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For Immediate Release Contact: Patrick Harris Director of Media Relations Ohio Credit Union League pharris@ohiocul.org 800-486-2917

Ohio Credit Unions Send Nearly 30,000 Signed Petitions from Members Urging Congress to Delay Interchange Rule Implementation

7,788 e-mails, letters, and phone contacts made in addition;
Credit unions hold in-district meetings

Columbus, Ohio (May 3, 2011) Ohio credit union members urged Congress to protect their debit cards and pass legislation to delay the Federal Reserve debit interchange rule as part of a two-week advocacy onslaught to garner legislators’ attention. 29,554 petitions signed by members from more than 50 credit unions were delivered to Senator Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) Washington, D.C., office via fax and e-mail on Friday, April 30, and Monday, May 2. The petitions were supplemented by more than 7,000 e-mails, letters and phone calls, as well as in-district meetings with Ohio legislators and joint discussions with Ohio media.

Darrick Weeks, Chief Operating Officer for Wright-Patt Credit Union, chairs the Interchange Work Group, a committee of dedicated credit union leaders who steer the state’s advocacy strategy on the interchange issue, is pleased by the results. “As a member-owned organization, this is critical to the pocket books of our member-owners; therefore, it is important to us.  The response we are seeing from our member-owners on signing petitions, writing letters, and sending e-mails proves their desire to see Congress stop, study, and start over."

In addition to the petition drive, strategic advocacy efforts by Ohio credit unions and the Ohio Credit Union League (OCUL) included credit union staff legislative engagement and media meetings with influential news outlets. Below is a summary of the efforts:

Legislative Meetings:

• On April 26, Kelly Schermerhorn, CEO of CES Federal Credit Union, met with Representative Bob Gibbs (R-Lakeville) at an in-district event where the Congressman reiterated his support for a legislative delay.

• On April 27, Dayton-area CEOs Lee Spivey, John Bowen, Doug Fecher, and OCUL’s General Counsel John Kozlowski attended an event for Sen. Brown in Dayton and spoke directly with the Senator.

• On April 28, Cleveland-area CEOs Christine Blake, Mike Losneck Robin Thomas, Randy Trimm, and John Kozlowski met with Kenneth Williamson, constituent liaison for Sherrod Brown in the Senator’s district office in Cleveland.

• On April 28, Wright-Patt Credit Union hosted Graham Steele, who covers financial services issues for Senator Brown.

• On April 28, Aaron Michael, Chief Legal Counsel of Atomic Credit Union, participated in a conference call with Senator Rob Portman’s (R-OH) office.

• On April 28, Stan Barnes, CEO of CSE Federal Credit Union, spoke with Representative Jim Renacci (R-Wadsworth) about interchange legislation at a town hall meeting.

• On April 29, OCUL Sr. V.P. of CU Advocacy Becky Hart joined Toledo-area CEOs Jennifer Ferguson, Steve Grindle, Kathy Kanipe, Bob Tracy, Barry Shaner, Joyce Warner, and other CU staff and volunteers for an hour-long meeting at Parish FCU in Toledo with Ann Longsworth Orr, Northwest Ohio Regional Representative for Sen. Brown.

• On April 29, Greg Kidwell, CEO of Members First Credit Union, John Kozlowski, and OCUL Director of Media Relations Patrick Harris joined John Campbell, Central District Director for Sen. Portman, to encourage the Senator’s support.

• A May 19 meeting with Representative Steve LaTourette (R-Bainbridge Township) is planned at Cardinal Community Credit Union.

Media:

• OCUL President Paul Mercer and Patrick Harris joined Jeff Quayle and James Thurston of the Ohio Bankers League for a joint meeting with the editorial page editor of The Toledo Blade to give the credit union and community bank perspective on the debit interchange rule.

• OCUL Vice President of Government Affairs John Florian and Patrick Harris joined Mike Van Buskirk and James Thurston from the Ohio Bankers League on a conference call with the Crain’s Cleveland Business.

“The response by our credit unions shows the enormity of this issue and the passion they have for protecting and serving their members,” echoed OCUL President Paul Mercer. “We will continue this fight to the finish line with the goal of ensuring Ohio credit unions can continue to offer affordable financial services to their communities.”

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The Ohio Credit Union League, with offices in Columbus, is a state trade association representing 387 credit unions. Credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions owned and democratically-controlled by their members. Ohio credit unions provide savings, loans, and other consumer financial services to their 2.68 million members. To learn more, visit www.OhioCreditUnions.org.