Ray Birch

JSC FCU here has disaffiliated from CUNA and the Texas Credit Union League, with its CEO saying it's time to focus on one trade organization.

In 2013 credit unions stand the best chance of standing out in the mobile space-and driving greater member loyalty-by concentrating efforts around tablet devices.

One analyst predicts this could be the year in which credit unions significantly step up implementation and use of self-service channels.

With more than $1 trillion in purchasing power, the U.S. Hispanic community will garner more FI attention in 2013, especially in terms of small business offerings and prepaid reloadable debit, predicts Miriam De Dios.

Expect 2013 to be another strong year of member growth, forecasts Stan Hollen, who recommends credit unions focus on ROA-driving strategies to offset all of the deposits coming in from the new sign-ups.

As an industry, CUs in 2013 need to begin planning for how they will do business in an era in which their tax exemption is taken away.

Credit unions will need to become even more aggressive lenders in 2013, not only to take advantage of rising consumer confidence and less deleveraging, but to ward off some other challenges heading their way.

As the housing market goes, so goes the economy. Therefore credit unions located in some of the hardest-hit economic areas of the country should enjoy improved bottom lines this year.

As if the regulatory compliance burden facing credit unions has not been big enough, expect it to be even bigger in 2013.

Looking for a little relief from margin compression? Don't look for it in 2013. Looking for what to do about it? Look to members and new pricing models, according to one analyst, who predicts margins will be even tighter this year.

The trend toward consumers leaving big banks and taking their checking accounts with them will continue in 2013. But that's not where the best opportunity lies to add new checking accounts, reminded one expert.

Efforts to form a credit union for professional athletes and their families may be standing on the sidelines.

GFA FCU is still awaiting the final go-ahead to complete the purchase of Monadnock Community Bank.

This year Belvoir FCU learned that promotions are key to increasing debit card usage.

"Cash Mobs" doubled business for a number of small Ohio enterprises this year and garnered area credit unions a lot of positive press in the process.

While NCUA wound down both Western Bridge Corporate FCU and U.S. Central Bridge Corporate FCU this year, the agency has yet to sell the buildings that were home to the former corporate giants.

Little more than a month after Visa announced 50 FIs, more than half of them CUs, had launched its V.me new digital wallet service, card processors are reporting strong credit union interest.

2012 will be remembered as a year in which credit unions received good and bad news about debit interchange.

Mobile banking got a big boost this year at Farmers Insurance Group FCU, thanks to a unique loyalty program that invited members to go online and claim more than $1 million in annual rewards.

Frankenmuth CU is now in the first year of a program making car loans to members who file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, and to date has 44 active loans for a total of $846,000 in balances with the average yield at 12.19%.