The Affordability Crisis Is Reshaping Credit Union Balance Sheets
Members are struggling with an affordability crisis that is changing how they manage debt, and new behaviors are showing up across the credit union loan portfolio.
Members are struggling with an affordability crisis that is changing how they manage debt, and new behaviors are showing up across the credit union loan portfolio.
Credit union asset quality didn’t collapse in 2025 — but it didn’t cooperate, either. What’s going on, and are credit unions prepared to respond in 2026?
As many credit unions pull back from indirect lending to manage the balance sheet, Erie FCU is leaning in. By elevating dealer engagement to a dedicated role, the cooperative is investing more resources in a business line others are rethinking.
This year’s finalists are uncovering new ways to harness the power of technology to improve and expand lending across the industry.
Affordability pressures, extended loan terms, and shifting vehicle values are forcing institutions to look beyond familiar structures and reconsider how to balance risk and return.
The 2025 conference gathered vendors, dealers, lenders, and leaders to focus on successful sailing through turbulent seas.
Blaze, Consumers, and Interra credit unions pioneer a new path to liquidity under the guidance of Alloya Corporate.
The U.S. economy is throwing up mixed signals, but America’s credit unions are delivering value and, in turn, enjoying deeper relationships, higher originations, and a stronger bottom line.
A changing economic climate is reshaping consumer borrowing patterns, presenting new challenges and opportunities for credit union lenders.
Consumers are adjusting their financing habits to the new economy, and as economic realities shift, members are rethinking how — and where — they access credit.

An expert in user experience turns complex problems and opportunities into narratives that guide leaders toward confident decisions and growth-focused investment.

The Philadelphia-area cooperative scores among rate-shopping members with a co-branded certificate that links savings returns to college basketball results.
The credit unions that will win the next decade of card growth are those that treat credit cards not as one time product launches but as dynamic ecosystems requiring continuous investment.

From where stories come from to how they’re produced and distributed, Lake Trust shares how authentic member narratives strengthen its brand and show what “positive impact” looks like in action.

Storytelling drives growth and loyalty at Navy Federal, where real member experiences become narratives that strengthen trust, reinforce value, and build lasting relationships.

Gen Z’s faith in traditional institutions gives credit unions a rich opportunity to serve as a key source of financial guidance.

CreditUnions.com is all-in on growth and marketing this week, spotlighting real-world strategies that help cooperatives serve members for life, invest in people, expand their impact, and more.

Fraud is increasing and becoming more sophisticated – and it’s often not caught until it’s too late.

A look at year-end performance trends reveals how earnings, affordability pressures, and asset quality are redefining the operating environment heading into 2026.

Members are struggling with an affordability crisis that is changing how they manage debt, and new behaviors are showing up across the credit union loan portfolio.