CU Lunch Local Celebrates 15 Years of Supporting Local Businesses
For 15 years, CU Lunch Local has united the credit union community around a simple goal: supporting local businesses and strengthening local economies. Founded by Michigan Business Connection (MBC) in 2012, the annual initiative will return on Oct. 13, 2026, during International Credit Union Week.
The event encourages credit unions, leagues, CUSOs, industry partners and their employees to intentionally support locally owned restaurants, retailers and other small businesses in their communities. While Oct. 13 serves as the official CU Lunch Local date, participation is encouraged throughout International Credit Union Week.
What began as an MBC initiative has grown into an annual tradition that highlights the cooperative spirit of the credit union movement. By directing everyday spending toward local businesses, participating organizations help support entrepreneurs, employers and community members who contribute to vibrant local economies.
“Fifteen years ago, CU Lunch Local started with a very simple idea: credit unions support their communities, and one of the most direct ways we can do that is by supporting the businesses within them,” said Bill Beardsley, CEO of Michigan Business Connection. “This idea has continued to resonate year after year, and we’re excited to celebrate this milestone alongside credit unions and their employees who continue to make CU Lunch Local their own.”
Participation can take many forms, including ordering meals from locally owned restaurants, organizing team outings, providing employees with a lunch allowance to spend locally, purchasing supplies or gifts from neighborhood businesses, or finding other creative ways to support local commerce.
Organizations are encouraged to share their activities on social media using #CULunchLocal, helping showcase the collective impact credit unions can make in communities across the country.
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