Let's Focus on Priorities

Many thanks to Mike Welch for keeping everyone focused on what’s really involved in NAFCU’s public campaign against private insurance. It’s not the merits of private insurance, but the wisdom of publicly debating the merits. Credit unions currently have much more to consider and be prepared to debate in public than deposit insurance. Nationwide, we need to demonstrate unity in addressing the bankers’ ongoing campaign to divide and conquer credit unions by arbitrarily targeting us for taxation. In Washington, we need to promote regulatory relief, push for bankruptcy reform, and oppose unwarranted and burdensome financial privacy regulations. All these efforts will expose us to criticisms which credit unions must be prepared to answer. And that fight will be between us and the bankers – and won’t turn into a harmful display of credit union infighting. Apparently, the Consumer Federation of America believed it was important at this time to call for universal federal deposit insurance for credit unions. That’s their prerogative. It’s unfortunate that NAFCU has suggested that credit union boards not be permitted to make this decision. Subsequently this position has leaders in our movement squaring off against each other in a very public forum. There are far more pressing issues today that require our time and energy, as well as our full and united concentration. Thomas R. Graham President and Chief Executive Officer Kinecta Federal Credit Union Manhattan Beach, Calif.