Our latest edition of the New York Minute brings you industry recognitions, new federal resources for credit unions, insights from TruStage, and more! See which credit union was named a Best Place to Work, who made the Power 200 Women list, and which organization received a donation to support teachers and students. Get the latest New York credit union news in our weekly blog!
AmeriCU Credit Union Ranked Among Best Credit Unions to Work For in 2025
AmeriCU Credit Union has once again been recognized nationally as a top workplace, earning a spot on American Banker’s 2025 Best Credit Unions to Work For list. This marks AmeriCU’s third consecutive year receiving the honor, underscoring the organization’s strong commitment to cultivating a supportive, people-first workplace.
Presented by American Banker in partnership with Best Companies Group, the award evaluates both leadership policies and employee feedback. Leaders provide insights into workplace practices, philosophy, and culture, while staff share firsthand experiences on company leadership, career growth, benefits, and day-to-day satisfaction. The results highlight credit unions that excel in building rewarding workplaces.
AmeriCU invests heavily in employee well-being with a comprehensive benefits package, monthly celebrations, leadership development, and career advancement opportunities.
Credit Union Leaders Named as Buffalo Business First’s Power 200 Women
The credit union movement is proudly represented on Buffalo Business First’s 2025 Power 200 Women list, with three exceptional leaders included among Western New York’s most influential women: Marie Betti of Western New York FCU, Mary Scheib of Cornerstone Community FCU, and Robyn Young of Great Erie FCU.
Now in its 11th year, the Power 200 Women list spotlights professionals whose leadership, community impact, and long-term contributions have shaped the region. The unranked list considers scope of responsibility, number of employees overseen, civic engagement, and overall influence.
The recognition of Betti, Scheib, and Young reflects the growing visibility and influence of credit union leaders in advancing financial well-being across their communities. Their inclusion highlights the credit union philosophy in action—where leadership is defined not only by professional excellence but also by service, advocacy, and impact on people’s lives.
Congratulations to these leaders for earning this well-deserved honor and representing the cooperative values of New York’s credit unions. View the full list below!
Niagara’s Choice Credit Union Donates to The Teacher’s Desk
Niagara’s Choice Credit Union has demonstrated its commitment to community impact with a $2,100 donation to The Teacher’s Desk, a Buffalo-based nonprofit that ensures local students and teachers have access to the supplies they need to thrive in the classroom.
The funds were raised through Niagara’s Choice’s popular year-round candy bar sales, an initiative that engages members in small but meaningful acts of giving. Every purchase supports quarterly donations to local charities, with thousands of dollars contributed annually to causes that strengthen Western New York communities.
Through this effort, Niagara’s Choice reinforces the cooperative principle of people helping people, turning everyday interactions into opportunities to give back and support education for the next generation.
Federal Reserve Launches Online Toolkits For Scams and Check Fraud Mitigation
The Federal Reserve has unveiled two new online resources to help financial institutions, businesses, and consumers fight back against payment fraud: the Scams Mitigation Toolkit and the Check Fraud Mitigation Toolkit. Released in August 2025, the toolkits provide education, resources, and collaborative strategies to better identify, prevent, and respond to fraud.
These toolkits complement the Fed’s Synthetic Identity Payments Fraud Toolkit, launched in 2022, and are designed to increase industry-wide awareness and strengthen defenses against two of the most common fraud threats. The initial releases focus on foundational knowledge: types of scams and check fraud, the tactics bad actors use to exploit human vulnerabilities, and real-world scenarios institutions may encounter.
Additional resources are expected in late 2025, offering deeper insights and practical tools for fraud mitigation. The Federal Reserve encourages credit unions, service providers, and members to explore these toolkits to stay informed and prepared.
Digital Lending Gets Smarter: TruStage Modernizes Credit Union Lending Protection with Simplified, Real-Time Solution
New digital enhancement allows borrowers to add payment protection directly into their loan application
MADISON, Wis. – TruStage™, a leading insurance and financial services provider, announced key enhancements to the digital lending process, simplifying the insurance experience for both the borrower and their credit union. The updated digital purchase solution gives customers the ability to opt-in to payment protection directly within their loan application, automatically integrating protection into loan documents.
“According to recent data from TruStage, eight in 10 consumers are interested in protecting their loans, but more than half don’t recall being offered payment protection during the loan process,” said Corrin Maier, VP Lending Payment Protection at TruStage.1 “Similar to how travel insurance has become standard when booking a vacation online, we aim to make loan protection just as easy to ensure borrowers are protected during this time of economic uncertainty.”
With payment protection, should the borrower face a qualifying hardship, like disability or job loss, the coverage may cancel, reduce or make payments on the covered loan, protecting both the borrower and the credit union.
The newest technology improvements from TruStage provide borrowers the opportunity to digitally select specific payment protection products for their loan with real-time price estimates and eligibility verification. Once a selection is made, payment protection is automatically integrated into the credit union loan paperwork, eliminating additional logistics for both the consumer and credit union loan officer. The entire process is also available in Spanish for users who have Spanish language set within their browser.
“We previously worked with credit unions to embed payment protection education into their digital application with great success, but it was still a manual process for the credit union to actually add protection to the loan,” said Maier. “Now, it’s seamlessly built it into the final agreement, providing greater peace of mind and protecting borrowers and credit unions, should the borrower experience an unexpected hardship that impacts their ability to pay.”
According to the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), total loans outstanding at federally insured credit unions are $1.65 trillion.2 TruStage already has relationships with 93% of credit unions nationwide 3 and can greatly increase access to loan protection as it brings this purchase experience option to a growing pool of consumers and financial institutions. The new process will be available at more than 300 credit unions by the end of the year with the intention to expand.
About TruStage
TruStage is a financially strong insurance, investment and technology provider, built on the philosophy of people helping people. We believe a brighter financial future should be accessible to everyone, and our products and solutions help people confidently make financial decisions that work for them at every stage of life. With a culture rooted and focused on creating a more equitable society and financial system, we are deeply committed to giving back to our communities to improve the lives of those we serve. For more information, visit http://www.trustage.com.
TruStageTM Payment Guard Insurance is underwritten by CUMIS Specialty Insurance Company, Inc. CUMIS Specialty Insurance Company, our excess and surplus lines carrier, underwrites coverages that are not available in the admitted market. Product and features may vary and not be available in all states. Certain eligibility requirements, conditions, and exclusions may apply. Please refer to the Group Policy for a full explanation of the terms. The insurance offered is not a deposit, and is not federally insured, sold or guaranteed by any financial institution. Corporate Headquarters 5910 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705. ©TruStage
TruStageTM is the marketing name for TruStage Financial Group, Inc. its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Source: 1TruStage, 2025 Consumer Lending Preferences Study, March 2025. 2 NCUA Releases First Quarter 2025 Credit Union System Performance Data, June, 2025. 3TruStage, Sales Navigator Report, May 2024
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