Auto lending

Democratic lawmakers made clear at a hearing Wednesday that they do not intend to abandon the issue following the GOP's repeal of regulatory guidance last year.

The surge in originations during the first quarter more than offset a decline in demand for new leases.

The Boston company gained the mortgage platform when it bought First Choice in 2017.

The strong growth in commercial lending made up for more modest gains in credit card and auto lending, its two largest business lines.

Credit union share of the credit card market is at a record high but there are concerns that this debt could begin to sour if the economy turns.

Measures of loan performance were generally better than expected at Ally, American Express, Synchrony and Sallie Mae. Their 1Q reports suggest that consumers remain able to meet their obligations despite a long run-up in debt.

During the National Credit Union Collections Alliance conference, experts shared best practices on several topics, including navigating member bankruptcies and positioning auto loans for a downturn.

CUNA Mutual Group's February trends report showed that growth in auto loans, mortgages and membership had slowed.

About 100 financial institutions are owned by or work with Native Americans, yet traditional banking services remain out of reach for many in this demographic.

2018 was mixed bag for credit unions in the Wolverine State, with membership and lending still seeing positive numbers but down from previous years.