Credit Union Times Vol. 9, No. 46 November 18, 1998

Looking back four years ago finds a Utah judge ruling in favor of the Utah Bankers Association in a lawsuit filed against the Commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions G. Edward Leary and 11 community chartered credit unions to limit the membership base of community charted credit unions to one county. The decision effectively ended a 14-year old community credit union field of membership practice. “Judge Thorne’s ruling means a slow death and ultimately a shrinking for the 11 credit unions,” said Utah Credit Union League Director of Communications Lisa Howe. “We believe Utah consumers are the true losers.” Also in that issue former Comptroller of the Currency Eugene Ludwig predicted that financial globalization, technological advancements, and increasing parity in computer-based risk management tools will result in 21st century marketplace volatility that will make that the recent Asian financial crisis look as if it occurred in slow motion. “Banking and finance in the 21st century will be more about innovation and creativity and less about tradition,” said Ludwig. “To take advantage of the markets of the 21st century and not be upended by them financial institutions are going to have to rely on state-of-the-art systems and particularly able individuals that have the ability to react to change.”