Letter from the Chairman

WE DID IT! The coalition held its first convention and we had over 150 attendees. There are a lot of people to thank for all their hard work and commitment for a successful event and to start we need to thank the Boston Firefighters Credit Union lead by Bernie Winne. To put on a convention was new to most of our board members and Bernie’s experience proved invaluable to us. Thank you again Bernie.
    Looking back at the convention even the weather welcomed us to Boston in a season that is unpredictable. The government with its shut down didn’t stop us from enjoying the multitude of entertainment that Boston has to offer. In your comments it was obvious that we had met and even surpassed your expectations of what the convention should be like. We had good speakers and presenters with time for round table discussions.
    On the final day Lyn Lynch from San Diego won the IPad worth over $600.00. At the Friday night dinner we presented our first volunteer of the year award, which went to Pat Engel, he will also receive free registration at next year’s convention. We also commemorated the Percy Riley Jr. Scholarship fund with a plaque that was presented to the Richmond Fire Department Credit Union.
    We want to thank our sponsors for their support, and for their gifts that were raffled. As we prepare for the 2014 convention in San Diego our experience in presenting this convention will give us a good format to follow. We have selected the hotel and will now begin our search for speakers and presenters. Now that everyone is back home, mark your calendars for the next NCOFCU Annual Meeting & Conference October 8-11, 2014 San Diego CA.
    We welcome your comments and suggestions and hope you will share those thoughts with us either by the web site or a phone call. We want to contribute to your credit union by being a resource center where we can all share our success and failures with each another. It was obvious in our roundtable discussions we have a lot to share with each another. We will be watching on a national level for an opportunity for the coalition to step-up and present itself with support of an event that will give us national recognition. If there is an opportunity for such an action please let us know what is happening in your areas.

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Senate Banking To Vote Thursday On Landmark Digital Assets Bill

“NCOFCU appreciates the Senate Banking Committee’s continued work during next week’s markup hearing to establish a clear and responsible regulatory framework for digital assets,” said the National Council of Fire Fighter Credit Unions (NCOFCU) leadership. “As lawmakers consider this legislation, it is essential that first responder credit unions are recognized as a vital part of the financial services ecosystem and are not overlooked in the evolving digital asset landscape. Credit unions serving police, fire, EMS, and other emergency personnel must have equitable access to innovation, regulatory clarity, and the tools necessary to continue supporting the financial readiness and resilience of America’s first responders.” Grant Sheehan CEO WASHINGTON—The Senate Banking Committee will vote on the long-awaited CLARITY Act this Thursday, Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) announced Friday. Tim Scott The announcement marks a potentially major step forward for legislation that would establis...

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Cutting Through The Stablecoin Noise—What Credit Unions Actually Need To Know Now

By Ray Birch DOVER, Del.—By any measure, stablecoins have quickly become one of the most talked-about—and least understood—topics in credit union boardrooms. The pressure to “do something” is building, fueled by headlines, fintech momentum and a growing fear of being left behind. But according to InvestiFi CEO Kian Sarreshteh, that urgency may be misplaced. “There’s a lot of FOMO right now,” Sarreshteh said. “If I don’t adopt a stablecoin solution this year, I’m going to be left behind. I would argue pretty strongly that’s very far from the truth.” Instead of rushing to sign up for a Stablecoin pilot, Sarreshteh said credit unions should begin with a more fundamental question: what problem are you actually trying to solve? While stablecoins are often discussed as a potential challenger to traditional payment rails dominated by Visa and Mastercard, he believes that kind of mass-market disruption remains years away—especially in the U.S., where consumers already have fast, convenient opt...

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NCUA Identifies Supervisory Priorities for 2024

ALEXANDRIA, Va.–In a new Letter to Credit Unions , NCUA has outlined its supervisory priorities and other updates for its 2024 examination program. The agency said the areas identified are those with the highest risk to credit union members and the insurance fund. As CUToday.info has previously reported, growing financial strains and liquidity risks are cited by the agency, as well as the growth in the number of composite CAMELS code 3, 4, and 5 credit unions. The agency further noted: Its exam flexibility initiative will continue in 2024, extending the exam cycle for certain credit unions. It will continue its Small Credit Union Exam Program in most federal credit unions with assets of $50 million or less. Supervisory Priorities f...

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Visa, Mastercard Revisions Will Cost Merchants more Than $475 Million Annually, Economist Says

NEW YORK—The two biggest U.S. card networks are preparing revisions to their interchange schedules that at least one research firm says will cost U.S. merchants an estimated $475 million in additional transaction fees. Though Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. have historically revised their rate schedules each April and October, “this April is particularly significant,” Callum Godwin, the Atlanta-based chief economist for CMSPI, a United Kingdom-based research firm, told Digital Transactions. The firm’s estimates indicate the changes in Visa’s rates will add up to a net $145 million in additional cost to acquirers. For Mastercard, the impact will net out to $330 million. The networks do not collect interchange. Merchant processors pay in...

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The 10-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Worth Bragging About

Sound like anyone we know? “Approximately half of its membership is 50 years old or older, says Star One marketing manager Susanna Fong. The 10-year mortgage is meant to entice those members close to retirement to bring their loans — including the remainder of a 30-year-mortgage — to the credit union.” How Star One’s 14-month-old mortgage product attracts both young professionals and soon-to-be retirees. By Erik Payne creditunions.com For borrowers nearing retirement, desirable mortgage options are limited. Long-term loans can extend into retirement years and cut into savings earmarked for food, travel, and other expenses. Short-term loans can make budgeting difficult for the remaining working years. Star One Credit Union ($7.2B, Sunnyvale, CA) understands that borrowers want to be free of loan obligations before they leave the workforce without breaking the bank to do so. So in January of 2014, the credit union introduced a promotional 10-year fixed-rate mortgage that charges no...

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IRS Reporting Requirement Has Turned Into Uphill Battle for CUs

It’s in. It’s out. It’s in again. On Thursday, NAFCU, CUNA and more than 100 associations sent a letter to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate asking them to reject a proposed IRS reporting requirement that credit union trades have been pushing back against since July . The proposed IRS reporting requirement would require financial institutions, including credit unions, to report the inflows and outflows of personal and business accounts, as well as transfers between accounts of the same owner, if it is more than $600 per year. The proposal found new life inside the House version of the budget reconciliation bill after it was rejected in the version approved by the House Ways and Means Committee last month. On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the IRS reporting requirement would be included in the House version of the bill. CUNA, NAFCU and other organizations voiced their objections to the proposal in a joint letter. While the l...

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The Most Overlooked Growth Opportunity in First Responder Credit Unions

Credit unions spend enormous amounts of time, energy, and marketing dollars trying to acquire new members. But many institutions — especially sponsor-based first responder credit unions — are sitting on one of the most valuable growth opportunities already inside their existing membership base. The joint owner population. Every day, firefighters, police officers, EMTs, dispatchers, and other first responders join credit unions through sponsor relationships. During account opening, spouses or partners are often added as joint owners for convenience. They help manage the household finances. They use the debit card. They log into online banking. They interact with the credit union regularly. Yet in many cases, they never actually become full member-owners of the cooperative. They are connected to the institution — but not fully part of it. And that creates a major strategic opportunity. Why Joint Owner Conversion Matters For sponsor-based credit unions, converting joint owners into full m...

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How to Comply in the New World of Complaints

NASHVILLE–It’s not enough anymore to receive a member complaint and to respond with just an apology. Not surprisingly, with Washington now much more involved, member complaints have become a formal process with penalties involved when those complaints aren’t addressed and resolved. That has required credit unions to create complaint tracking systems and one CU that has done so shared some of its processes and lessons learned during the NAFCU annual meeting here. One thing that was clear: complaints are not just what a teller might hear. Complaints can come via numerous channels, including regulators, and can be related to everything from credit reports to RESPA letters to mortgage rules and much more. “Complaints run the gamut, but the key is complaint management,” said Mitchell B. Klein, an attorney who is also the chief risk officer with Citadel FCU. “All of these types of complaints need to be managed in some fashion and in a timely way. You don’t want to get in ...

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Hood: Credit unions are safe and sound

Hood’s term on the NCUA Board will expire in August. NCUA Board Member Rodney Hood appeared via live stream with Brad Barnes, Air Academy Credit Union, and Amy McGraw, Tropical Financial Credit Union. The regulator lauds strong membership, asset, and loan growth. Despite recent headwinds, including high-profile bank failures, the credit union movement is still safe and sound, says Rodney Hood, NCUA board member, and immediate past chairman. “We’re not seeing the contagion like at other financial institutions,” says Hood, who addressed the 2023 CUNA Finance Council Conference Monday via live stream. The Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) crisis was one of confidence, he says. Ninety percent of SVB’s deposits were uninsured. In comparison, more than 91% of credit union deposits are insured. “We don’t have those entanglements,” Hood says. “That bodes well for our future.” He lauded America’s 4,800 credit unions for growing membership to 135 million, assets to $2.2 trill...

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CEOs of CUNA, NAFCU Offer First Public Remarks Since Announcing Merger Plan; Numerous Issues Discussed

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.–The CEOs of CUNA and NAFCU made their first joint appearance since the two trade groups announced plans to merge, addressing reasons for the proposed merger and what those who may oppose the merger should do, and further speaking to the concerns of smaller CUs and what will happen with conferences, as well as stressing the combination is not being driven by problems at either group. During a 45-minute Q&A at the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) annual meeting, CUNA CEO Jim Nussle and NAFCU CEO Dan Berger answered questions posed by DCUC CEO Tony Hernandez, as well as from CUToday.info and members of the audience. As CUToday.info reported here , the two trade groups are proposing to merge and create a new organization called America’s Credit Unions that will be led by Nussle—who was appearing at the DCUC meeting on the 89 th anniversary of CUNA’s creation--with Berger departing NAFCU at year-end. At one point Berger received a standing ...

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