline the CUNA board structure.

Despite CUNA's initial decision to maintain the status quo,state leagues independently decided to offer their credit unionsmembership choice.

The Michigan Credit Union League was the first state tradeorganization to eliminate the dual membership requirement for itsmembers and several other leagues soon followed. Other leagues,however, publicly supported keeping the dual membershiprequirement.

In October, Nussle acknowledged the credit union system did notrespond well to the CUNA board's decision to maintain the dualmembership requirement. Subsequently, he directed his managementteam to draft new bylaws to modernize the trade association'smembership structure.