DCUC Conference 2026: Fresh Off Blockbuster Merger Proposal, Bratsakis Says Credit Unions Are Stronger Together
By CU Today Staff —
AVENTURA, Fla.— Just days after unveiling plans for a merger that would create one of the nation's largest regional credit union trade organizations, new League of Credit Unions & Affiliates CEO John Bratsakis used the stage at the Defense Credit Union Council's Annual Conference here to deliver a message that echoed throughout the event: the future of the credit union movement depends on collaboration.
Welcoming attendees to Florida during Tuesday's general session, Bratsakis—who officially assumed leadership of The League on Aug. 3—praised DCUC's long-standing commitment to military members and veterans and emphasized the importance of trade groups working together to strengthen the movement. His appearance comes just days after The League and the MD|DC Credit Union Association announced plans to merge, creating an organization representing 458 credit unions, $528.4 billion in assets and 36.2 million members across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., if approved by both organizations' boards and memberships.
Rather than focus on the merger itself, Bratsakis highlighted the scale and impact of Florida's credit unions, noting the state is home to 109 credit unions serving 7.9 million members with $121 billion in assets. He said the state's credit unions include 95 minority depository institution-designated credit unions and 25 Community Development Financial Institutions, with 14 CDFIs receiving more than $8.8 million in awards to support underserved communities.
Bratsakis also pointed to the industry's economic impact, saying Florida credit unions return approximately $1.8 billion annually to members through lower loan rates, higher savings returns and lower fees, while providing approximately $1.6 billion in small business lending that helps strengthen local communities. He said those figures underscore the cooperative difference credit unions continue to make.
Closing his remarks, Bratsakis encouraged attendees to take advantage of the conference's networking opportunities, telling them that sharing ideas and building relationships across the credit union system is one of the greatest values of industry gatherings. The collaboration theme also dominated the conference's opening general session, where America's Credit Unions President/CEO Scott Simpson and DCUC President/CEO Anthony Hernandez called for closer alignment among credit union organizations as the industry faces mounting political, regulatory and competitive pressures.
Originally reported by CU Today.