PUBLICATION DATE: May 2014
As member-owned-and-operated institutions, credit unions exist to serve their members’needs. Cooperatives often can meet these needs through traditional lending products such as mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. But when a specific member segment has an unmet need, specialized lending products go a long way in developing and retaining that member base. By satisfying the exceptional needs of members, credit unions can enhance not only that segment’s loyalty but also their propensity to refer other members. In this collection, we offer several examples of credit union niche loan products to serve as a model for institutions looking for additional ways to serve their membership.