Jim Gallagher
President
Member Business Solutions LLC
Tallahassee, Fla.
"It would have to be increasing the [member business lending] cap. If we can't do it now, I sincerely doubt that we will have this opportunity to get it back. The average credit union loan is under $200,000. We, as an industry, are meeting the needs of small businesses at a time when banks are pulling back. And, we can point to a lot of banking institutions that have failed. Our delinquency numbers are a lot lower than banks. I think there's always going to be some who will point to the small amount of losses [in the credit union industry]. But for the most part, credit unions have managed their portfolios quite effectively. Even with all of the noise banks are making, credit unions still only have a small share of the business lending market share. We are not a threat to Main Street."
Ben Cole
Director of Business/Trust Services
Central Sunbelt Federal Credit Union
Laurel, Miss.
"I would say the most pressing issue is seizing the opportunity to do commercial lending while the banks have scaled back. When the economy comes back, it's definitely going to be a dog fight. Now is a good time for credit unions because banks are not taking commercial lending as serious as before. That's what we're seeing in rural areas of Mississippi."
Robin Tuck
Branch Services Manager
Coastline Federal Credit Union
Jacksonville, Fla.
"I think it's the comfort level. With the economy and with what's been happening in the industry, it would be a huge step to do business lending now if a credit union is not already familiar with it. Something like [the MBS CU Business Summit] is a perfect opportunity to get additional information and learn about training so that it will be less of a challenge to enter as the market levels off. If the economy was in a better state, it might be a faster process to get into business lending. Right now, we want to continue gathering information because we recognize that there is a demand for it."
Joe Torre
Senior Credit Policy Officer
Member Business Solutions LLC
Tallahassee, Fla.
"Regulatory support for examiner training. NCUA put out a letter earlier this year on training and best practices. It's been a mixed bag. What we're hearing from our members is some examiners are good and some are not. They need to understand things in a broader context. Other [examiners] go strictly by the book. There just needs to be more extensive training and more practical experience. It might be helpful for NCUA to hire former FDIC people. MBS just underwent an exam. Some of the examiners were former bankers and from the FDIC. I would say they were able to provide a much fresher view."
