INTERVIEW: Meet Jason Stverak, the former Capitol Hill staffer giving our service members reliable credit unions
THE LOWDOWN:
Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) chief advocacy officer Jason Stverak is helping our nation’s heroes have credit unions who work for them.
Stverak, a graduate of the esteemed Baylor University and Capitol Hill alumni, said his council is “also advancing legislation like the Veterans Member Business Loan Act.
Stverak told the Reporter that veterans “benefit immensely from partnering with defense credit unions, which are dedicated to serving those who have served our nation.”
Stverak advised congressional staff who are looking to go work at a trade association to lean “into your experience, but stay humble and hungry.”
Our service members defended us on the battlefield, so we need to take care of them at home. This is a rallying cry heard around the country, but Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) chief advocacy officer Jason Stverak lives it every day.
Stverak caught up with the Washington Reporter in an interview this week to talk about his work ensuring our nation’s heroes have credit unions who work for them, especially as they return to civilian life, and gave a peek into his priorities at DCUC.
“DCUC represents credit unions that serve our nation’s service members, veterans and their
families,” Stverak told the Reporter. “My top priority is making sure Washington policies support – not hinder – those credit unions and the people they serve.”
“That means defending the credit union tax status, protecting credit card rewards from harmful
regulation, ensuring that the Department of Defense works with financial institutions on bases,
and pushing back on overreach from federal agencies like the [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)] or [the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)] when it would hurt servicemembers or veterans,” he continued.
Stverak, a graduate of the esteemed Baylor University and Capitol Hill alumni, said his council is “also advancing legislation like the Veterans Member Business Loan Act, which would allow credit unions to better support veteran entrepreneurs, and championing amendments in the National Defense Authorization Act that would improve the Military Banking Program.”
The former Senate deputy chief of staff joined the DCUC in April of last year, having moved from America’s Credit Unions — formerly the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) — where he served as deputy chief advocacy officer for federal government affairs. Stverak was also named as one of Washington, D.C.’s top lobbyists in 2022 and 2023.
Stverak told the Reporter that veterans “benefit immensely from partnering with defense credit unions, which are dedicated to serving those who have served our nation” and noted that these “not-for-profit financial institutions offer lower loan rates, higher savings yields, and reduced fees, directly enhancing veterans’s financial well-being.”
“They’re also mission-driven: their policies and products are specifically designed with veterans and military families in mind,” he said.
“A compelling example of this support comes from Vice President J.D. Vance,” Stverak continued. “During a recent visit to Quantico Marine Corps Base, he shared a powerful personal story highlighting the critical role military mentors and defense credit unions play in a servicemember’s life.”
“As a young Marine, he was about to purchase a used car with a 21 percent interest rate — until Gunnery Sergeant Arledge intervened and suggested he visit Navy Federal Credit Union,” he said. “There, he found a significantly better loan option, saving him thousands of dollars. That kind of financial guidance changes lives and is exactly what defense credit unions deliver every day.”
Stverak added that many “DCUC credit unions also participate in the Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP),” which provides “veterans with no-fee checking accounts, safe access to their VA benefits, and even financial education services to help them improve their credit or transition to civilian life.”
When it comes to the public’s perception of credit unions, Stverak said people “often think credit unions are just smaller banks,” but that assumption “couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“Credit unions are member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperatives. Every dollar earned goes back to the members in the form of better rates, lower fees, and community support. That’s why credit unions save members billions of dollars every year. What many also don’t realize is that credit unions serve more low- and moderate-income areas than banks do — over 70 percent of branches are located in those communities. And defense credit unions, in particular, play a frontline role in protecting financial access for military families — often being the only safe, affordable institution on base. So credit unions aren’t just another financial option — they’re a mission-driven alternative that puts people before profits. That’s a distinction more people need to understand.”
Stverak advised congressional staff who are looking to go work at a trade association to lean “into your experience, but stay humble and hungry.”
“Hill staffers know how policy gets made — that’s gold in this town,” Stverak said. “But moving to a trade association means becoming a subject-matter expert and a coalition builder. You’re no longer advising one office — you’re advocating for thousands of members or stakeholders. That shift is both exciting and demanding.”
“Pick a mission you believe in. I joined DCUC because I care about veterans and the military
community,” he continued. “When you’re passionate about your cause, advocacy becomes a calling, not a job.”
“And never forget: your credibility is your greatest currency,” Stverak added. “Be honest. Be consistent. Be someone members of Congress and federal regulators can trust. The relationships you’ve built on the Hill are a foundation — use them wisely.”
Lastly, Stverak said Hill staffers looking to make the jump should “understand that leadership in this space means amplifying others’ voices — especially those who may not have a direct seat at the table.”
“That’s what advocacy is all about,” Stverak said.