Credit union lending is booming and the positive trend is expected to continue in 2018, according to the chief economist for CUNA Mutual Group. According to Steven Rick, who also is a director for the Madison, Wis.-based company, credit union loan balances rose 0.7 percent in January – an improvement over the 0.6 percent pace reported in January 2017, and an increase of 10.9 percent during the last 12 months.
It all starts in the boardroom—but the consequences are felt far beyond it. When Governance Breaks Down, Members Pay the Price Credit unions are built on a simple but powerful idea: they are owned by their members. Unlike traditional banks, where shareholders drive decisions, credit unions are meant to operate democratically—guided by a volunteer board elected by the very people they serve. But that model only works when participation exists. A governance breakdown happens when the people elected to oversee an institution stop truly representing the people who own it. In credit unions, this breakdown doesn’t usually come from scandal or sudden failure. It happens quietly, over time—through disengagement. The Root of the Problem: Low Engagement Most credit union members don’t vote. Board election turnout is typically in the low single digits. In some cases, it’s barely measurable. That means a very small percentage of the membership is effectively deciding who governs an institution th...

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