Wirz: I Am Not Against Small CUs, but Do Object to the Focus on Size

An article in the Sept. 23 issue caused dissention and some anger. I have gotten calls that my remarks suggest that I am against small credit unions and do not want to help them. My comments have been hard to understand. I wish to clarify my views on support for small credit unions.

I object that so much emphasis by trade associations and the NCUA is focused on one goal-saving small credit unions. I would rather that our focus be on making credit unions the preferred choice of consumers. If we do that, then all credit unions will prosper-large or small. The focus on small credit unions ignores the purpose of a credit union. The purpose is to meet the needs of members. The concern has been that we are losing our small credit unions, and, therefore, we need to do something. We are not losing small credit unions because they are small. When a credit union fails, it fails because it is not meeting the needs of its members.