Cost Pressures Are Changing Member Behavior
First quarter data shows how rising costs are pushing consumers toward flexibility and reshaping borrowing and saving habits.
First quarter data shows how rising costs are pushing consumers toward flexibility and reshaping borrowing and saving habits.
Home equity lending is a winning option for credit unions in today’s mortgage environment. Learn how three different shops meet members’ needs.
Where is mortgage growth coming from right now? This week, CreditUnions.com covers a mix of home equity campaigns, targeted affordability programs, and niche lending strategies that are bringing borrowers back into the market.
Manufactured home loans can provide members access to affordable housing, including those in rural areas. Two credit unions share how they approach the niche product.
After a prolonged slowdown, signs of life are returning to mortgage lending. Growth is uneven, with first-time buyers and shifting rate dynamics driving activity in select segments.
Lower prices and better amenities are making pre-built homes an appealing option for credit unions looking to bolster their balance sheet and borrowers stymied by the affordable housing crisis.
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?
This year’s finalists are uncovering new ways to harness the power of technology to improve and expand lending across the industry.
Lending is evolving, and credit unions are adapting. This week, CreditUnions.com examines how shifting economic conditions are reshaping lending strategies.
Ultra-low rates might feel like a boost to affordability, but they can create unintended challenges that ripple through housing markets, lenders, and the members credit unions serve.

Industry leaders share how they approach fintech investment, balancing immediate needs with longer-term bets while keeping member value and mission at the center.

Credit unions that enable seamless movement between fiat and digital assets position themselves as a trusted on- and off-ramp.

The credit unions that win the next generation will be the ones that showed up early, when young members were forming habits and deciding whom to trust.

The challenge is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to adopt it responsibly with the right governance, the right partners, and the right balance between technology and human oversight.

McKinsey projects trillions of dollars in growth across digital assets, with money movement emerging as one of the biggest opportunities.

The Indiana cooperative blends internal development with selective partnerships to meet members’ needs today now while positioning for what’s next.

The San Diego cooperative leans on its CUSO and the CURQL network to make fintech investments, but member needs still guide which solutions ultimately make it into the credit union’s operations.

Hands-on work with artificial intelligence tools is future-proofing staff members, giving them the confidence to adopt new technology and embrace efficiencies.

Wages briefly caught up with inflation, but rising costs have pushed them back into negative territory. Here’s what that shift means for member finances and credit union performance.

Suncoast Credit Union balances near-term needs with longer-term bets, applying discipline to timing, valuation, and fit to decide when to invest and when to walk away.