Lending

Student loan debt remains a stress-inducing burden for many college students, recent grads and their families.

Retirement plans and paying off the mortgage have traditionally gone hand-in-hand as people approaching retirement anticipate eliminating a payment that typically claims the largest single chunk out of the monthly budget.

With a combination of used vehicles reaching their maturity mark for some car drivers and record financials from manufacturers that have emerged from a dismal scene, 2013 may shape up to be a solid year for auto lending growth.

CUNA announced new legislative priorities for 2013 that include four key agenda items: preserving the credit union tax exemption, reducing regulatory burden, engaging in housing finance reform and advancing credit union charter enhancements.

While some believe the overall financial condition of the credit union industry has improved since a near collapse several years ago, the number of credit unions considered for conservatorship is still high.

The NCUA filed suit late last month against David Addison, former CEO of Texans Credit Union, accusing him of breach of fiduciary duty and gross negligence that led to the $1.4 billion credit unions April 2011 conservatorship.