Not long ago credit unions were debating whether or not they should be offering credit cards. Today the focus has shifted away from controversy over offering credit card programs, to selling those CU credit card portfolios lock, stock, and barrel to a third party. The argument back then was that...

Credit unions and all those involved in any way with them have never experienced more uncertain times. Since the horrific tragedy of September 11th, everything has changed. Attitudes, priorities, goals, purchasing decisions; personal safety; transportation; and much more are undergoing constant review. It is painful to look back. It is...

The economic fallout from the September 11 tragedy continues to make headlines and have ramifications for credit unions. Sharing page one are troubling stories of a depressed stock market, massive layoffs, job losses caused by increased security (the elimination of curbside check-in, etc.), and greatly curtailed leisure and business travel...

There is a reason why this issue of Credit Union Times is a whopping 92 pages and contains many special features and stories with a direct connection to CUNA and NAFCU. (See page one box.) Most major credit union meetings include exposition programs that showcase all major vendors serving the...

My column in last week's issue was written earlier than usual in anticipation of being out of the office at deadline on a long-anticipated family vacation trip to the magnificent Canadian Rockies. The column left behind was intended to be a hard-nosed look at what really constitutes credit union membership...

Despite all the good that came out of the CUNA Renewal Project a few years ago, there still seems to be some confusion and outright disagreement over whether or not individual credit unions are direct members of CUNA, at least in the fullest definition of what membership actually means. In...

Any one involved with credit unions knows that one of the favorite activities of the banking industry is to crab long, loud, and consistently about credit unions. Every move by an individual credit union (new product, service, marketing campaign, facility, etc.), or a CU regulator (changes in CU membership qualifications,...

As busy and dedicated as credit union staff and volunteers are, never doubt that they also have a life beyond their jobs. Our editorial staff was so convinced that readers would find occasional, after hours, personal tidbits about credit union people so interesting that they recently created a new Credit...