As I talk with credit unions around the country, I\u2019ve been able to engage with many in the movement around multicultural business strategy, and there is one message I repeat over and over.<\/p>\n
To be competitive and to live up to our founding principle of people helping people, multicultural business strategy isn\u2019t optional. It\u2019s essential.<\/p>\n
While multicultural business strategy is gaining traction in our industry, there are still some who believe that for their community or their credit union, it doesn\u2019t apply. But that thinking doesn\u2019t match our reality.<\/p>\n
Take a look at the evidence:<\/p>\n
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- Over the last five years, multicultural consumers accounted for 100% of U.S. population growth and 61% of credit union growth. [1]<\/a><\/li>\n
- By the year 2044, the U.S. population is projected to be more than half multicultural. [2]<\/a><\/li>\n
- Multicultural consumers have buying power. For example:\n
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- Black and Hispanic consumers are almost two times more likely to purchase payment protection when compared to white consumers. [3]<\/a><\/li>\n
- Fewer Hispanic and Asian consumers have owned life insurance, but are buying it at a higher rate now, and overall Black Americans have the most life insurance than any other demographic group.[4]<\/a><\/li>\n
- Purchasing power of Asian consumers is growing at a rate more than three times that of white consumers and purchasing power of Hispanic consumers is growing at a rate more than double white consumers.[5]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Focusing on multicultural consumers is not a nice to have or an add on. If you are going to stay competitive and not fall behind, it\u2019s an essential part of your core business strategy.<\/p>\n
The same multicultural business strategies that enhance empowering relationships with members when focusing on race, age, ethnicity, and culture, extend to your ability to better serve members along all aspects of diversity including gender identity, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, and socioeconomic status.<\/p>\n
Where do you start?<\/strong><\/p>\nTaking the first step can be intimidating. We often tell credit unions to start by looking within.\u00a0 Everything starts with people.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
For example, when you think about people, you can ask yourself, does your front-line staff reflect and empathize with the people they serve?\u00a0 The people in surrounding communities?\u00a0 What about your leadership and board?\u00a0<\/p>\n
When thinking about your products and services, you could ask, are your products uniquely relevant to your members\u2019 needs? Do you offer services that complement those products?\u00a0 How accessible are those products?<\/p>\n
Or, how inclusive is your marketing, can members see themselves represented? How well do you leverage your digital ecosystem to reach younger members?<\/p>\n
Through this process of inquiry and reflection, you can learn about your current state and identify key business opportunities.<\/p>\n
Wherever you start, recognize that developing a multicultural business strategy is a journey \u2013 one that requires more than just a stand-alone diversity training. If you\u2019re only checking the boxes, your strategy won\u2019t come to fruition. You need to engage in the human element as well.<\/p>\n
At CUNA Mutual Group, we believe this work happens holistically within our DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) work. We focus on three key pillars:<\/p>\n
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- Workforce: Create an inclusive and equitable experience for staff to thrive and view business operations through a DEI lens.<\/li>\n
- Marketplace:\u00a0 Understanding the financial needs of your existing membership and identifying opportunities to better serve members and potential members through an informed multicultural business strategy.<\/li>\n
- Community: Building on the shared credit union mission to improve financial well-being for all through community engagement and investment.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Take Action<\/strong><\/p>\n
Later this summer, we\u2019ll release updated data on multicultural consumers to help guide credit unions in these efforts. This research will be a deep dive into what matters most to consumers when it comes to financial services. Everything from product preferences and ownership to financial habits to their worries, hopes and dreams. – all from a multicultural and multigenerational perspective. \u00a0The original What Matters Now Research launched in 2018, and now we are able to give an update with the pandemic experience and Native American, Alaskan Native and Indigenous data included.<\/p>\n
Representation is important and we want to make sure that people feel seen and heard through this research and provide meaningful data to guide credit unions\u2019 multicultural strategy. In addition to our quantitative research, we also have qualitative research that allows for real stories to shape the impact and humanize the numbers. It\u2019s not enough to just know the what, we also must know the why if we want to make real change.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We also offer our new DEI Services to help guide you and walk alongside you in your journey, and I encourage you to take the first step today<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nOpal E. Tomashevska is the director of multicultural business strategy at CUNA Mutual Group.<\/em><\/p>\n
CUNA Mutual Group is the marketing name for CUNA Mutual Holding Company, a mutual insurance holding company, its subsidiaries and affiliates. CUNA Mutual Group, 5910 Mineral Point Rd., Madison, WI, 53705-4498<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em>\u00a9 CUNA Mutual Group 2022<\/p>\n
CORP-4752861.1-0522-0624\u00a0<\/p>\n
[1]<\/a> U.S. Census Bureau; Woods and Poole Economics, Inc. National Equity Atlas<\/p>\n
[2]<\/a> U.S. Census Bureau National Projections<\/p>\n
[3]<\/a> CUNA Mutual Group Attitudes and Values Survey, 2017<\/p>\n
[4]<\/a> CUNA Mutual Group Attitudes and Values Survey, 2017<\/p>\n
- Fewer Hispanic and Asian consumers have owned life insurance, but are buying it at a higher rate now, and overall Black Americans have the most life insurance than any other demographic group.[4]<\/a><\/li>\n
- By the year 2044, the U.S. population is projected to be more than half multicultural. [2]<\/a><\/li>\n