Strategy

Your resource for the credit union industry’s best practices when working with boards and volunteers, regulators, strategy, member value, and CUSOs.

Top Strategy Articles

Buying a Pre-Exisiting Business

Citadel Federal Credit Union in Thorndale, PA, recently took a novel approach to starting our credit union service organization (CUSO), Citadel Financial Services – buying a pre-existing business. We at Citadel have already had experience with CUSOs. We have long had a 60% ownership of a check processing organization and 100% ownership of an indirect lending CUSO that works through 165 auto dealer

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A New Employee Benefit: Long Term Care Insurance

Why long-term care insurance was added to Wright-Patt’s benefit package. Wright-Patt Credit Union reviewed its employee benefits package during 2000 to increase the perceived value of the package among employees, while strengthening cost controls for the Credit Union. The aim was to offer a benefits package that strengthens Wright-Patt’s ability to recruit and retain quality employees while managi

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Plain Vanilla Hands Down

Whitefish Credit Union will soon have $600 million in assets and 22% of credit union assets in Montana, although it is confined to a small corner of the state. It is plain vanilla, taking deposits and making loans and little else. It relies on word of mouth. Its notable success owes to its above-market dividend rate, good loan rates and a reputation for reliability.

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LIFE AFTER INDIRECT LENDING

Indirect lending was good to Affinity Plus FCU, but it did not allow for the kind of trust-based relationship building with members that the credit union’s mission calls for. So it dropped indirect lending, and discovered that member-centric product innovations, such as an alternative mortgage product, not only made up for the financial loss but resulted in stronger member relationships.

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The Charter of Choice

Moral arguments aside, Pentagon CEO Frank Pollack states that a strong business case can be made against conversions. The math is simple: the credit union charter is best for members.

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Appropriate Reaction to the DFCU Decisions: Outrage

The NCUA and the federal district court for Eastern Michigan have both erred in not making DFCU Financial live up to the credit union’s bylaws. Fundamental freedoms are at stake. DFCU members acquired three times more signatures for a special meeting than the bylaws required. But management refused to call a special meeting. NCUA and the court are allowing this democratic ownership right of the me

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Industry Insights

Return Of The Member (4Q 2015)

Which credit unions topped the charts in returning value to members?
Features

Buying a Pre-Exisiting Business

Citadel Federal Credit Union in Thorndale, PA, recently took a novel approach to starting our credit union service organization (CUSO), Citadel Financial Services - buying ...
Features

A New Employee Benefit: Long Term Care Insurance

Why long-term care insurance was added to Wright-Patt’s benefit package. Wright-Patt Credit Union reviewed its employee benefits package during 2000 to increase the perceived value ...
Features

Using the Internet to Enhance Member Services

Pennsylvania State Employees launches Internet-based credit report service.
Features

Plain Vanilla Hands Down

Whitefish Credit Union will soon have $600 million in assets and 22% of credit union assets in Montana, although it is confined to a small ...
Features

LIFE AFTER INDIRECT LENDING

Indirect lending was good to Affinity Plus FCU, but it did not allow for the kind of trust-based relationship building with members that the credit ...
Features

The Charter of Choice

Moral arguments aside, Pentagon CEO Frank Pollack states that a strong business case can be made against conversions. The math is simple: the credit union ...
Features

Appropriate Reaction to the DFCU Decisions: Outrage

The NCUA and the federal district court for Eastern Michigan have both erred in not making DFCU Financial live up to the credit union’s bylaws. ...
Features

Transparency: Keeping Integrity When Market Participants Play Outside the Lines

University FCU is the major student loan lender at the University of Texas because of the value of its product, not for its relationship with ...
Features

Our Salaries are Made Public, and With Little Comment

At BECU we file executive compensation on the IRS Form 990, which is available to the public. We believe we it’s the right thing to ...

CreditUnions.com Top Picks For 2025

The editorial team at Callahan & Associates weighs in on stories that defined 2025 through actionable strategies, meaningful insights, and perspectives that continue to influence the cooperative movement.

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