The combination of VyStar and 121 Financial Credit Union — both based in Jacksonville, Florida — would have more than $14 billion of assets.

The volume of bank acquisitions — either by credit unions or community banks — has dropped considerably so far in 2023. Experts, including prospective buyers, cite a combination of ongoing regulatory and economic pressures.

Executives and financial strategists are considering derivatives as a hedge against rising interest rates.

The Gardner-based institution hired Mark Hettinger, who worked the past 19 years at First Alliance Credit Union, as its new chief executive.

As more potential buyers began inquiring about the availability of QCash, WSECU decided the time was right to offload the credit union service organization it launched in 2015.

More credit unions are diversifying their investments and accessing federal funding from multiple sources to shore up against risk.

Nathan Cox, who was most recently chief lending officer at Travis Credit Union, will replace Brooke Van Vleet-Pearson as the credit union's chief executive.

Lofty fertilizer and equipment costs are forecast to cut into profits this year. Farmers are expected to seek loans to cover higher expenses, but bankers are likely to be cautious in granting credit given recessionary pressures.

Subordinated debt issuances and asset-backed securities have helped institutions of all asset sizes weather recent market uncertainties and fuel campaigns for growth, according to executives and investment experts.

Banks and credit unions compete head-to-head in many markets, so credit union CEOs take advantage of bank earnings season to gain a little extra intel. But many will scour first-quarter results as closely as ever to determine the impact of the banking crisis on deposits flows, lending and the overall economy.

Rick Hein, who has been the chief executive of the financial institution for 23 years, plans to depart next year.

TTCU Federal Credit Union in Tulsa is enlisting SavvyMoney to help members better understand their spending habits and begin improving their financial well-being.

Despite numerous changes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's final rule on Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act, lenders worry that expenses associated with reporting small-business lending data will cause smaller institutions to end their underwriting programs.

On the anniversary of the Center for Disease Control's mask guidance, banks and credit unions are striking a balance between health and branch security.

Mark Rabinowitz, the credit union's chief administrative officer, took over as chief executive on April 1, replacing Matthew Herbert.

In March's roundup of American Banker's favorite stories: How rising interest rates took community banks by surprise, small banks and credit unions react to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, ex-Wells Fargo executive Carrie Tolstedt faces potential jail time and more.

Since 2011, and in ever-growing volume, credit unions have been buying community banks. Some see it as the free market at work while bankers say this is another example of credit unions' unfair advantage.

James Norris, who joined the Germantown-based credit union in 2010, will retire April 21.

Oregon Community Credit Union is piloting a new schedule to address rising absenteeism and concerns about stress among its call center staff.

After experiencing deposit growth above 11% in 2021, credit unions saw that figure drop to 3% last year. But some CEOs say funds are flowing in again in the wake of recent bank failures.