Advocacy Champion Spotlight: Michael Augustine

Read time: 2 min

As part of our new Advocacy Champion Spotlight series, we’re highlighting credit union advocacy champions across the Cornerstone League region who are actively driving advocacy forward. These individuals are making a lasting impact on our movement, one conversation, one connection, and one policy at a time. To kick off the series, we’re excited to feature Michael Augustine, president/CEO of Frontier Community Credit Union in Leavenworth, Kan.

Augustine has been a part of the credit union movement since 1999. His passion for advocacy sparked in 2011 when the Kansas Credit Union Association’s Haley DaVee invited him to attend a Hike the Hill event in Washington, D.C. That one experience was all it took; he’s been involved ever since.

“I’ve attended every Hike the Hill except one since 2011, and every Governmental Affairs Conference since then, too,” Augustine shared. “I’ve also had the chance to meet one-on-one with lawmakers at both the federal and state level.”

Over time, he’s built strong, lasting relationships with legislators, relationships that allow him to serve as a reliable resource whenever financial issues come up.

One of the advocacy efforts he’s most proud of is his work with the Defense Credit Union Council. “I worked tirelessly to keep the Federal Credit Union Act from being opened up to allow for share insurance on non-member deposits,” he said. Wins like this might not always make headlines, but they’re key to protecting the credit union movement.

Augustine is known for keeping advocacy front and center, not just in policy work but in everyday conversations.

“I talk about credit union advocacy efforts and issues all the time, probably to the point that people get tired of hearing about it from me,” he admitted with a laugh. But he doesn’t shy away from the urgency. “If we don’t advocate for our industry, no one is going to do it for us. As a result, the potential impacts to the credit union movement as a whole could be disastrous.”

His dedication to advocacy has shaped both his career and his community. “Over the years, I’ve been able to build relationships with lawmakers so they know they can reach out to me when they have questions,” he said. “I’ve built friendships with credit union colleagues all over the country.”

Even when advocacy efforts don’t lead to immediate policy changes, Augustine believes they still matter.

“All credit union advocacy efforts are valuable, regardless of whether they make a specific difference,” he said. Every interaction helps move the movement forward.

For anyone who wants to get involved but doesn’t know where to begin, Augustine’s advice is simple: “Look for an advocacy mentor. There are a lot of us out there, and we are always willing to share our time and knowledge to develop the next generation of credit union advocates.”

He emphasizes that advocacy isn’t just for CEOs or compliance teams, “Advocacy issues affect every single credit union employee, regardless of their role.”

To Augustine, being an advocacy champion means being present and participating, whether that involves attending Capitol Days and Hike the Hill events, writing letters, responding to calls to action, or showing up at local events.

The future of our movement depends on the next generation. “My generation is getting older and will be retiring in the near future. Young professionals are the next generation of credit union leaders. They must engage in advocacy efforts now, so they are prepared when we are no longer around.”

Thank you, Michael, for your time, your insights, and your continued commitment to advancing the credit union movement. Your voice and leadership make a difference.