Not A Wall Street Merger – A Uniquely Credit Union Merger

Suddenly, the crowd erupted. Tears started flowing. Members and staff alike shouted aloud in celebration of victory. These weren’t tears of sadness, but tears of joy. Board members, staff and members embraced each other with warm hugs. In… Read More
Survive or Thrive? – The Question Credit Union Leadership Must Answer

In a perfect world, every business would be built to last forever, but that’s simply not the way things go. Competition ebbs and flows, some industries flourish, some companies flounder. In the credit union world, leaders are rapidly… Read More
5 Ways Employees Benefit From A Credit Union Merger

It seems that most of the time when employees hear whispers of a merger, they instantly become uncomfortable and begin to worry about their future. In fact, just the word merger can be terrifying to a credit union… Read More
Can The Network Credit Union Model Help You Compete?

The National Credit Union Association has suggested in more than one article that small credit unions should at least consider the idea of a network merger in the context of potentially creating partnerships with multiple small credit unions… Read More
Mergers Offer Opportunities for Credit Union Members, Employees

Banks are in business for profit, and their clientele are exactly that: customers fueling profits. The advantage of credit union banking has always been its customer service; “membership” is the advantage. Because of a credit union’s not-for-profit status,… Read More
The 3rd Best Day of My Life

We lifted our glasses of champagne in celebration; After months of evaluating merger proposals from several credit unions, selecting a finalist, and completing the final negotiations my client could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Leaning back in… Read More
How Small Credit Unions Benefit From Mergers

Today’s financial market is extremely competitive and most smaller banks and credit unions face a difficult uphill battle in trying to survive among their larger competitors. The larger a credit union is, the more resources it has at… Read More
Instant Gratification Through Mergers

Small credit union managers can be forgiven for feeling a little stressed. They regularly face one of the most challenging jobs in the financial industry: trying to operate a small, community credit union in the same field as… Read More
The Squeeze On Small Credit Unions

There was a time when a quaint, small credit union could compete with the bigger organizations in town. In simpler times, things were a lot different; however, today’s ultra-competitive credit union economy relies on economies of scale in… Read More
Should Credit Unions Grow For Growth’s Sake?

“We don’t want to grow just for growth’s sake.” It’s a comment I almost always hear during strategic planning sessions, and it reveals a potentially disastrous mindset. Growth isn’t an option to consider, but a necessity to start… Read More
5 Ways Members Benefit From A Credit Union Merger

The beautiful thing about a credit union merger is that everyone enjoys positive change, including the consumers. Member merger benefits range from financial to technological and greatly outweigh any potential negatives that might result from a merger. Many… Read More
5 Ways Employees Benefit From Mergers

Just the term “merger” can send shivers through your employees – what will happen after two companies combine, and how will it affect you? Adversarial mergers form interesting themes in modern fiction, however, they can be an enormous… Read More
Mergers: A Key Topic for Director Education

It seems mergers are always a topic of discussion in the credit union world these days. Interestingly enough, however, despite the constant conversation around the topic, many credit union leaders are unprepared when they’re actually face-to-face with decisions… Read More
Credit Union Mergers Enhance Members’ Financial Lives

A white paper recently submitted by students of the Southeast CUNA Management School, “Perceptions and Realities Surrounding Credit Union Mergers,” has revealed some interesting research and analysis in support of the mergers and acquisitions trend that’s been experienced… Read More
Millennials Are Key To Credit Union Growth

Millennials, that tenacious generation born during the late 80’s and through the 2000’s, are the driving force behind a significant upsurge in credit union growth. According to a study conducted by the TransUnion, the percentage number of millennials… Read More
The Challenge Of Keeping Up With Member Expectations

Consumers today know what they want. They do the research, shop around, and put due diligence into every decision they make. When it comes to their money, most consumers these days have a solid understanding in terms of… Read More
3 Technologies That Are Key To Your Credit Union’s Success

Have you ever stopped to think about how much technology you truly use in a day? The number of times you reach for your cell phone, rely on an app, and consult with the many computers that automate… Read More
Credit Union Succession Planning Options

From the very day a credit union is founded, planning for the future should always be on the agenda. While the economy will certainly hit ebbs and flows along the way, a successful credit union will have plans… Read More
Credit Union Mergers: Maximizing Benefits & Best Practices

You have a lot to celebrate when you’ve created a credit union that is successful enough to be sought after by larger financial institutions. All of your hard work and due diligence can pay great dividends in the… Read More
Optimizing Credit Union Financial Health & Avoiding Merger Pitfalls

The word “merger” can incite a variety of feelings, emotions, and opinions from credit union leaders. Ideally, credit union board and executive team members have steadily been working to build an organization which is financially healthy and contributes… Read More