One of the most distinctive differences I've found betweencredit unions who are thriving in the new economy and those who arecontinuing to struggle to grow is the thinking of the CEO and theboard of directors.

A lack of growth is usually blamed on the economy or unforeseencircumstances, but the fact of the matter is, credit unions thatare thriving are being led by thinkers who are thinking forward,progressive and willing to make necessary changes to be morecompetitive.

Conversely, those credit unions struggling to grow or evenshrinking in membership or asset size or even loan volume sufferfrom self-created obstacles I call small thinking.