Commentary

It is annual conference time here at NAFCU, a time for taking stock of where we are as a community and where we are headed. As credit union leaders convene in Orlando to discuss the important issues facing our institutions, we need to keep in perspective what is possible for...

Does your credit union's strategic plan include objectives such as increasing the number of member relationships and becoming your members' primary financial institution? If it does, "Should your credit union originate mortgage loans and retain servicing on members' mortgages?" Sometimes the obvious answer is not correct. Credit union managers typically...

Think of it as a variation on the childhood "Rock, Paper, Scissors" game. Except in this game, not only are the stakes higher, but there is one clear victor that will defeat the other two participants: job cuts will override both rate cuts by the Fed and tax cuts to...

Your member's information must be protected! Recently, NCUA released their revised regulations to part 748, which becomes effective July 1, 2001. They made some significant changes that affect how a credit union should approach security, specifically, information security. These revised regulations will impact how credit unions approach, manage and monitor...

In a previous opinion article I co-authored with Gordon Dames, CEO of Mountain America Credit Union a few years ago (CU Times, 12/17/97), we advocated a new planning paradigm. Unfortunately, we see many well-meaning boards and management teams still falling prey to a variety of planning myths - and therefore...

In her opinion article in the April 18 issue of Credit Union Times, Ann Brinkerhoff suggested that CUNA's small credit union broadcast left her with lots of unanswered questions. Ann is right! Correlating a wide range of characteristics with the degree of a credit union's success is a challenge. However,...

Ann Brinkerhoff raises some very thoughtful issues. Not all credit unions are in a position to become their members' primary financial institution, nor would they want to be. Some small credit unions may be better off as a kind of corner grocery store - not a financial supermarket - specializing...

In a recent column (CU Times, May 2), publisher Mike Welch invited further explanation of the reasons and purposes behind Credit Union House. I'd like to take Mike up on that invitation and explain a little more about Credit Union House, where it came from, what it is and will...