Although it's customary every January to do a “look ahead” piecefull of prognostications about the year to come, I'm going to bucktradition and limit my Washington outlook to the first quarter of2016.

Why? Because the conflict between credit unions and the banklobby could come to a boiling point in the coming weeks over NCUAregulatory relief efforts. Proposed rules regarding member businesslending and field of membership have clearly gotten the attentionof the bank lobby, and no matter how valid and useful these reformsare, bankers appear poised to ratchet up an unprecedented level ofopposition. Credit unions need to be ready to respond.