5 Niche Trade Groups Brim With Special Services

Postal, Firefighters Credit Unions Among Those With a Trade Group to Call Their Own
BY CANDICE REED CU Times

National Coalition of Firefighters Credit Unions

The National Coalition of Firefighters Credit Unions offers its services to all credit unions primarily serving firefighters and their families. Formally founded in 2008

by 25 credit unions after meeting since 1999, paid membership is voluntary; funds received go toward providing conference scholarships and access to benefits.

NCOFCU offers educational conferences and scholarships, networking opportunities with credit union colleagues through its website, “Firefighters Credit Union Community”, access to a membership database, shared policies and procedures, discussion forums, an exclusive CEO listserv network, an exclusive volunteer listserv network, and member discounts on services.

“After attending many conferences, serving as a volunteer director and firefighter and later CEO of a firefighter credit union, I found myself sitting in rooms filled with people I really didn’t know, and not much in common with,” said Grant Sheehan, the group’s CEO.

“It was then that I decided to look to putting the directors and staff of firefighter credit unions in the same room. From that point on, the attending firefighters and staff found that the brotherhood of firefighters and CEOs bonding and an open roundtable sharing of ideas and solutions was a terrific benefit that they have not found at any other conferences they have attended,” Sheehan said. Read Complete Article See all 5

Comments

Unlocking the Future: How Generative AI is Transforming Credit Unions

Unlocking the Future: How Generative AI is Transforming Credit Unions In the rapidly evolving financial landscape, technology plays an increasingly pivotal role. Among the most exciting advancements is Generative AI, which is poised to transform how credit unions operate and serve their members. Read on to discover how generative AI can reshape the member experience and optimize operations within credit unions. What is Generative AI? Generative AI refers to a class of artificial intelligence that can create new content—such as text, images, and audio—based on existing data. Unlike traditional AI, which focuses on analyzing and recognizing patterns, generative AI synthesizes new information, offering exciting possibilities for financial institutions, particularly credit unions. The Applications of Generative AI in Credit Unions Personalized Financial Advice Credit unions pride themselves on their member relationships, and generative AI can enhance these connections....

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Sunday Reading - What is the Declaration of Independence?

What is the Declaration of Independence ? The Declaration of Independence is the founding document that formally announced the American colonies' break from British rule. It laid the philosophical and moral foundation for American democracy, asserting that individuals possess inherent rights and that governments must be accountable to the people ( read summary here ). Although Thomas Jefferson is often remembered as the sole author ( read initial draft ), extensive collaboration shaped the Declaration. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams made small but impactful revisions— including Franklin’s reported suggestion to change “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable” to “self-evident”—before submitting the draft to Congress. On July 4, 1776, the final text was adopted and sent to printer John Dunlap, who produced an estimated 200 broadsides that night—but that wasn’t the actual day of American independence . Congress had voted for independence two days earlier, ...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 You Need to Prepare Now to Compete for New Fed Gov’t Funded Savings Accounts for Children

WASHINGTON–Credit unions, which often talk about the need for younger members, will now have the opportunity to compete in a new arena for the youngest members of all, as the recently passed reconciliation bill includes language creating and funding for a new savings account for children, with a one-time deposit of $1,000 from the federal government for those born in 2025 through 2028. The new accounts are expected to create a new battleground of competition for credit unions as every provider from banks to fintechs to others seeks to capture the accounts. The final version of the bill makes the tax-free savings accounts for minors, called Trump accounts, a form of individual retirement account (IRA) under Sec. 408(a), according to the Journal of Accountancy. Under the legislation, the accounts will be IRAs (but not Roth IRAs) for the exclusive benefit of individuals under 18. About the Contributions “Contributions can only be made in calendar years before the beneficia...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Open Banking To Hit $94B By 2029—But U.S. Lags Amid Global Surge

Watch our Video on Understanding Open Banking NEW YORK—By 2029, open banking is projected to surge globally to a staggering $94.14 billion in value. Yet despite its rapid evolution and expanding global footprint, adoption remains uneven—hindered by inconsistent regulatory frameworks across countries. According to GlobalData, this disparity poses a key challenge for the sector’s success, with the U.S. notably trailing behind global peers in embracing open banking. The U.K. pioneered open banking and continues to be one of the leaders globally. The country has seen the number of users increasing, with there being 12.09 million active users of open banking in 2024 and 223.9 million payments made. This is an increase of 72% compared to the year before. “As open banking continues to flourish, it is positive to see that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) have outlined how open banking can expand further in the U.K., and also be used in variable...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Live Podcast with Bonnie Sensing, Executive VP of Nashville Firemen's Credit Union on BSA

Jo in us in this live episode as Grant Sheehan, CCUE | CEO of the National Council of Firefighter Credit Unions (NCOFCU), interviews Bonnie Sensing, Executive VP of Nashville Firemen's Credit Union. We break down the BSA complex regulations, explore BSA compliance strategies, and discuss real-world implications for directors and staff. BSA Podcast YouTube NCOFCU Podcasts

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Firefighter Credit Union Newsroom

Search This Blog