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5 Red Flags: When Boards Lean Too Heavily on Management

  The Quiet Governance Risk Credit Unions Should Talk About By Grant Sheehan, CCUE | CCUP | CEO, NCOFCU Having spent many years both serving on a credit union board and leading as a CEO , I’ve had the opportunity to see governance from both sides of the table. That perspective has given me a deep appreciation for the delicate balance that must exist between management, leadership, and board oversight. When that balance works well, credit unions thrive. But when it slowly shifts — often unintentionally — it can create governance weaknesses that regulators and examiners increasingly watch for. In conversations with governance professionals and through years of industry experience, one theme keeps emerging: most governance problems don’t begin with bad intentions or misconduct. They begin with boards that gradually become too dependent on management. This is rarely obvious at first, but in fact, it often occurs within high-performing organizations. But slight patterns ca...
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We Don't Need More Trade Groups!

This is a op-ed reference: New National Trade Group Forms To Champion Credit Unions Under $500M Grant Sheehan, CEO, NCOFCU Let’s be clear—representation for small credit unions is not something new that suddenly needs to be invented. For more than 150 years in Europe and 115 years in the US, many of us—along with numerous trade groups representing postal workers, schools, hospitals, the military, first responders, electricians, welders, auto workers, and many other sponsor employee groups—have been actively representing and supporting small credit unions. The mission has always been the same: protect these institutions and ensure they have a voice. The real challenge facing small credit unions has never been a lack of organizations claiming to represent them. The challenge has been engagement and education. Many small credit unions operate with extremely limited resources. Their boards are made up of volunteers who already have full-time careers. Even when scholarships, training ...
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Meet Spokane Firefighter Credit Union (SFCU) New President/CEO - Troy Clute

Meet SFCU's New President/CEO - Troy Clute  Troy Clute serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Spokane Firefighters Credit Union, bringing 29 years of experience in banking and finance. His career includes extensive leadership roles across the industry, with a strong foundation in consumer lending and member-focused financial services. Troy is a graduate of the renowned CUES CEO Institute Program, having earned the Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation—one of the highest leadership credentials in the credit union movement. His leadership is defined by strategic vision, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to serving Spokane’s firefighter community and their families. Beyond his professional role, Troy values family above all. He and his wife, Karri, have been married for 36 years and share two grown children, Kellen and Kennadie, as well as three grandchildren—Tyus, Izze, and Major—who keep life joyful and full of adventure. When he’s not leading the c...
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From Share Drafts to Stablecoin: Progress Is the Product

  From Share Drafts to Stablecoin: Progress Is the Product By  Jeff Rendel Expert Opinion March 09, 2026 at 08:00 AM Share & Print There was a time when the phrase "share draft" felt modern. It was progressive. It was distinct. It was proudly credit union. We didn't offer checking accounts; we offered share drafts because members owned shares in a cooperative, not deposits in a bank. It was an important distinction. It meant something philosophically and structurally. And when share drafts were introduced, they were new. Innovative. Even controversial. Somewhere along the way, however, share drafts became nostalgic. The language remained, but the behavior changed. Today, many members under 30 have never written a check. Many under 40 rarely do. Payments have migrated – steadily, predictably – from paper to plastic, from plastic to digital, from digital to embedded and real-time. This is not disruption in the dramatic sense. It is evolution. And credit unions have alwa...
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Stablecoins Moving from Crypto Curiosity to Payments Infrastructure

At the 2026 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC), credit union leaders heard a clear message: stablecoins are rapidly evolving from a niche crypto tool into a core component of modern payments infrastructure. Stablecoins are digital tokens typically pegged to a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar and backed by reserves such as cash or short-term Treasury securities. Initially used mostly inside cryptocurrency markets, they are now increasingly being viewed as a faster and more efficient way to move money globally . Why Stablecoins Matter The technology offers several potential advantages over traditional payment systems: 24/7 settlement instead of banking-hour restrictions Faster cross-border payments with fewer intermediaries Lower transaction costs compared with legacy payment rails Greater transparency and programmability in how funds move These capabilities are why banks, fintechs, and large financial institutions are beginning to explore stablecoins as part o...
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The NCUA just published its stablecoin playbook: Here’s what credit unions need to know

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has begun answering a key question for credit unions since the GENIUS Act became law last July: What is the stablecoin licensing process? On February 11, 2026, the NCUA published a  22-page proposed rule , "Investments in and Licensing of Permitted Payment Stablecoins Issuers," in the Federal Register. This document outlines the framework for credit union participation under the new Act. The NCUA has a deadline of July 18, 2026, to finalize this rule. Here’s what credit unions need to know now. Quick background: The GENIUS Act and the NCUA’s role The GENIUS Act designated the NCUA as a primary federal regulator of stablecoin, alongside the FDIC, the OCC, and the Federal Reserve. Credit unions can't issue stablecoins directly; they must operate through subsidiaries, typically CUSOs, that apply for and obtain an NCUA-issued Permitted Payment Stablecoin Issuer (PPSI) license. The newly proposed rule covers the application and l...
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What Gen Z Is Really Looking For In A Credit Union

  Gen Z’s faith in traditional institutions gives credit unions a rich opportunity to serve as a key source of financial guidance. Sponsored Content By Adrenaline, Inc. Credit unions can strengthen loyalty with the influential Generation Z by connecting their brand’s purpose, financial guidance, and in-branch experience. Widely described as digital natives, Gen Z meets many of their everyday banking needs with mobile apps and digital tools across multiple providers. While younger consumers certainly expect seamless digital functionality from their primary financial provider, what they value even more is meaningful advice and trusting relationships. Because beneath Gen Z’s technological savvy is a measurable confidence gap —  one that impacts every aspect of their financial lives. According to  Adrenaline’s 2026 Gen Z research  conducted with Alexander Babbage, 36% of Gen Z say they find financial matters confusing, and one in three report feeling overwhelmed by money...
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Sunday Reading - What happened after the Civil War?

  Rebuilding the Union:  What happened after the Civil War? The Reconstruction era, lasting from 1865 to 1877, was the period when the US federal government sought to reunite the nation after the Civil War. Key issues included how to punish Confederates, readmit Southern states, and secure rights for newly freed Black Americans ( read Lincoln's original plan ). Following Abraham Lincoln's assassination days after the war's end, President Andrew Johnson—a pro-Union, pro-states' rights Southerner—pursued a lenient approach to reconciliation. He pardoned former Confederates , restored their property, and allowed Southern states to govern with little federal oversight. Those states quickly enacted laws restricting the freedoms of formerly enslaved pe...
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Outside Credit Unions - 54th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

  Dog Sled Race Begins   The 54th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race kicked off yesterday, with hundreds of dogs amassing at the ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, before moving north to the official starting line. Thirty-four mushers will compete, with the race expected to end in mid-March. The race dates back to 1973, with cofounders Dorothy Page and Joe Redington Sr. seeking to honor the state’s mushing tradition. The race also honors Alaska’s Iditarod Trail—a 938-mile freight and mail route forged in 1908 that was later instrumental in responding to a diphtheria outbreak ( see more , w/video). Though the first race (1,000 miles) lasted 20 days, dogs today have become faster, reaching the finish line in Nome in roughly 10 days. There are 12-16 dogs per sled to start, as some dogs exit due to injury; mushers must finish with at least five. Norwegian billionaire Kjell Rokke will join the fray in this year’s ra...
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