Ray Birch

CUs should place as much emphasis on the selection of a good meeting facilitator as they do on discussion topics for upcoming strategic planning sessions.

Planning for 2014? Successful strategic planning is an ongoing process as opposed to an annual event, advises Dennis Dollar.

Dennis Dollar expects many strategic planning sessions this fall will be examining forecasts related to the entire asset/liability mix due to the potential for rising rates.

With rising rates a distinct possibility in 2014, Gee Gee Kaufman cautioned that there are a couple of critical balance sheet drivers CUs and boards need to pay close attention to in 2013.

Strategic planning discussions often get derailed by the "under and over" dynamic between the board and management, according to Raddon Financial Group.

A review of more than 1,600 financial institutions' websites has found has found many lag in updating pricing and other information, are inconsistent with other channels, and may even invite additional regulation.

The failure of two credit unions here due to fraud has CUs in the area saying they are finding it challenging to maintain their good name, and at the same time believe they are being given extra scrutiny by regulators.

It's time credit unions make critical business decisions around mortgage lending and compliance, including staffing levels and reporting alignment, all due to new CFPB rules taking effect next year, urges one expert.

The U.S. migration to EMV is not a mandate, but it might as well be, says one compliance expert, who is also providing some guidance on making the shift to this new payments technology.

The confirmation of Richard Cordray to director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau adds some certainty to the compliance picture ahead, including that the clock is ticking on a host of new mortgage compliance rules taking effect in January.

Based on one securities firm's close analysis of the "legacy assets" of the five failed corporates, assessments for the Corporate CU Stabilization Fund should be ending soon.

New analysis by Co-Ops for Change has found that U.S. Central FCU's losses are likely to be far less than projected, and that the NCUA guaranteed notes balance is currently over-reserved by $10 billion.

Credit unions must now pay attention to an increasingly volatile long end of the yield curve, as well as to the stability of core deposits.

One analyst predicts a slow and gradual rise in interest rates in the remainder of the year, accompanied by a marked increase in mortgage lending.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio – As authorities attempt to track down Alex Spirikaitis, former CEO of the failed Taupa Lithuanian CU wanted for embezzlement, two credit unions are reaching out to TLCU members stunned by this week’s developments.

The national price for overdrafts is rising, and credit unions are driving up that fee, according to a recent study by Moebs $ervices.

Lending is up significantly at two business lending CUSOs, and both are thanking banks for a chunk of the increase.

Looking to help CUs bring more value to their members, Cummins Allison is giving credit unions several new options to place self-service coin machines in their branches.

To give CUs in Alabama, Florida and surrounding states greater access to a mobile branch when they need one, Pen Air FCU has donated one of its mobile facilities to the League of Southeastern CUs.

A mobile strategy can help small CUs play bigger to take on larger competitors, according to one consultant who shared ways to enter the mobile space on a limited budget.