-
1 month ago | 
cuinsight.com | Robert McGarvey |Sean Galli |Kurt Klassen |Casey Boggs
Don’t tell Christine Blake her credit union is too small to play in the big leagues. She’s CEO of $350 million Cardinal Credit Union headquartered in Mentor, Ohio and Blake is acutely aware that her institution is not one of the big players in financial services.
-
Oct 9, 2024 | 
cuinsight.com | Kurt Klassen
One of the biggest challenges credit union leaders face is dealing with underperforming branches. There are four keys to keep in mind that will empower you to overcome this challenge. I’ll use a specific story to illustrate and elaborate on the four keys—a recent story with Travis Credit Union. Travis Credit Union’s branch network is located in California, with the majority of branches located in the area between Sacramento and San Francisco.
-
Sep 4, 2024 | 
cuinsight.com | Kurt Klassen
Technology and consumer behaviors have revolutionized everything from shopping to dating. As people redefine convenience on their own terms, they expect to easily and quickly be able to visit their local credit union branch. As a matter of fact, when it comes to picking a financial institution, the biggest deciding factor for modern consumers is branch location.
-
Aug 2, 2024 | 
cuinsight.com | Kurt Klassen
When you think about designing a branch with member engagement in mind, what do you think of first? Do you think of colors and interior design elements that reinforce your brand? Or maybe you think about making sure you’re in compliance with any local CC&Rs? Those things are important, to be sure, and should be included in the branch design process. But those kinds of things aren’t the best place to start. Here are 4 things to keep in mind as you design your next branch.
-
Jun 21, 2024 | 
cuinsight.com | Kurt Klassen
You’ve decided to remodel one of your branches. While the process of making that decision requires careful consideration (as we’ve discussed in both this article and this article), once you’ve decided to remodel, you’re faced with a new set of questions. In most cases, the overarching question when planning a renovation is whether the branch should remain open or closed during construction.
-
Jun 5, 2024 | 
cuinsight.com | Kurt Klassen
In the constant competition for core deposits, the first impression your branches make has a significant impact on whether or not a potential member will consider your credit union. How do you estimate your best investment—the areas where you can refresh, renovate, or reinvent branches in your network? Updating a branch location in an existing market with a strong growth opportunity draws attention in your community and drives new member engagement.
-
May 1, 2024 | 
cuinsight.com | Mark Axmacher |Scott Young |Meridith Elliott Powell |Kurt Klassen
Whether due to rapid technological innovations or economic factors, the landscape of auto sales and lending is shifting more rapidly than ever. In times like these, adaptation is crucial for survival — consumer feedback, market dynamics, and more all require a close eye to move forward with confidence.
-
May 1, 2024 | 
cuinsight.com | Mark Axmacher |Scott Young |Meridith Elliott Powell |Kurt Klassen
Student loan repayment can be complicated and difficult to navigate. With higher education costs continuing to trend upward, an increasing number of parents/guardians find themselves co-signing their child’s student loans, intertwining their financial futures. Parents need to foster open communication about the responsibilities and implications of handling this significant debt with their children.
-
May 1, 2024 | 
cuinsight.com | Mark Axmacher |Scott Young |Meridith Elliott Powell |Kurt Klassen
America’s Credit Unions President/CEO Jim Nussle wrote to the House Ways and Means Committee ahead of its Tuesday hearing with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. In the letter, Nussle called attention to the effectiveness of the Federal Credit Union (FCU) Act and urged the committee to protect credit unions’ tax-exempt status. “The tax-exempt status afforded credit unions allowed them to reach out to areas banks could not and serve those that banks would not,” wrote Nussle.
-
May 1, 2024 | 
cuinsight.com | Scott Young |Meridith Elliott Powell |Kurt Klassen |Mark Axmacher
New accounting rules for credit unions dictate that they must record losses in their investment accounts as a loss on their Profit and Loss statements monthly. That can be incredibly stressful on a credit union board if they have investment accounts that are heavily correlated with the publicly traded stock market—which has been volatile over the last several years.
