NEW YORK — Attendees of CUNA's America's Credit Union Conference& Expo learned that focus and maintenance members are ways togrow membership.

Rudy Hanley, president/CEO of SchoolsFirst Credit Union,formerly Orange County Teachers Federal Credit Union, presented abreakout session on successful growth strategies in theindustry.

Hanley said that credit unions encounter problems when they tryand do too many things at once. While he agreed that generation Yneeds to be served by credit unions, the underserved provide agreat opportunity for membership for credit unions and that creditunions should look into offering retirement services he said thatcredit unions should not try and offer all these services atonce.

“If we believe in member service then we're going have to makesacrifices and not offer products we can't back up with memberservice,” Hanley said. “Don't get into all these products at once,pick one to focus on because otherwise you'll be spending a lot ofmoney with very little results.”

Hanley also said that how many members you bring in is not asimportant as how many members you lose and that its keeping membersfor the long-term that is going to bring a credit unionsuccess.

“They'll be members living in Africa that stay members becausethey love the services you provide,” Hanley said.