One Movement. Are We Acting Like It?
March 26, 2026 by Scott Butterfield Something is stirring in the credit union movement. You can feel it at conferences, read it in the trades, and hear it in the hallways of league events. There is a growing tension, sometimes raw, sometimes polite, between small and large credit unions. And if we are not careful, […]
What LEGO and vinyl records can teach credit unions about reversing decline
February 4, 2026 by Scott Butterfield I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about the credit union industry’s trajectory. We all see the data: membership growth increasingly concentrated among the largest credit unions, consolidation accelerating, smaller institutions struggling to stay relevant. It’s easy to look at these trends and conclude that for many credit […]
Field of membership expansion: A high‐leverage growth strategy for small and mid-sized credit unions
November 7, 2025 by Scott Butterfield For many small and mid-sized credit unions that carry a mission to serve underserved or low-income communities, the question of “how do we grow?” is front and center. Growth is not just about adding branches, increasing assets, or merging; it is about expanding your reach, deepening your mission, and […]
What if digital-first isn’t enough?
October 10, 2025 by Scott Butterfield For the past decade, credit unions have heard a consistent message: to attract and retain younger members, go digital-first. Invest in mobile apps. Streamline online account opening. Deploy interactive teller machines. The assumption? Millennials and Gen Z demand seamless digital experiences, and if you build it, they will come—and […]
From Awareness to Action: Helping ALICE Households Through Personalized Financial Coaching
August 6, 2025 by Scott Butterfield Last month, I wrote about the importance of understanding and engaging the ALICE population—those hard-working households who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed. These consumers are the backbone of our communities, yet they live one emergency away from a financial crisis. Recognizing ALICE is only the first step; […]
When your sponsor kicks you to the curb: A wake-up call for credit union leaders
July 7, 2025 by Scott Butterfield There’s a difficult conversation that needs to happen more often in credit union boardrooms—and it starts with this simple question: What do you do when the group that helped form your credit union no longer wants to be associated with it? The U.S. credit union system was built on sponsor […]
In search of new members? Go ask ALICE
June 24, 2025 by Scott Butterfield Across the country, credit union leaders are asking the same question: Where will our next wave of new members come from? For many, the traditional paths to organic growth have slowed. Indirect auto lending, once a go-to source of new accounts, isn’t delivering the long-term member relationships we need. At the […]
Rediscovering Relevance: What Ed Filene Can Still Teach Us About Credit Union Leadership
May 8, 2025 by Scott Butterfield Nearly a century ago, Edward Filene, the founding father of credit unions in America, stood before a group of business students at the University of California and challenged their assumptions about being good in business. His talk, “Morals in Business,” was witty, provocative, and surprisingly timeless. His message? Being […]
The best credit union advice you’ll find anywhere
April 30, 2025 by Scott Butterfield What happens when over 150 passionate credit union leaders from across the country—representing institutions from Hawaii to Florida—gather in a historic hotel in downtown Spokane, Washington? Something incredible. That “something” happened April 13–15, 2025, at America’s Credit Unions (ACU) Small Credit Union Conference, hosted in partnership with the GoWest Credit Union […]
Preserving the Heartbeat of Community Development: Why Every Credit Union Should Care About the CDFI Fund
April 9, 2025 by Scott Butterfield Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of writing, reviewing, and submitting a record number of Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) grant applications. It’s been an eye-opening experience that reinforces how essential CDFI credit unions are to their communities. These institutions aren’t just providing financial services—they’re fueling […]