Commentary

A viable dual chartering structure has been a cornerstone of our credit union system in this country since its earliest years. By "dual chartering" I mean not only the facts that credit unions have a choice of state or federal regulation, but that state and federal credit unions, as well...

Credit unions have great potential to help Americans realize the dream of homeownership, yet they remain relatively minor players in the mortgage market. We hope to change that by eliminating some of the barriers credit unions, especially smaller ones, face in originating loans and selling them to the secondary market....

How many times have you found yourself in a conversation on a plane, at a banquet, or child's soccer game, and you are asked what type of work you do? Your answer, "I work in the credit union industry" usually leads to the same enthusiastic response "I have a great...

The economic shift has played havoc with state governments, everywhere. The latest figures suggest that states will see a shortfall of $40 billion in revenue by yearend 2002 and the outlook is no better for 2003. In fact, according to a recent report released by the National Conference of State...

A family farmer needs a $90,000 loan to buy the fans that cool his chicken coop. A couple needs a small-business loan to $____ sturn their home into a bed and breakfast. Another couple seeks $175,000 in capital for their growing house-cleaning business. A gym owner is hoping for a...

In a strong economy, it's not always easy to tell if your business is firing on all cylinders. Sure, profits are up and the stock is going through the roof, but sometimes the good times can mask problems. Unfortunately, those problems seem to come to light when the economy isn't...

There is little doubt that the U.S. war on terrorism will continue into the foreseeable future and beyond. Most experts also agree that more attacks against the U.S. are likely to occur. The question is not if terrorists will strike again, but when, where, and how will they strike. In...

Most CUs spend a lot of energy convincing members of the value of credit union ownership. Isn't there equal value for a credit union in securing ownership in its own strategic partnerships? The benefits of credit union vendor equity are like the benefits of CU membership. A member wants long-term...