Credit Union Development Education TM
Transformative, experiential learning for credit unions and system partners
Putting the credit union difference into action
Since 1982, the Credit Union Development Education (CUDETM) program and its international alumni network has transformed the culture, strategy, outreach and impact of the credit union movement.
In 2025, the Foundation will host four in-person DE programs and one virtual DE program. Registration runs on a first come, first serve basis. Payment is required to secure a seat in any class.
Virtual DE is still available!
2025 In-Person DE
Registration Fee: $2,999
In-person DE participants should plan to travel to their DE location on Sunday before training and depart on Friday at 1 PM local time after training ends. Please note that lodging is not included in the registration. While breakfast will not be provided, most lunches and dinners will be covered. Participants are responsible for their travel costs and any additional expenses.
Registration for 2025 in-person DE programs is NOW FULL. Virtual still has availability.
February 3-7 at Suncoast CU in Tampa, FL – Completed.
June 2-6 at the TruStage Lighthouse in Madison, WI- Completed.
September 8-12 at the TruStage Lighthouse in Madison, WI – Class is Full.
October 6-10 at the TruStage Lighthouse in Madison, WI – Class is Full.
If you are registering as a placeholder, please follow the steps to register yourself and select the placeholder option when prompted. Placeholder seats can be transferred up to three weeks prior to the start of a session.
2025 Virtual DE
Registration Fee: $2,599
Virtual DE sessions will be held over the course of four weeks. Participants must be present on all dates to obtain their CUDE designation. Virtual DE is open to US participants only.
Click HERE to register now for Virtual DE!
November 11-12 (1P-4P Central)
November 18-19 (1P-4P Central)
December 2-3 (1P-4P Central)
December 9, 10 & 11 (1P-4P Central)
If you are registering as a placeholder, please follow the steps to register yourself and select the placeholder option when prompted. Placeholder seats can be transferred up to three weeks prior to the start of a session.
Through transformative education, immersive events and collaboration, DE builds awareness of the development issues that prevent people from achieving financial freedom—and how credit unions are uniquely positioned to address them.
More than 3,000 people from over 35 countries have graduated from the U.S. DE program since its launch in 1982.
Align your impact and outputs with your mission and help improve financial well-being for all.
Top-level learning includes:
The Credit Union Difference: Understand how to communicate and leverage credit unions’ unique business model and cooperative principles.
Empathy & emotional intelligence in banking: Create a competitive advantage in a disrupted market.
Development issues: Identify and solve challenges preventing the financial health of your employees, members and communities.
Graduates earn their Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE™) designation. This signifies a deep understanding of how credit unions can leverage the cooperative principles to overcome development issues and increase financial health.
DE is a dynamic program delivered through individual engagement, group work, classroom learning and immersive experiences.
To maximize your experience you must:
Attend every session. Unless there is a health issue or family/personal emergency, participants must attend all sessions. Attendees should not schedule meetings or maintain work connectivity during DE.
Leave your title at the door. DE is for everyone. Removing titles creates a level playing field and allows all participants to more easily look at problems and solutions from different angles.
Trust the process. No advanced copies of the agenda are shared. This ensures participants are present and not looking too far ahead at lessons and activities.
If you’re employed within the credit union system and passionate about improving financial well-being for all, DE is for you.
Employees from all organizational levels, in any role or function, are eligible and encouraged to attend.
Cooperative learning is at the forefront of DE. To optimize the learning environment, registration for a DE class is limited to one person per organization. This allows participants to learn from and engage with as many unique perspectives as possible.
The impact of DE
Over 3,000 people from dozens of countries have attended the U.S. DE program. Investing the time, energy and money to attend has a positive effect on everyone.
-
Employees
DE is designed to be transformative. Your employees will return energized, informed and excited to help your organization deliver on its mission.
-
Organizations
DE will help your organization operationalize the cooperative principles as a key differentiator in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
-
Community
DE helps participants identify opportunities to implement or enhance products and services that meet the needs of your community.
Share Your Experience
Dohnia Dorman, chief experience officer, African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC)I came away from DE with a deeper understanding of how multiple, seemingly unrelated global issues can compound to make financial services inaccessible to so many. More importantly, I have a clearer vision for how the AACUC can influence our domestic and international credit union ecosystem, and can partner with credit unions to address these issues and build the truly equitable, inclusive financial movement the credit union system was formed to be.
Testimonials
DE Testimonials
Get in touch
For more information, contact
Contact [email protected]
DE Program
Disclosures
2025 DISCLOSURES
ATTENDANCE: Participants in the DE program are expected to attend all sessions. Missed or skipped sessions can result in the participant not obtaining the CUDE designation.
VIRTUAL DE: Virtual DE sessions are restricted to U.S. credit union system participants only. Please note that trainings and meetings are held in U.S. Central Time.
PARTICIPANTS FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S. CREDIT UNION SYSTEM: Individuals from credit union systems outside the U.S. are welcome to participate in in-person training once they have completed their home program. Before registering for U.S. DE, you must receive permission from the DE Director in your home country or region. If your country or region does not have a DE program, please contact Worldwide Foundation: [email protected].
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS PER CLASS: Up to 2 individuals per organization can be registered for an in-person DE class. Up to 3 individuals can be registered for a virtual DE class.
PAYMENT POLICY: Registrations are required to be paid for in full within 10 days of registering for a program. A registration not paid for in full by the deadline will be cancelled.
CANCELLATION POLICY: All cancellations must be received in writing. Please provide a brief explanation for the cancellation and submit via email to [email protected]. Cancellations received more than 45 days prior to the event will lose $1000 of the registration total. No refunds will be granted for cancellations received on or after 45 days prior to the event. This cancellation policy may be waived for serious illness, injury, hospitalization, death in the family of immediate relatives, or other unforeseen family or medical circumstances that require immediate attention.
The cancellation deadlines to receive a refund less the administrative charge are listed here:
- February DE: December 20, 2024
- June DE: April 18, 2025
- September DE: July 25, 2025
- October DE: August 22, 2025
- Virtual DE: September 5, 2025
Substitutions are accepted prior to the start of a program with a $250 administration charge up to 15 days ahead of a DE event. Please provide the DE training date, current participant name and new participant name to [email protected].