Credit unions

Chris Hendry has been appointed president and CEO of the Fitchburg, Mass.-based institution, having served the credit union in a volunteer capacity since 2014.

President-elect Joe Biden is scheduled to take the oath of office on Wednesday, but other changes that pertain to credit unions are also happening.

Cosby Davis joins the executive team at North Carolina's third-largest credit union after nearly a decade at nearby Allegacy Federal Credit Union.

Cybersecurity remains a priority along with CARES Act compliance, flexibility for borrowers impacted by the pandemic and more.

In placing the $6.6 million-asset institution in conservatorship, the regulator has taken charge of two credit unions in just the first two weeks of the year.

In a party-line vote, the agency issued a proposal that would redefine a "complex" credit union.

The National Credit Union Administration and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will hold strategy sessions and share information tied to consumer protections at institutions with more than $10 billion of assets.

Branch has been with WOCCU for 31 years, the last 10 of them spent as CEO.

The project will deploy $20 million as secondary capital to expand economic relief and financial inclusion, and follows a $1 million project last summer aimed at helping low-income consumers in Rust Belt cities.

The deal is a sign of further consolidation among Twin Cities-area credit unions, following another combination announced in May.

The nation's third-largest credit union saw a huge lending spike in 2020, especially in its mortgage division, while membership grew by 159%, thanks in part to merger activity.

The firm's two founders will now split duties between running the organization and focusing on future growth.

A Democratic majority in Washington may help advance a number of key legislative issues for the industry, such as passage of a national data security standard. However, it could also lead to a renewed focus on consumer protection laws.

Australia Hoover, who started as a call center employee in 1996, succeeds Betsy Mercier, who is retiring after 22 years at the helm.

Industry groups say the coronavirus has highlighted additional risks faced by institutions without a diverse member base.

Brian McVeigh passed away on Dec. 31, following a 14-month battle with brain cancer, according to a release from the Michigan Credit Union League, having spent more than 35 years serving in a variety of roles at CUs across the state.

Consumers will continue to utilize new payments methods in the coming year, but are also likely to shift between credit and debit, the company said.

Members of the House could return to Washington early this week to vote on impeachment, while the National Credit Union Administration will revisit risk-based capital rules.

In a letter to credit unions, NCUA urged federally chartered shops to expand their fields of membership to underserved areas, regardless of geography, in order to boost financial inclusion in the wake of the pandemic.

The agency will once again tackle one of its most controversial subjects when it meets on Jan. 14 for an ambitious agenda on what could be Rodney Hood's final meeting as chairman.