PayThink

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.

Getting started in the social media arena is relatively easy, but the steps that need to be taken to protect your reputation, your members and your employees — and the reputation of new hires — is not.

Even if your CU has ID'd lending as its "driving force," you may also find yourself responding, "Hey, the force is not with us."

There are three things you can do to create fertile ground for imagination within your credit union: attend to your sources of vitality, springboard from your strengths, and ask questions in a positive way.

What is it exactly about advertisements featuring a photo of a duck and then some version of the expression, "If it walks like a duck...," that so many creatively-challenged advertisers find appealing?

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill have scorned financial institutions for lavish spending, now is not the time for credit union extravagance.