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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Without President’s Signature, ROAD to Housing Act Becomes Law; Includes CU Board Modernization Act

WASHINGTON — The bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law Friday without President Donald Trump’s signature after the president allowed the measure to take effect while Congress remained in session, choosing not to sign it in protest over the Senate’s failure to advance separate voter identification legislation. The legislation includes the Credit Union Board Modernization Act, which reduces the frequency with which credit unions must meet and which had strong support from the credit union trade groups. Trump announced on social media that he would not sign the housing package because the Senate had not passed the SAVE America Act, a measure he has championed requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. Under the Constitution, a bill becomes law if the president neither signs nor vetoes it within 10 days, excluding Sundays, while Congress is in session. Scott Simpson ‘Steadfast in Commitment’ “America’s Credit Unions, our league partners, and cr...

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Inflation Cools in June Report, But One CU Economist Says There’s One Reason–And it Could Change

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer inflation cooled more than expected in June, offering relief after several months of elevated price pressures, though economists cautioned the improvement could prove temporary as renewed geopolitical tensions threaten to push energy prices higher. The Consumer Price Index fell 0.4% in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the largest monthly decline since April 2020, after rising 0.5% in May, according to data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Compared with a year earlier, consumer prices rose 3.5%, down from 4.2% in May. Foot off the Gas Dawit Kebede “Falling gas prices led June’s decline and pulled headline inflation lower year-over-year. Renewed hostilities could complicate the energy picture ahead, and a reversal in gasoline costs would be the most likely channel for that pressure to show up,” said America’s Credit Unions Senior Economist Dawit Kebede. “But softening core prices point to broader-based moderation, suggesting the ea...

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Invest in Education - Invest in Tomorrow

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More Consumers Turning to Digital Wallets to Manage Finances

BOSTON — Consumers facing financial pressure are increasingly turning to digital wallets not only for convenience, but also as a way to better manage their household finances, according to a new report from PYMNTS Intelligence . The report, titled “ The New Checkout: Crimped Consumers Lean Into Online Retail and Digital Wallets, ” is based on a survey of 2,108 U.S. adults and found digital wallet adoption is growing fastest among younger consumers and those experiencing financial stress. According to PYMNTS Intelligence, digital wallets are evolving beyond simple payment tools by offering features such as buy now, pay later options, real-time balance information and spending management tools that help consumers monitor their finances. Source: PYMNTS Intelligence Among consumers experiencing high financial stress, 28% said they used a digital wallet for their most recent retail purchase, compared with 11% of consumers reporting low financial stress. For grocery purchases, 21% of financi...

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What You Might Not Know About July 4th.

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Coffee Consumption Guidance

Most adults can safely drink up to five 8-ounce cups of black coffee per day, and regular consumption may improve cardiovascular health, the American Heart Association said yesterday. An analysis of recent studies suggests that consuming about 400 milligrams of caffeine daily may lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and heart failure. However, because most research is observational, scientists are still unsure why caffeine may benefit heart health. Some studies suggest antioxidants in coffee help reduce inflammation, indicating not all caffeine sources offer the same effects. Synthetic caffeine products, such as energy drinks, have been linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms. Coffee's benefits also diminish when sugar and high-fat creamers are added. Brewing methods may matter, too. Cardiovascular benefits have been linked most strongly to paper-filtered or instant coffee. Unfilter...

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White Paper from WOCCU Examines How Stablecoins are Reshaping Financial Infrastructure

WASHINGTON– World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) has released a new white paper that examines how stablecoins are reshaping the financial infrastructure that credit unions and other cooperative financial institutions rely on to serve their members. According to WOCCU, the white paper, How Digital Money Is Impacting Credit Unions, Part 1: Focus on Stablecoins , is the first in a planned three-part series exploring how emerging forms of digital money are affecting the global credit union movement. “The report begins by noting that stablecoins are no longer a niche fintech development, but part of a broader structural shift in how money is stored, moved and regulated,” WOCCU explained. “As commercial banks, payment networks, technology firms and retailers build stablecoin offerings or integrate stablecoin rails into their platforms, credit unions must consider how these changes could affect deposits, payments, member relationships and long-term institutional relevance.” For ...

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New GDP Data is ‘Positive,’ Clouds Clearing, Says NAFCU Economist

WASHINGTON–Although discussion and forecasts continue to focus on a recession in the U.S. economy, economic growth remained solid at the end of 2022, according to new federal data. Curt Long The Commerce Department said U.S. gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation, increased at an annual rate of 2.9% in the fourth quarter of 2022, down slightly from a 3.2% growth rate in the Q3. Consumer spending grew at a 2.1% rate, according to the Commerce Department data, which will be revised at a later date. “The big picture view of economic growth in the fourth quarter is a positive one,” said NAFCU Chief Economist and VP-Research Curt Long. “Much of that grow...

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Fed Chair Says Inflation To Hang Around a Bit Longer; New Beige Book Data Show Why

WASHINGTON–The chairman of the Federal Reserve told the House the current increase in inflation is temporary, although it will remain elevated in the months ahead before moderating. Fed Chairman Jay Powell’s comments before Congress came on the same day the Fed released its Beige Book analysis, which found an economy showing increasing strength, but also suffering shortages of many materials and manpower. During his testimony before House Financial Services Committee as part of his semiannual monetary policy report to Congress, which he will repeat today before the Senate, Powell said asset valuations have generally risen as the economy has improved and investor risk appetite has grown. “Household balance sheets are, on average, quite strong, business leverage has been declining from high levels, and the institutions at the core of the financial system remain resilient,” Powell said. What About Inflation? As for inflation, which is of conce...

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The FedNow Service will launch in 2023 "Are you ready?"

The FedNow Service is a new instant payment service that the Federal Reserve Banks are developing to enable financial institutions of every size, and in every community across the U.S., to provide safe and efficient instant payment services in real-time, around the clock, every day of the year. Through financial institutions participating in the FedNow Service, businesses and individuals will be able to send and receive instant payments conveniently, and recipients will have full access to funds immediately, giving them greater flexibility to manage their money and make time-sensitive payments. Consistent with the Federal Reserve’s historical role of providing payment services alongside private-sector providers, the FedNow Service will provide choice in the market for clearing and settling instant payments as well as promote resiliency through redundancy. Financial institutions and their service providers will be able to use the service as a springboard to provide innovative instant p...

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