Commentary

Marshall McLuhan, the world-renowned communications icon first coined the terms "global village" and "the medium is the message." Today the business of credit unions is the constant invention of new membership villages - community charters, global outreach, new messages, new mediums, and growing confrontations with old financial village merchants (banks)....

Given the option, most credit union CEOs would elect to eliminate paper from their day-to-day operations. Many of the benefits of a seamlessly integrated paperless environment are readily apparent. However, beyond the elimination of paper, the full benefits of a successful document management solution have not been well understood by...

There is plenty of good news about the health of credit unions. By almost all indicators, credit unions are thriving in the 21st century. In the past three years, assets and net worth have increased; delinquency has decreased; and loan-to-share ratios have held steady. However, there is also reason for...

As I write this, Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) is putting together a regulatory relief package that he hopes to introduce prior to Congress recessing for its summer break. Senator Crapo has been tasked by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) to produce a bill similar to the House-passed reg...

In action long sought by CUNA, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last month proposed that credit unions engaging in certain limited securities activities may also be exempt from registration requirements and related costs as long as such activities are conducted under the terms applicable to the corresponding bank exceptions....

Being not-for-profit, credit unions must constantly look for creative ways to reach their target audience. A very effective way is through community involvement. To enhance the credit union's public image, planning and participating in a variety of activities should be the first step. Over the years People's Alliance Federal Credit...

Designing a successful Debt Protection program can be complicated unless you and your provider understand the concept, the regulatory environment and how you can design products that will be better accepted by your members. A Debt Cancellation Contract (DCC) or Debt Suspension Agreement (DSA) is a loan term or contractual...

Recent reports concerning credit unions choosing to sell their credit card portfolios have many in the industry clamoring to know "Who will be next and at what premium?" I'd suggest, however, that the paramount question to answer is, "Are such credit unions truly getting the maximum value from their card...