Lending

Unstable home values, job insecurity and volatile stock market fears may be more of a concern for some members than what the rates are at their credit unions.

The entry deadline for the 13th annual Excellence in Lending Awards, which recognizes outstanding lending results and practices by credit unions, is Sept. 7.

Just one of the provisions in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus proposed rules on mortgage servicers released Aug. 10 could cost credit unions tens of thousands of dollars, representatives of the industry told the bureau.

In light of the financial challenges faced by credit unions over the past few years and specifically the increasing interest rate risk that comes with many credit unions borrowing short to lend long, the NCUA has refocused its attention on asset-liability management functions.

Next to a home, a college education can be the most expensive purchase one makes in a lifetime. And like many people who took out mortgage loans before the Great Recession, a growing number of borrowers are struggling to pay off student loans that were originated by private lenders in...

Between March 2011 and March 2012, credit unions in Oregon and Washington grew their business lending by 9% to nearly $2.5 billion.