BankThink

I enjoyed the article and tips under the title, "MANAGEMENT: Navigating Troubled Waters: Experts Share Strategies." (CUJ Sept. 29).

It should be no secret to anyone in credit unions that strategic planning is a major focus of regulators, as well as a very necessary process needed to ensure the growth and viability of an institution. Proactive leaders effectively use the strategic planning process to develop and analyze the organization's overall goals and strategies, and document a "road map" for implementation.

As we all know too well, credit union members and consumers are struggling on several fronts. A tight economy and high fuel costs are making some people desperate for a deal on a more fuel-efficient car. And desperation can make for vulnerable consumers.

What role should customization, trending and peer comparison play in research and what is their relative importance? The first rule in any research is that it should be driven by the organization's goals and objectives. In this case, using Stephen Covey's advice to "begin with the end in mind" means determining the questions to which the institution needs answers in order to advance and excel. The implication is that customization has the highest priority in research design.

Since the introduction of Check 21 legislation, financial institutions have been implementing remote capture strategies from a number of sources. Clearly the most widely adopted application has been corporate capture, but branch capture and ATM capture are becoming more widely adopted.

Should CUNA and NAFCU merge? Would credit unions be better represented in Washington by a CUNAFCU or a NAFCUNA?

Are any credit unions too big to fail? The answer is paradoxically both "Yes" and "No."

While expectations of an imminent Fed rate hike have dissipated over the last month, widespread speculation remains that the FOMC will raise rates this year, with futures markets pricing in nearly a 50% chance of a 25 basis point (bp) hike by late October, and another 20% chance of a 50 bp hike.

I was at a meeting last week in Orlando when someone observed that the front page of that morning's USA Today was all about one topic: risk management. There was coverage of the damage from Hurricane Ike competing with coverage of Tropical Storm Credit Market Meltdown. It was hard to decide who was further under water.

The Sept. 15 CU Journal Daily Briefing] article [Losses Mount At NCUSIF]noting the largest single-month loss for our fund has given me and should give all credit union's pause. It is long overdue for a reconsideration of the Regulator/Insurer role being played out by the same people? I have a lack of comfort when I realize that this money is so easily available to wipe out the problems when we are not appraised of the reasoning behind such actions. It is long overdue to demand that an independant, objective third party oversee these fund transfers to ensure that every effort is being made to mitigate these losses to our fund.