I Get Up Again
Life isn’t for the faint of heart. Neither is working in the credit union movement. Over the past 40 years, I’ve learned that no matter how carefully we plan, life has a way of introducing challenges we never saw coming. Emergencies. Health issues. Loss. Betrayal. Unexpected setbacks. Toxic environments. Professional disappointments. Circumstances beyond our control […]
Growth Without Drift: The Board’s Role in Protecting Culture During Expansion
Growth is exciting for credit unions. A new branch, a merger opportunity, an expanded field of membership, or a fast-growing lending program all create momentum and optimism inside an organization. In many boardrooms, these milestones are naturally viewed as signs of progress and success. But growth also creates pressure: pressure on leadership teams, systems, staffing […]
Why Developing Latino Credit Union Professionals Is Mission-Critical for Our Future
We (YCUP) are better credit union leaders today because Latino and Latina leaders have shaped our careers, challenged our thinking, supported our growth, and inspired us to lead with greater purpose. That is not an abstract statement. It is a lived truth. For nearly 15 years, Pablo DeFilippi, EVP at Inclusiv, has been a mentor and […]
When Vendors Say “Merge for Growth” — Why Merger Isn’t Always the Right Answer for Growth
Every day, credit-union leaders open their inboxes to a familiar-looking message: “Expand fast. Acquire now. Merge for growth!” These emails—from consulting firms, tech vendors, or service providers—pitch mergers as the shortcut to scale, new markets, and competitive advantage. The message is seductive: “Why wait for organic growth when you can merge and leap forward?” But for many […]
Watch: Scott Butterfield Recaps the Small Credit Union Roundtable at ENGAGE 2026
Scott Butterfield recently joined CU Broadcast to discuss the key themes and insights that emerged from the Small Credit Union Roundtable at ENGAGE 2026. The session brought together leaders from smaller credit unions to share perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the movement, from growth and member engagement to operational efficiency and long-term sustainability. […]
Strategies for the Long-Term, Plan for the Pivot
Does your credit union’s strategic plan live in a binder? It should be an ongoing process. Recently, it can seem as though every aspect of society is moving at the speed of light: everything from technology to interest rates, to members’ priorities can change in the blink of an eye. “We are now in a […]
The perfect pairing: Links between the wine industry and credit unions
Over the years, when I have asked people what kind of wine they like, most respond with answers such as “Cabernet” or “Chardonnay”. When asking credit unions what makes them different versus other financial institutions, they often respond with, “better rates”, “lower fees”, and “commitment to our members”. You might be wondering what wine has […]
Embracing the credit union difference: A closer look at where it shines
There has been a lot of conversation lately about the credit union difference, with some arguing that what we as credit unions hang our hat on, doesn’t stand out much from other mainstream financial institutions. I refuse to agree with this rising chorus. I’m not afraid to admit that I’m a credit union enthusiast (geek). […]
The Credit Union Difference: Good, better and best
I’ve spent my thirty-eight-year credit union career articulating the Credit Union Difference. Whether through marketing communication as a past VP of Marketing or knocking on doors as a VP of Business Development, community development evangelist, writer or speaker, volunteer “hike the hill” political advocate or as a consultant pointing the way on how credit unions […]
Purposely pivot and prosper
Seeing smaller credit unions merge frustrates me. I believe a majority of mergers could be avoided if credit union leadership had decided to strategically pivot at the right time. Of course, there are mergers that happen because of succession challenges. And unfortunately, I feel there are too many mergers used as a retirement strategy (bad […]