BankThink

Transferring credit risk to insurance companies, hedge funds and anyone else who wants it will free the banking system as a whole from dependence on shaky formulas that no one fully trusts.

The scoop by American Banker last week that Bank of America is charging some new customers a fee for paper statements generated a torrent of comments across the blogosphere

There is no question this past year has been one of extraordinary challenges to all those in the financial services industry. Yet, we are still standing. So the question is, "Now what?"

In politics, effective politicians have often found a middle ground between the federal and state charter, yet until recently there has not been a "third way" in the debate. One person is hoping to change that.

While the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was being rolled out before a shocked Congress and national taxpayer audience, NCUA, CUNA, NAFCU and NPCUs were quietly (some even smugly) sitting on the Toxic Asset Containment Secret (TACS).

A reader responds to "Members Reap Rewards Of Pre-Merger Payout": While the payout is arguably a fair distribution in advance of the merger, keep in mind that those who were members in years past, but are not now, are excluded whereas those who reap the benefit of the distribution may not have "earned" it.

One of the cost-conserving areas is the annual board retreat. Most often the board retreat is for planning. But many CUs use it for more than that. I for one believe that the level of planning the board should be on does not need annual retreat attention.

WOCCU is projecting more than 2,000 people will attend the 1 Conference. This would be a very good time for the host country to do a little less speaking and a lot more listening, as CU communities from other parts of the world are doing some innovative things.

As identity theft and credit card fraud surge, credit unions can be the hero in safeguarding members' personal and financial information.

With commercial real estate values and rents down 30% to 40% nationwide, across most sectors and metro markets alike, real estate investors — and the banks that lend to them — have already been hit by commercial real estate market’s tsunami. But many believe the worst is yet to come.