The credit union industry is getting considerably larger, but the number of players spearheading that growth, with one exception, is getting smaller. Industry assets have gone over $500 billion. Membership will soon be flirting with a 100 million milestone. The number of high-tech delivery systems, products, services, ATMs, and branches...

Ever wonder why front-of-the-book columns by most publication editors, including nearly every credit union publication, are devoted primarily to what's in that particular issue? Most such columns are sort of a verbal table of contents that emphasize what articles readers should especially look for in the following pages and why....

Few things raise the hackles of members of an association more than when their association appoints a dues study committee. It is pretty universally understood that the reason for taking a hard look at dues is not to find a way to lower them. More likely, such a committee can...

A financial industry regulatory relief bill (H.R. 3951) appears to be making it through the complex law making process unscathed. That should be good news for all financial institutions including both credit unions and commercial banks. However, the American Bankers Association recently withdrew its support even though the proposal contains...

There's nothing positive to be gained for credit unions by the ongoing efforts of some individuals and some organizations constantly making comparisons, usually derogatory in nature, between small and large CUs. Although nothing new, unfortunately it seems like the volume is being turned up again. Putting all small credit unions...

Over the past several years, dozens of credit unions and CU organizations have volunteered to be featured in original, full-page, color testimonial advertisements touting the many benefits of being a subscriber of Credit Union Times. One of these ads, known as house ads, runs in every issue, usually in the...

With unending attacks on credit union interests, such as those in recent weeks by the American Bankers Association, credit unions need to field an offensive effort rather than letting the defense play the entire game. Tired of waiting for that to happen, I decided to put my own credit union...

Why is it that every time credit unions figure out a way to better serve their members, it almost immediately becomes controversial in some circles? Take member business loans as a current example. It's not hard to understand all the "shame on credit unions" rhetoric emanating from the banking industry....