Survive or Thrive? – The Question Credit Union Leadership Must Answer

Credit Union - Survive or Thrive?

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

Credit Union Merger Approvals – February 2017

Credit Union Merger Approvals - February 2017

NCUA approved 14 mergers in February 2017 which decreased from 21 last month. The number of mergers are down and the combined assets of merged credit unions are down nearly $990M compared to last month.  For the month… Read More

Can The Network Credit Union Model Help You Compete?

Network Credit Union Model

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

Mergers Offer Opportunities For 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

Credit Union Mergers & Real Estate Due Diligence

Credit Union Mergers & Real Estate Due Diligence

Real estate holdings and leases are a big component in credit union mergers and can be one of the key advantages. For example, most institutions consider three to five years a reasonable time to reach break-even in a… Read More

How Small Credit Unions Benefit From Mergers

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

Mergers Provide Instant Gratification

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

Should Credit Unions Grow For Growth’s Sake?

Growth 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

Every Credit Union Needs A Growth Plan

Growth — It’s a word synonymous with success for most businesses. In the credit union world, however, growth isn’t necessarily as cut-and-dry as building a bigger balance sheet. In today’s competitive marketplace, financial institutions are often considered successful when… Read More

Credit Union Mergers – September 2016

  NCUA approved 19 mergers in September 2016 which stayed the same from 19 last month. The difference is that there is one credit union, Northwood, that merged 4 tiny credit unions this month. While the number of… Read More

5 Steps To Merger Success

5 Steps To A Successful Credit Union Merger

As a credit union leader, you should always have your eye on the competition. In today’s aggressive market, it’s not always just about making your credit union better than the rest; knowing who your greatest competitors are can… Read More

5 Ways Members Benefit From A Credit Union Merger

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

Considerations for Adding a Merger to Your Credit Union’s Growth Strategy

Adding a Merger to Your Credit Union’s Growth Strategy

In the credit union industry, size matters. Mergers offer credit unions a strategic opportunity to gain a competitive advantage through growth. Credit union mergers and acquisitions have been on the rise for several years. In 1969, there were… Read More

5 Ways Employees Benefit From Mergers

How Credit Union 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

Credit Union Board of Directors - Merger 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

Credit Union Mergers Increase Member Satisfaction

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

Credit Union Mergers – July 2016

Credit Union Mergers July 2016

NCUA approved 11 mergers in July 2016 which has decreased from 16 last month. The number of mergers are down and the combined assets of merged credit unions are also down nearly $77 million compared to last month. … Read More

Millennials Are Key To Credit Union Growth

Millennials and Credit Unions

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

Credit Union Mergers – June 2016

NCUA Approved Credit Union Mergers June 2016

NCUA approved 16 mergers in June 2016 which is up from 10 last month. The number of mergers are up and the combined assets of merged credit unions are also up nearly $10 million compared to last month.  Compared to… Read More

The Challenge Of Keeping Up With Member Expectations

Challenge Of Keeping Up With Credit Union 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