2026 board member voting

Please check your mailbox for a printed ballot or your email inbox on or after March 27, 2026, for voting credentials. Make sure you check your spam folder for an email from dfcuhelp@cues.org. If you can’t find your ballot, please contact us at dfcuhelp@cues.org or (866) 356-0726. Phone support is available from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday. 

After voting begins on March 27, 2026, the voting deadline will be 11:59 p.m. MST on April 23, 2026. 

The result will be posted on this website on or before April 29, 2026. 

Please contact us at (602) 433-7000 to make sure we have your correct email address and permission to send you notices like this via email in the future. 

The letter or email we will send you will provide you with a randomly generated Voting ID and Election PIN that is unique to you. This will ensure that only you can cast your vote and you don’t need to include any personal information. This will ensure that your vote as a member and part-owner is counted accurately. 

Please contact us at dfcuhelp@cues.org or (866) 356-0726. Phone support is available from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday. 

Please contact us at (602) 433-7000 or elections@desertfinancial.com if you have additional questions.

The Board is comprised of nine Directors who each serve a three-year term. Each Director is a Desert Financial Member and has extensive experience that qualifies them to serve as a Director of Desert Financial. 

The Board regularly meets to review Desert Financial’s performance, drive strategy and ensure programs and policies are in place to create exceptional experiences for members. Directors serve three-year terms and have significant responsibilities related to overseeing the affairs of Desert Financial.  

Every credit union must have its own Bylaws. Bylaws are the rules that a credit union must follow in its operations. Desert Financial’s Bylaws contain provisions about qualifications and limitations for membership, meeting and election procedures, powers of the Board and Committees and other items that govern the operations of Desert Financial. The Board and the AZ DIFI approves any changes to the Bylaws before they are submitted for ratification by the Members.

The proposed changes relate to (i) the approved field of membership, (ii) the role and responsibilities of the Supervisory Committee, (iii) the composition and certain operations of the Board, (iv) the timing for internal filing of election nominations, and (v) updates to align language with recent changes to Arizona law. More detail on these changes is provided in the additional FAQs below. A complete copy of the Bylaws is available upon request by contacting Elections@desertfinancial.com. Please keep in mind that this is an internal document and should not be downloaded or posted outside of the organization. 

Desert Financial wants to be able to serve all Arizona residents. The proposed changes would expand Desert Financial’s permitted field of membership to include anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school anywhere in the State of Arizona. Previously, Desert Financial could not allow membership for persons living in certain Arizona counties. 

The Supervisory Committee is a standing committee of the Board which oversees auditing and financial reporting. The changes clarify the functions of the Supervisory Committee and its operations and responsibilities related to financial integrity, ethics, compliance and risk management. 

First, changes have been made to clarify ambiguities related to Board compensation and Director terms of office. These changes do not materially affect the compensation or operations provisions.  

Additionally, Desert Financial modified the procedures in the event all Director positions become vacant simultaneously, by vesting the power for appointing interim Directors in the Chief Executive Officer. This establishes a more efficient and effective response protocol, ensuring smoother operations in the event of a simultaneous vacancy of Directors.  

Finally, Desert Financial has updated the required frequency of Board meetings to align with applicable law and the needs of the Board. Previously, the required meeting frequency was greater than what is required by Arizona law and did not permit flexibility by the Board in setting the frequency. 

Previously, the Bylaws required the Nominating Committee to file Director nominations with the Secretary of Desert Financial at least ninety (90) days before the annual meeting where an election is taking place. Desert Financial has modified the timing to seventy-five (75) days. 

First, Desert Financial’s purpose as stated in the Bylaws has been updated to align with the purpose of a credit union as defined under recently amended Arizona law. Namely, Desert Financial’s purpose is to promote thrift among its Members, offer them a source of credit and other financial services at a fair and reasonable cost and assist them in managing and controlling their financial resources to improve their financial well-being.  

Additionally, references to the “Superintendent” of the AZ DIFI have been changed to “Deputy Director” to align with current titles at AZ DIFI.  

Finally, reference has been added to an expulsion policy as a permissible means for expelling members from membership. This change will promote safe operations and allow the Board to adopt a fair, straightforward policy for expulsion of Members who create undue risks for other Members, the credit union or its employees. 

The amendments to the Bylaws have been approved by the Board and AZ DIFI. Members must also ratify the amendments at the upcoming annual meeting. Desert Financial encourages Members to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendments. 

Questions regarding the Bylaws may be submitted to Elections@desertfinancial.com.