UACUA Annual Conference 2025: A Gathering of Leaders and Advocates
The Ukrainian American Credit Union Association (UACUA) held its annual conference in Washington, D.C., from June 4 to June 7, 2025. This highly anticipated event brought together Ukrainian American credit union leaders, industry experts, and advocates to discuss pressing financial issues and support Ukraine. This conference also included a delegation from Toronto-based Ukrainian Credit Union Ltd.
The conference kicked off on June 4 with delegations visiting Congressional offices, where participants met with legislators and their staff to advocate for U.S. credit union policies as well as increased support for Ukraine in this critical time of. Of utmost importance was the continued tax-exempt status for U.S. credit unions. These discussions underscored the role of credit unions in fostering economic resilience within the Ukrainian-American community.
Later that afternoon, CEOs from various credit unions convened for a roundtable discussion, exchanging insights on industry trends and best practices. The day culminated in a hospitality meet-and-greet at Ukraine House, where Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova welcomed attendees, emphasizing the importance of credit unions in strengthening financial stability for Ukrainian Americans.
Friday’s sessions began with an address by Kyle Hauptman, Chairman of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Hauptman provided a comprehensive overview of current regulatory and economic issues affecting credit unions. The day continued with speakers Chris Howard of Callahan and Associates and Sam Brownell of CU Collaborate, both credit union consultants. Howard and Brownell presented industry trends, including data specific to UACUA credit unions. Attendees ended the day with “Credit Union Stories,” where veteran CEOs and first-time conference participants shared their professional journeys, offering valuable insights and anecdotes.
The UACUA’s annual meeting was held on Saturday morning, June 7. The annual meeting presidium was chaired by Bohdan Kurczak of Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union. UACUA Chairman of the Board, Anatoli Murha recapped some of the highlights of the association’s projects and activities from the past year. Mr. Murha was re-elected as UACUA Chairman and Andrij Horbachevsky was reappointed as Executive Director. A full list of UACUA board of directors can be found on the associations site uacua.com.
