Commentary

Just five years ago, credit unions were emerging from the most demanding legislative battle they had ever waged - the fight for passage of the Credit Union Membership Access Act. In the process of that emergence came the stark realization that the allocation of resources for their trade groups -...

There are many risk issues that credit unions face today in the management of a credit and debit card business. Card fraud is a risk that is growing each year and the impact on your business is more than monetary losses. While chargebacks reduce your actual losses and insurance coverage...

Conventional automobile loans are the mainstay of credit union lending. Despite the recent mortgage-lending boom, auto loans represent the largest category of consumer debt and hold the largest slice of the total credit union loan portfolio with over $140 billion outstanding, according to Callahan & Associates. Credit unions cannot afford...

For some credit unions, "advertising" means "marketing." But in truth, that's like saying flag football is just like NFL football. Both may be played with pigskins, but it's hogwash to say they are the same. It's time credit unions stop equating advertising with marketing and get busy playing "full contact...

2003 was a year of great achievement for credit unions. Here at CUNA there are some we are particularly pleased about given our role in the process. Congress passed two major bills for consumers and credit unions, which CUNA worked for vigorously. The "Check 21" bill (which would revolutionize the...

Looking back on 2003, it is difficult to identify one event as the most significant for credit unions; rather, I would say there were a series of critical events that make 2003 not only a year to remember but one that was particularly productive for the credit union community. As...

Identity theft is the most popular form of consumer fraud, in part because it is the most profitable. According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity thieves stole nearly $100 million from financial institutions last year, or an average of $6,767 per victim. During the past four years, identity theft has...

The most recent and General Accounting Office (GAO) report on credit unions, like most GAO reports, turns out to be a mixed bag-a common characteristic of such reports, of which several are issued every day here in Washington and on virtually every subject under the sun. One overriding aspect of...