Sembrando Sueños con NLCUP: BECU
We are grateful to BECU for their continued support of NLCUP and for being a supporting donor of the sold-out NLCUP 2026 Conference. Their partnership helps create the space for connection, learning, and leadership that brings our community together in Long Beach. As one of the nation’s largest credit unions, BECU is guided by values rooted in service, integrity, and community, a commitment that closely aligns with NLCUP’s mission to uplift and invest in Latinx credit union professionals and allies. Their support reflects a shared belief that when people are centered, meaningful and lasting impact follows.
Below, the BECU team shares how Sembrando Sueños shows up in their work and how those principles are shaping the future of our industry.
Intro & Mission
As a cooperative, we bring people together to improve the financial well-being of our members and their communities. Through financial products, services, and educational outreach, we help members save money and achieve financial freedom.
In addition, our community giving initiatives help sustain the vital work of organizations that support where our members live, work, and play. Since our founding in 1935, we have remained committed to changing financial lives for the better, one member at a time.
What dreams or goals is your organization currently “planting” in the community?
BECU aspires to be an inclusive organization where everyone feels like they belong. We are committed to being an organization that focuses on developing skills and growing our people, while driving results and serving our members and their communities.
When you think about "Sembrando Sueños", what does that phrase mean to your organization?
When we think about “Sembrando Sueños,” or “Planting Dreams,” we look to the cooperative roots that guide everything we do as a credit union. For us, this phrase represents more than aspiration, it reflects action. Every loan, every savings account, every philanthropic donation, and every financial education workshop we offer is a seed planted toward a brighter, more equitable future. Through our commitment to serving members and communities, we strive to create the conditions where those dreams can take root and grow. Whether it’s helping a family buy their first home, supporting a student’s education, or strengthening a small business, we see each success as a shared victory. Ultimately, “Sembrando Sueños” means empowering people on their financial journeys – nurturing confidence, stability, and hope so that every member and employee can see their dreams not just planted, but thriving.
What changes or trends do you see shaping the credit union industry that we should all be paying attention to?
The credit union industry is constantly evolving, and that evolution depends on how well we connect people, purpose and technology. As cooperatives, we’ve always led with people first, but today, that looks like designing every product, service, and digital experience around what members want and need and aspire to achieve. We’re also seeing a renewed call to anchor every innovation in purpose. In a rapidly evolving technological landscape where automation, AI, and digital banking are changing how members engage, it’s more important than ever that we balance efficiency with empathy. Technology should not distance us from our members; it should bring us closer by removing barriers and meeting them where they are. And finally, representation matters. As our communities grow more diverse, members want to see themselves reflected in the spaces where financial decisions are made. From leadership to marketing, from the way we tell stories to the way we design experiences, ensuring that members and communities feel seen, valued, and included will be essential to sustaining trust and relevance. In short, the future of our movement will be defined not just by innovation, but by how we use it to strengthen human connection and fulfill our shared purpose of improving people’s lives.
What leaders or movements inspire your approach to financial inclusion?
When we think about what inspires our approach to financial inclusion, we are deeply grounded in gratitude for the credit union movement and the pioneers whose vision and courage shaped the cooperative model we continue to build upon today. Their work rooted in community, equity, and access set credit unions apart from traditional financial institutions by proving that finance can, and should, serve people over profit. The cooperative principle of “people helping people” remains the cornerstone of this legacy. It reminds us that financial inclusion isn’t just about access to products or services, it’s about belonging, empowerment, and shared success. Every time we design a new program, open a neighborhood financial center in a community, or extend a hand to a member in need, we’re carrying forward the spirit of those early leaders who believed that when people come together, everyone thrives. Their example continues to inspire how we approach our work today, by leading with empathy, centering members’ lived experiences, and ensuring that our movement remains a trusted partner in helping people achieve financial freedom.
What lessons have you learned that could inspire future leaders in credit unions and community finance, especially those serving underserved communities?
One of the greatest lessons we’ve learned in this work is to always move with curiosity and from a place of service. When we approach our members, communities, and even our colleagues with a genuine desire to understand before acting, we build trust and open doors to deeper, more sustainable impact. For future leaders in credit unions and community finance, especially those serving underserved communities, this mindset is essential. It’s easy to get caught up in growth, goals, or innovation, but the real progress happens when we stay rooted in people and purpose. At BECU, our values offer a strong compass for navigating these moments of growth and decision-making: Be Real, Members First, Own It, Know Your Stuff, and Do the Right Thing. These aren’t just internal principles; they’re a way of showing up in the world. Being real reminds us to lead authentically. Members first keeps us grounded in service. Owning it and knowing your stuff push us toward accountability and excellence. And doing the right thing ensures that integrity guides every action. Together, these lessons remind us that leadership isn’t about titles or recognition, it’s about how we show up for others, how we listen, and how we help people and communities thrive.
What do you hope attendees will walk away with from this year’s conference?
Our hope is that attendees walk away from this year’s conference with a renewed sense of purpose, one that reminds us why we do this work and who we do it for. We want people to feel more connected to their own communities, recognizing that our individual stories and values are powerful tools for driving inclusion and impact. We also hope this conference deepens our sense of allyship, encouraging all of us to stand beside and uplift one another as we continue building spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and heard. Most importantly, we hope to continue to shed light on the credit union’s growing Latinx community of employees, leaders, and influencers. Their voices, perspectives, and leadership are not only shaping our industry’s future but strengthening the cooperative movement as a whole. If attendees leave inspired to lead with heart, build bridges and champion the communities we serve, then this conference will have truly lived up to its purpose.
This conversation is part of NLCUP’s Sembrando Sueños series, which highlights the leaders and partners shaping the future of cooperative finance through community, inclusion, and shared purpose. These reflections help set the tone for the conversations taking place at the NLCUP 2026 Conference, where credit union professionals and allies come together to learn, connect, and build what comes next.