Lending

MIDLAND, Mich. — Whether the money is for coping with an unexpectedly high gas bill or just paying for holiday gifts, the "Whatever Loan" continues to be a big success for Members First CU here.

Member business loans are often touted as a major area of opportunity for credit unions, but they also come with additional risk not the least of which are special concerns related to collections.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is urging the Department of Defense to finalize a proposal meant to stop lenders from offering expensive credit to military personnel.

The Federal Housing Administration is facing severe challenges next year as some pressure it to lower premiums to deal with new competition from the government-sponsored enterprises, even while its insurance fund remains weak and it faces added scrutiny from GOP lawmakers.

WASHINGTON — OAS Staff FCU here has $220,000 in new loans on the books after a summertime promotion offering loans to help their soccer-mad members afford to travel to Brazil to see the World Cup.

SEATTLE — Verity Credit Union, a $432-million federally-insured state-charter, launched a program last year to further encourage the local popularity of bicycle riding.

Eight months into the Non-Prime Auto Lending (NPAL) pilot, none of the participating credit unions has had to write off a single loan, according to the program's consultant.

The Small Business Administration has introduced a new online credit scoring tool that can be used for most of its small business loans of $350,000 or less

Data indicates that not only are more and more people acquiring credit cards from credit unions, but that the default and delinquency rates were lower for credit cards issued by credit unions than those offered by banks.

Fannie said it will immediately begin accepting applications for fixed-rate 97% loan-to-value financing of borrowers with Fico scores as low as 620. Freddie, meanwhile, took a more cautious approach, delaying the start of the program, requiring credit counseling, and in some cases only allowing Fico scores as low as 660.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced that limits on "conforming loans" — mortgage loans which conform to guidelines of government-sponsored enterprises like Fannie Mae and backed by the federal government — will remain largely unchanged next year.

Financial institutions in New York State are concerned that a slate of tough new regulations approved by Gov. Andrew Cuomo concerning the conduct and practices of third-party debt collections may eventually expand into their in-house collection operations.

DENVER—As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau prepares to establish national rules regarding payday lending, the success of Colorado's payday lending law may provide some type of model for federal action on matter. But the credit union community is cautioning that a closer look is necessary.

If banks finally start loosening up mortgage lending standards, will credit unions' hard-won market share take a hit?

PALM SPRINGS and WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — It's not often that competing financial institutions agree to share, but that's not the case for two Florida credit unions.

MADISON, Wis. — Only a third of all credit unions offer commercial loans, but they can provide a profitable business line for many small institutions, according to a white paper released by the CUNA Lending Council.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Great Recession forced many small CUs to fold or merge. Those that survived, such as Mission City FCU, figured out how to redefine opportunities.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dipping down into lower credit scores can help kickstart loan growth, but if it isn't done correctly, it's a solution that comes with significant risk. That's why Carolina Postal CU turned to Credit Score Analysis (CSA).

PLYMOUTH, Minn. — Instead of simply counting Facebook likes, followers, fans and friends, TruStone Financial Federal Credit Union here has turned this social media platform into an auto loan profit center.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a proposal Thursday that would institute new foreclosure protections for consumers after the agency found its previous mortgage rules didn't go far enough.