Credit unions, small businesses and missed opportunities
Having just spent a year on the road (virtually) facilitating strategic planning sessions for dozens of credit unions – I can share that nearly all have two areas of high strategic focus through the next two years: Profitable (organic) loan growth and enhancing their end-to-end remote lending processes. There are several driving forces behind these […]
This one is for our unsung heroes
There are many awards and recognitions within the credit union space, lots of opportunities for credit unions to recognize great efforts and outcomes. The stories of these awardees are inspiring and motivate us to reach for more. No matter how many opportunities for public recognition there are, there aren’t enough to shine a light on […]
Remote work and parenting – employee engagement is key
Every company in the nation should want to help working-parent employees through this particularly difficult time. But the real question is, how? How can we as credit unions step in to support our employees’ increasingly complex lives? For those preparing to return to the office, months of working at home likely revealed, perhaps unexpectedly, that presence at the […]
Balancing act: Remote work and parenting in unprecedented times
Raising children has always been a community endeavor. As they say, “it takes a village”, and suddenly the village many of us have relied on is gone. It’s taking a toll on our careers, our family’s well-being and our children’s education. For many parents, myself included, this leaves us feeling stressed and stranded. If we […]
This planning season, think long and act short
Many of our well-laid-out action plans for 2020 and beyond have been derailed, deconstructed, or delayed. Credit union leaders are experiencing big career-defining moments and, in many ways, some of us are in crisis management mode. Credit union leaders can’t escape crises. While we can’t always avoid them, we can lead our teams through them, […]
Walk a mile in cruel shoes
I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. Our deepening economic and political divisions are toxic right now, slowly fracturing families, friendships, neighborhoods, and even the credit union space. It’s heartbreaking. I’ve found that most of the day-to-day arguments are old. But what’s new is that the divisions can be leveraged and then amplified on […]
When is it time to go?
The question of board tenure and when to step down is popping up more frequently these days, usually broached either by credit union directors who have faithfully served on their boards for a long time and are ready to pass the torch, or by a credit union director regarding another director on the board who […]
Credit unions: Still here to help!
It’s an inspiring time to be part of the international credit union movement. Credit unions from around the world are demonstrating the value of the credit union cooperative brand by investing in communities, drawing a line in the sand around deep social issues, and going the extra mile for their members and community. At a […]
Pandemic, polarization, purpose, and profit
Someday, hopefully soon, the pandemic will be a historical event that most consumers have bounced back from physically and financially. However, for many consumers the bounce-back time will take significantly longer or not happen at all. The financial aftermath of the pandemic will further accelerate the income and quality of life polarization already underway. Today, […]
Time for the ultimate examination
This is my 100th article to be published by CUInsight. By far, it has been the most difficult to write. It was difficult given all the uncertainty of the moment. The credit union movement hasn’t faced a bigger challenge. I’m confident we will collectively get through it and be stronger for it, but things will be different […]
Credit union leaders – open your eyes
The 2020 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) is in the books and for me, it was by far the best in recent memory. The presenters are always high caliber. The National Credit Union Foundation’s Herb Wegner Awards are inspiring and a reminder of what makes credit unions different, and this year didn’t disappoint. Upon further […]
Where the rubber meets the road
At Your Credit Union Partner we spend most of our time on-site with credit union leaders, discussing opportunities and challenges. During 2019, we traveled more than 150,000 miles, making 56 site visits and facilitating 32 strategic planning sessions. These diverse experiences give us firsthand insight into what is top-of-mind for credit union leaders. Five critical […]
