Credit unions

The spending and tax package, which includes bank-friendly provisions, tax perks and GOP priorities, cleared a procedural hurdle after fiscal conservatives withdrew their objections over the weekend.

The merger, which provides for $6.75 million in payments to three Space City Credit Union executives, had drawn criticism. But Space City members approved it by an 82% to 18% margin.

Banks scored well in the tax bill out of Ways and Means this week, with wins on S Corps and rural lending, but have so far lost out on credit union taxes and additional burdens on payments competitors.

Questions remain whether Trump can legitimately remove board members from the National Credit Union Administration, and the answers lie in the courts.

The top five credit unions in the ranking had combined assets of more than $326 billion as of Dec. 31.

Three executives at Space City Credit Union in Houston will get a total of $6.75 million if the cooperative's members approve a merger. The 12,000 or so members will split $5 million.

Credit unions' federal tax exemption survived as the House Ways and Means Committee cleared Trump-backed tax cut extensions, but the issue could reemerge as a pay-for in final budget negotiations.

Tentative appointments at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Federal Reserve have compliance officers reading the tea leaves for future policy plays.

The 29 companies that made this year's list offered flexible work schedules, generous amounts of paid time off and fun activities to keep employees happy.

A draft spending bill slated for consideration in the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday maintains the credit union industry's longstanding exemption from most federal taxes, but the issue is far from settled.