First-responder Credit Union Newsroom

  By Grant Sheehan For decades, firefighter credit unions have stood as a model of what cooperative finance is meant to be—institutions built not to compete ruthlessly, but to serve a shared mission: supporting the financial well-being of those who risk their lives in service to others. That’s what makes the recent actions of Firefighter First Credit Union so concerning. Firefighter First FCU was not just another participant; it was a founding member of the National Council of Firefighter Credit Unions (NCOFCU). It helped shape the very principles of collaboration, mutual respect, and non-encroachment that have long defined our community. Those principles weren’t accidental; they were intentional safeguards to ensure that firefighter-focused credit unions could grow together, not at each other’s expense. But something has changed. Firefighter First FCU’s decision to pursue a nationwide charter marks a clear shift in direction—from cooperation to direct competition. This isn’t simpl...

  By Ray Birch MILWAUKEE—Auto lending is emerging as one of the biggest areas of risk for credit unions, even as the broader U.S. economy continues to perform better than many expected, according to Bill Handel, chief economist at Raddon, a Fiserv company. Delinquency trends in auto portfolios are now approaching levels last seen during the Great Financial Crisis, Handel said, driven by a combination of high vehicle prices, elevated interest rates and increasing financial pressure on lower-income consumers. “There’s probably still a lot of risk in the auto portfolios,” Handel said. “Our numbers in terms of delinquency behavior in the United States are now rivaling what they were during the Great Financial Crisis.” Economy Holding Up Better Than Expected Despite those pockets of risk, Handel said the broader economy remains surprisingly resilient. “If you look at the U.S. economy, it’s actually performing quite well—probably better than most people would have anticipated,” he said. ...

By Ray Birch WASHINGTON— Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham’s comments Wednesday that Republicans will “expeditiously move toward creating a second budget reconciliation bill” are giving new shape to what had been a speculative discussion in Washington—and prompting renewed attention within the credit union industry to whether the movement’s federal tax exemption could again surface as lawmakers look for possible offsets. In a post on X, Graham said that after consulting with President Trump, his team and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the Senate Budget Committee will move quickly on a second reconciliation package focused on “adequate funding to secure our homeland” and support for the military. The remarks are notable because they offer one of the clearest indications yet that a second fast-track budget measure—previously discussed but far from certain—may now be gaining traction. CUToday.info on Wednesday reached out to House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arringto...

  America's 'Best Idea'       How were the National Parks started? America's National Park System includes roughly 85 million acres of US territory, equal to the size of Germany, set aside by federal law for preservation. There are 63 areas officially designated as national parks—including the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Acadia—and more than 400 additional smaller units ( see map ). In 1872, Yellowstone was established   as the first national park dedicated to public enjoyment and recreation, though its foundation also  displaced several Native American tribes . By 1916, the growing system required the creation of the National Park Service to preserve its lands for future generations. Eventually, hunting and logging were banned in the parks, though regulated extractive activity is still permitted in nati...