Looking Back on the Top Stories of 2015
January 5, 2016 4:15 PM
From the bitcoin money laundering scheme that brought down a credit union to bankers threatening lawsuits over proposed changes to field of membership, Credit Union Journal presents the most popular stories of 2015.
No. 10: <a href="http://www.cujournal.com/news/growth-strategies/the-future-of-field-of-membership-1024592-1.html" target="_blank">The Future of Field of Membership</a>
As NCUA re-examines its own field of membership rules in search of opportunities to make it easier for credit unions to grow, it's not just looking inward. The regulator is also looking toward the 45 states that have CU-enabling statutes of their own. As part of this report, Credit Union Journal also compiled a state-by-state comparison of field of membership rules .
No. 9: <a href="http://www.cujournal.com/news/growth-strategies/horse-and-buggy-loans-how-cus-serve-the-amish-and-mennonites-1024929-1.html" target="_blank">Horse-and-Buggy Loans: How CUs Serve the Amish and Mennonites</a>
While credit unions have always catered to a wide variety of employee and community groups, among the most unusual may be the Amish and Mennonites. Credit Union Journal spoke to three institutions in this marketplace to get a better picture of what it's like to work with these largely isolated faith-based communities.
No. 8: <a href="http://www.cujournal.com/news/compliance/low-income-cu-involved-in-bitcoin-money-laundering-scheme-1024743-1.html" target="_blank">Low-Income CU Involved in Bitcoin Money Laundering Scheme</a>
In July, Credit Union Journal learned that two Florida men with connections to a $200,000-asset New Jersey credit union were being investigated by the FBI for running an unlicensed Bitcoin exchange for the purposes of money laundering. The scheme led to the downfall of tiny Helping Other People Exceed FCU and had some observers suggesting the incident highlighted concerns expressed in a confidential report by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to NCUA .
No. 7: <a href="http://www.cujournal.com/news/payments/six-months-before-emv-deadline-where-do-cus-stand-1024248-1.html" target="_blank">Six Months Before EMV Deadline, Where Do CUs Stand?</a>
With just six months to go before the EMV liability shift deadline, Credit Union Journal asked payments experts just how ready are credit unions? The answer, they said at the time, very much depends on how members want to pay.
No. 6: <a href="http://www.cujournal.com/news/growth-strategies/top-five-challenges-credit-unions-address-their-strategic-plans-this-year-1024828-1.html" target="_blank">The Top Five Challenges Credit Unions Must Address in Their Strategic Plans This Year</a>
From upgrading technology and delivery channels to attracting and retaining the best talent, experts offered up key areas that must be addressed if a credit union wants to continue to grow.
No. 5: <a href="http://www.cujournal.com/news/generalnews/cuna-announces-senior-staff-restructuring-eliminates-positions-1023751-1.html" target="_blank">CUNA Announces Senior Staff Restructuring, Eliminates Positions</a>
CUNA kicked off 2015 with the announcement that it was restructuring its senior leadership team in order to streamline the association. The move, dubbed "1CUNA" led to the elimination of two veteran staffers: General Counsel Eric Richard and VP of Communications Pat Keefe. Not long after that, Mary Dunn, who survived the restructuring, announced she would be leaving the trade group , as well.
No. 4: <a href="http://www.cujournal.com/news/compliance/field-of-membership-clash-between-cus-banks-takes-nasty-turn-1025297-1.html" target="_blank">Field-of-Membership Clash Between CUs, Banks Takes Nasty Turn</a>
The head of the Independent Community Bankers of America fired a shot across NCUA's bow, threatening legal action if the agency moves forward with its proposed changes to the field of membership rules .
No. 3: <a href="http://www.cujournal.com/news/growth-strategies/big-hit-to-bottom-line-may-be-coming-1024422-1.html" target="_blank">Big Hit to Bottom Line May Be Coming</a>
Credit union CFOs cited plans by the Federal Accounting Standards Board (FASB) to make changes to how financial institutions calculate allowances for loan loss reserves—moving from an incurred loss model to an expected loss model—as one of the top challenges they face.
No. 2: <a href="http://www.cujournal.com/news/lending/ncua-approves-big-changes-to-member-business-lending-rule-1024586-1.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">NCUA Approves Big Changes to Member Business Lending Rule</a>
In what would be the first comprehensive rewrite of its member business lending regulation since 2003, the NCUA Board unanimously approved a proposed series of changes that would make it markedly easier for CUs to lend to businesses at its June board meeting. The move prompted a massive letter-writing campaign by bankers opposed to the proposal.
No. 1: <a href="http://www.cujournal.com/news/compliance/matz-comments-on-capitol-hill-spark-furor-1024753-1.html" target="_blank">Matz Comments on Capitol Hill Spark Furor</a>
In late July, NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz testified before a House Financial Services Subcommittee in which Matz suggested that credit unions that question the agency's budget increases don't represent members' best interests, earning more than a few sharp comments from credit union stakeholders. Matz later issued an apology, clarifying that she did not intend her comments to suggest a lack of faith in credit union leadership.
