September 3, 2021
Eau Claire, WI – Royal Credit Union (Royal) has named Kaitlin Lutsey as the new Royal Credit Union Young Professional Credit Union Activist (YP CU Activist.) Royal launched the YP CU Activist program in 2019 as a way to strengthen the credit union movement and amplify the voice of young professionals.
Lutsey, a Member Account Representative II, will serve as Royal's YP CU Activist from August 2021 through July 2022 and will work to share the credit union difference with policymakers at key advocacy events. Lutsey will be attending the Wisconsin Credit Union League’s (WCUL) Annual Convention next week and was selected to be a part of the conference’s Helping Young Professionals Engage (HYPE) program. She will participate in the WCUL’s Hike the Hill event in late September and Government Affairs Conference in January 2022. She will also attend the Credit Union National Association's Governmental Affairs Conference in February 2022.
“As a Member Account Representative, I am able to have meaningful, memorable interactions and make a difference in the lives of our Members every day. Ultimately, I want to share these experiences with lawmakers and help educate them about the credit union difference," Lutsey shared. "It's important to have thoughtful discussions about how public policy can affect our Members and their ability to accomplish their financial goals. I'm also looking forward to sharing what I learn with my fellow YPs and mobilizing them to take an active role in the credit union movement."
Royal's President/CEO, Brandon Riechers, is a champion for YPs and the creator of the program. "Royal Credit Union is proud to make this investment in its young professionals to ensure they have a seat at the table during these important discussions,” Riechers said. “This program has proven lawmakers are especially interested in listening to young professionals and enjoy hearing from constituents with varied experience and different perspectives. Kaitlin will do an excellent job sharing our Member’s stories and serving as a voice for YPs across the state of Wisconsin."
Lutsey will spend approximately two hours a month expanding her credit union advocacy knowledge and preparing to attend the events. She will also participate in lawmaker visits to Royal and will attend key political events in the community. Royal is covering all registration and travel costs for the YP CU Activist. Candidates interested in the position completed an application that was reviewed and scored by an internal committee of Royal leaders. Applicants were required to be employed by Royal for a minimum of six months, eligible to participate in the Royal Young Professionals program and have approval from their supervisor.
About Royal Credit Union
Royal Credit Union is a federally insured credit union proudly serving over 230,000 Members in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Royal is driven by a core ideology built on a strong purpose and values. You can open an account or apply for a low-rate loan at Royal Credit Union if you live or work in 26 counties in western Wisconsin or 16 counties in Minnesota. Counties served in Wisconsin include Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Lincoln, Marathon, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Washburn, and Wood. Counties served in Minnesota include Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Olmsted, Pine, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Wabasha, Washington, Winona and Wright. Realtors in the state of Wisconsin or Minnesota are also eligible to join the credit union. Visit rcu.org or call Royal Credit Union at 800-341-9911 for more information.