Commentary

Online financial services - it means so many things to so many people. Internet banking, online bill payment and check image presentment, e-statements, online loan origination, and more. But, have you thought about brokerage? With the passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 the landscape of financial services and the...

Oregon credit unions were proud of their accomplishments in the 2001 Oregon Legislative Session. When the session ended on July 7, we had accomplished what we set out to do - pass favorable member business loan legislation, and update specific sections of the Oregon Credit Union Act. We did this...

Trying to deliver your product without marketing is like trying to have a party and not inviting anyone to attend. The party just is not going to happen. The invitation is key. It communicates the end result of all the planning and the reason(s) why people should come. The same...

It may come as a surprise to those of us who believe strongly in the not-for-profit, best-deal-around services that credit unions provide, that members will call their credit union for mortgage interest rates, then call 11 other financials and go with the one that promises them the best rate. Whatever...

We are witnessing the tremendous potential for a dramatic shift in the way financial services offered by credit unions are delivered to their members. The first leg of this journey began a decade or so ago when walk-in or drive-up members started banking by telephone and then later over the...

Recently, a well-known credit union economist stated that Fed rate cuts are good for credit union bottom lines because it increases the upward slope on the yield curve (a paraphrase). An examination of the graph exhibit shows a different reality. The chart shown here compiles Net Interest Income (NII) for...

Let's face it-life is a gamble. Help your credit union members see the wisdom of payment protection We all take risks every day, whether we know it or not. Accidents can occur while driving, flying or working in our job. Just as smart gamblers cover their bases to make sure...

An article in the May 16 issue of Credit Union Times, "Should you sell your credit card portfolio," offered some "good reasons" for selling a credit card portfolio. The suggested "good reasons" were given by a credit card portfolio sales broker. While every business decision a credit union faces has...