Never tell Michael Bell, attorney and counselor at Royal Oak,Mich.-based law firm Howard & Howard, something can't be donewithout a ready response to two simple words: Why not?

“It's an almost visceral response. For someone to say you can'tdo that, well, you've said it to the wrong guy. I believe once wetalk it through, we'll find there truly is no reason to say that,and you don't even believe it yourself,” said Bell. “It's true, youreally can do anything you want, it's just a matter of finding abetter way for it to be done. There is always a way. I refuse tobelieve there's not. Some ways are better than others, but never isthere a can't.”

The expectation of a positive outcome has always been ingrainedin Bell since he was young. And now he's the latest Trailblazer 40Below from Credit Union Times.

“No means not yet. And I don't mean that in an adversarial ornegative way. When I was a kid, it may have bothered my mom a bit,but that's always the kind of person I've been,” said Bell. “What'salways inspired or motivated me has been this burning desire towork with people to achieve a goal that's cutting edge. That'swhat's great about the credit union space, working together toachieve and maybe do something never done before. It's like theicing on the cake.”

For Bell, his leadership and communication style have alwaysbeen about being direct, factual and working alongside clients as aco-worker to make a difference.

That can-do tenacity has driven Bell to help credit unions liftthe veil of commonly perceived obstacles to discover newopportunities through innovative solutions.

For example, Bell has worked alongside St. Joseph, Mich.-basedUnited Federal Credit Union as it became the first federallycharted credit union to acquire a thrift with the acquisition ofGriffith Savings Bank. He also has advised Garner, Mass.-based GFAFederal Credit Union as it navigates its purchase of the $83million Monadnock Community Bank in New Hampshire. Theunprecedented transactions, which have broken new regulatoryground, could open the door for other credit unions to followsuit.

“Human nature, whether a client or regulator, is to say no,”said Bell. “But the truth is, if you look at a problem and inlooking at all the reasons why you can, you'll find that thebiggest why you can do something is if you don't find anything thatspecifically said you can't.” 

He added that while others may complain about the NCUA, he hasnothing but good to say about the regulatory agency.

“They have the right attitude about them in saying, let's figurethis out together and keep taking things as they happen,” saidBell. “If you do find that wall or red flag, then it becomes aboutjumping over, around, digging below it. It's about taking apositive approach of let's do something great, innovative that'snever been done before and shift from no.”

He added that the conversations with anyone involved, whetherregulators or the board of directors, essentially boiled down toconstantly asking the simple question, “Tell us why not and give usthe chance to find a solution.” 

For Bell, some two to three first-evers represent just the tipof new credit union opportunities.

“There's a new twist every time,” said Bell. “To truly innovate,I think it's important to get out of the silo of the credit uniononly space that all we can do is what has always been done, andwe're stuck here in these self-imposed parameters. Break out,because there is a whole world out there bigger than ours thatincludes thrifts, banks, direct competitors.”

He added that throughout history regardless of the topic therehas always been someone to break new ground with a first.

“The biggest myth that holds people back is this idea thatbecause something has never been done before it can't be done,”said Bell. “To that I say, O.K. let's think back, someone at somepoint made the first auto loan or residential mortgage, so why notbe the financial institution that is the first to blaze the trailfor others? Someone's got to do it. Why not you? People talk aboutinnovation as thinking outside the box. What I tell people to do islive outside the box by building new boxes. That's what we did withthat first transaction with United Federal and put a name to it,and it carried through to a new path, new trail for growth.”

Given today's competitive environment, Bell said a break fromthe norm is essential.

“Looking ahead, the industry's competition is honestly creditunions themselves. It's internal and organic. There's pressure onall sides, including from emerging nontraditional financialservices players. It's no longer about looking across the streetbut taking a hard internal look and realizing that you've got tofind new pathways,” said Bell. “And I'm not talking about growthjust for growth's sake but getting the senior leadership team andboard around the table to discuss how to break out of themold.”

He added the most important question in terms of strategy has tobe how to improve upon the status quo.

“I'd like more credit unions to ask what have we never donebefore? What haven't we thought about,” said Bell. “A good place tostart is to go through your traditional basket and look at ideas orprojects that you've said no to before. Forget everything you'vealways assumed. Rethink it. Is the answer truly still a no? In2011, the idea of a credit union buying a bank would be nuts. Thatwould be like moving to Spain to speak French, and yet it's beendone in 2012.”

He doesn't claim to have all the answers but said credit unionsshould take it on as a fun challenge to replace every no with whynot?

“Do you want to continue to compete head on, like others infinancial services and swim in the same ocean, ride the same wavesor break free and try something different? Grow in a way thecompetition is not growing,” said Bell. “Your competitive advantageis to grow a new way. There is a new flexibility, and this is theperfect spot to be.”

He added that the change in regulations and current atmosphererather than being a burden represents opportunity for creditunions.

“There are institutions that are not in trouble but are simplytired of the growing regulations, laws, and they just don't want toplay anymore,” said Bell. “Transactions like this present a uniqueopportunity to expand the credit union industry's slice of thefinancial services pie. Beyond that, these types of transactionsalso allow jobs to be saved and communities to continue to beserved by a financial institution. It offers a unique opportunityas well for thrifts and community banks by giving them anotherchoice for a partner when one is needed. So credit unions can bethat alternative…it's a win for everyone involved.”