Growth strategies

When many financial institutions surrounding the small Dynamic FCU began tightening its underwriting a few years ago, the $23-million CU decided to keep loan policies the same and let the community know it had money to lend.

Greece Community FCU had to look around for ways to further reduce costs, and during 2008-2009 especially, it learned there were still many avenues to pursue.

The recession prompted GPO FCU to change its mission statement and focus on saving members even more money.

The most effective recession survival strategy for Partner Colorado CU here wasn't about what was cut, but what wasn't cut.

If the recession taught anything to Sean McDonald, director of business development at Mid-State FCU, it's that there's nothing wrong with being assertive.

An increased focus on relationships and a member's commitment to getting out of debt were major takeaways from the recession for Community Financial Members CU.

The prolonged downturn in the economy delivered two vital, and painful, marketing lessons that credit unions share with many businesses.

The main point I think we learned during the recession was that real estate lending is not a sure bet. Members are even willing to walk away from their homes, which was not always the case.

Insight Credit Union told Credit Union Journal it has worked diligently over the last two years to find ways to work within the new economic climate in which every CU now finds itself.

Thanks to the recession, credit unions are now much better mangers of bankruptcies, while underwriting is even more sound.

Belt tightening during the recession has led to fewer CUs underestimating the impact of fraud.

There were several lessons from the past that our credit union was able to leverage once again during this recent period of turmoil: Accept and move on; people are everything; decisions are a must; communication is essential; cooperation is crucial; regulators count; philosophy works.

Redwood Credit Union has survived and succeeded the past few years by essentially doing the opposite of what everyone else was doing.

Many have stated a reluctance to return to previous debt loads, which could impact balance sheets for the next five to 10 years.

The credit union mission, "people helping people," becomes inherent in these hard times; the call for local charitable support is greater than ever.

Forth Worth Community CU emerged from the recent recession saying it has been reminded of one important lesson: the importance of a diversified marketing strategy.

The recession led Ent FCU to take a different approach to its collections process, including rebranding its collections department, and beefing up its staff.

There is such a thing as too many loan promotions. CP FCU learned that the hard way.

One lesson that should not have been learned during the recession to: trying to minimize or even eliminate risk altogether.

If credit unions learn just one thing from the recession, it should be that they're not just tied together through the cooperative spirit-they are also bound together for better or worse as a regulated industry.