Skip to main content

Credit Union Strategic Planning Topics Credit Union 2.0



Ahhh, credit union strategic planning topic season. Let’s take off our pessimistic blinders, pull out our beanies and start thinking of the credit union world we want tomorrow. Soon, our credit union will disrupt the local banks. We will put them those evil bankers out of business and take over the world… cooperatively (of course).

If you are looking for quick strategic questions to ask your board at your credit union planning session, you are in the right place.

Credit Union Strategic Planning Topics About Growth
    strategic planing for credit union topics
  1. If you had to process 3x your normal loan or member growth volume, how would you?
  2. Where do you want to be in 3 years?
  3. What market trends support that vision?
  4. What client demands support that vision?
  5. What are the tactical plans to support that goal?
  6. What are the known risks?
  7. If you could rebuild the credit union 2.0, what would it look like?
  8. What are the top 10 questions we have about our credit union (analytics based)? What would you do differently if you knew the answer?

Credit Union Strategic Planning Topics for Critical Self-Evaluation

  1. What is the one thing your credit union was worst at this year? What needs to happen to fix it?
  2. What is one thing your credit was best at? How can you double down on it?
  3. What is the single metric that you least like hearing about this year? Why? What can you do to change it?
  4. Where do we use Analytics well?
  5. Are we moving or reacting fast enough in the marketplace?
  6. In each department, what should you start? What should you stop? What should you continue?
  7. What are our best service experience and memories?

Credit Union Strategic Planning Topics About Culture

  1. What are some examples of living your core values?
  2. What are some examples of failing to live your core values?
  3. If you could change one thing about the credit union, what would it be?
  4. What are the top 3 credit unions we admire and why?
  5. What does the perfect member look like? Where do they hang out? Who do they know?
  6. What makes an ideal board member?
  7. If you were the new CXO and were brought in tomorrow, what were three things you would fix immediately?

Credit Union Strategic Planning Wildcard Questions

  1. If a perfect competitor opened across the street tomorrow, what would they look like?
  2. If we were to rebuild our credit union with no branches, what would it look like?
  3. If the NCUA got merged into the FDIC, what would change?
  4. If your largest SEG went out of business, what would you change?
Any of these credit union strategic planning topics can help you and your board plan for a brighter, warmer future.

Credit Union 2.0 — Credit Union Strategic Planning Facilitators

Kirk Drake and Chris Otey take a unique approach to planning sessions. Their goals are to deal with some of the real issues facing credit unions. These include:
  • Who is your ideal member?
  • How do we improve board governance?
  • How do we get our board to look more like our membership?
  • How do we deal with the onslaught of fintechs and technology?
  • How do we change our culture to be more like a fintech?
As the author of Credit Union 2.0, head of a large technology CUSO, and founder of CU Wallet, Drake has great insights from both his time working at a credit union through his entrepreneurship and board experience.

As board chair of South Bay Credit Union and former CU Wallet and Fiserv executive, Chris has worked with hundreds of credit unions to help them deal with board governance, CUSOs, and other technology challenges.

Click here to book us for your next strategic planning session.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

NCUA Board Approves 11 Final Rules for Deregulation Project

Alexandria, VA (August 5, 2026) ― The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) today finalized eleven rules that were proposed for changes through the Deregulation Project. This is the first round of final rules from the ongoing Deregulation Project which is an initiative to review NCUA’s regulations and ensure they are focused on credit unions’ safety, soundness, and resilience. The final rules include: This is an external link to a website belonging to another federal agency, private organization, or commercial entity. Surety and Guarantor Requirements – 12 CFR 701.20(c)(3) and 701.20(d) (Opens new window) This is an external link to a website belonging to another federal agency, private organization, or commercial entity. Limits on Loan to Other Credit Unions – 12 CFR 701.25(b) (Opens new window) This is an external link to a website belonging to another federal agency, private organization, or commercial entity. Service to Underserved Areas – IRPS 08-2 (Opens new window) This is...

Making the Most of the Final Five Years Before Retirement

  NATIONAL COUNCIL OF FIRST RESPONDER CREDIT UNIONS RETIREMENT READINESS Making the Most of the Final Five Years Before Retirement A practical planning guide for first responders, credit union volunteers, employees, and their families Five years before retirement is an important checkpoint. It is the time to confirm what you have saved, understand the income you can expect, and decide whether your retirement plans match the life you want to lead.   1. Review Your Retirement Savings Start by taking a fresh look at your retirement accounts, personal savings, investments, and other assets. A retirement calculator can help estimate whether you are on track and show how additional saving during the next five years may strengthen your plan.   2. Identify Every Source of Retirement Income List the income you may receive in retirement, including pensions, Social Security, retirement-plan withdrawals, invest...

What’s Ahead for U.S. Economy? Here’s What One Former Fed Chair is Saying

 WASHINGTON–Former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who headed the central bank during the 2008 financial crisis, is now warning that the United States is headed for a situation similar to that of the 1970s, when Americans were losing their jobs but still facing higher prices at the grocery store and at the pump. Ben Bernanke “Even under the benign scenario, we should have a slowing economy,” Bernanke told the New York Times in an interview in conjunction with his new book, “ 21st Century Monetary Policy: The Federal Reserve From the Great Inflation to Covid-19 ,” which is scheduled to publish today. “So, there should be a period in the next year...

Senate, 51-47, has confirmed John Crews to the NCUA board

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate, 51-47, has confirmed John Crews to the NCUA board, clearing the way for him to succeed Kyle Hauptman and return the agency to a single-member board following the Trump Administration's removal of Democratic board members Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka earlier this year. Maintaining the foundational stability of the credit union system Supporting efficient, risk-based regulation that accounts for institutional size and operational differences Preparing for technological advancement while safeguarding member assets Encouraging the growth of new credit unions to serve underbanked and military communities Preserving an open, accessible, and collaborative dialogue between the NCUA and the credit union movement Crews, who most recently served in the Treasury Department, has said his priorities include reducing regulatory burden for smaller credit unions, encouraging innovation and supporting the chartering of new credit unions, while maintaining the safety and s...

New CEO Named at SF Fire CU

  In San Francisco, – SF Fire Credit Union has appointed Robert Kassab as its president and chief executive Officer. Kassab, who has served as the $1.6-billion credit union’s CFO and most recently as Interim CEO, will lead the organization as it builds on 75 years of community service and pursues an ambitious strategy for growth and member impact, the credit union said in a statement. Robert Kassab “SF Fire Credit Union has a 75-year legacy of doing right by its members, and I take that responsibility seriously,” Kassab stated. Kassab joined SF Fire Credit Union in 2022 as CFO, where he played a central role in strengthening the institution’s financial foundation and positioning the credit union for long-term growth. His appointment as CEO follows a period of interim leadership, during which he worked closely with the board to develop a strategic vision for the credit union’s future, according to SF Fire. An Institution That ‘Deserves Them Back’ “SF Fire Credit Union was built on ...

Fed Governors Signal Smaller Rate Increases Coming

WASHINGTON–There is a growing chorus among Federal Reserve governors that the central bank will be slowing it pace of rate increases when the Federal Open Markets Committee meets next on Feb. 1. Christopher Waller Among those who have signaled the days of 50 - and 75-basis point increases are over is Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, who said he believes it’s time to slow the pace of increases—but not eliminate them. If the forecast proves true, it will mark the end of the rapid increases that took place during 2022 as the Fed sought to tamp down high inflation. Central bankers are now “entering a new phase that is focused more on how high-inter...

New Consumer Due-diligence Requirements Mean Credit Unions Have to Change Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Procedures

Starting May 11, 2018, credit unions and other financial institutions are required to have new procedures in place when it comes to customer/member due-diligence, primarily involving “beneficial owners” and “legal entity” members, reminded CUNA. But the trade association reported that the new requirements do not mean credit unions have to update member information on a continuous or periodic basis. “The rule does not require credit unions to update member information on a continuous or periodic basis. The updating requirement is event-driven and only occurs as a result of detecting unusual activity through normal monitoring,” CUNA stated. The new procedures required by May 11, 2018, are: Procedures to identify and verify beneficial owners of legal entity members.  Procedures for making and maintaining a record of all the identification and verification information collected for beneficial owners of legal entity members.  Appropriate risk-based procedures for...

NCUA Webinar on Changes to Military Lending Act Regulations

Webinar on Changes to Military Lending Act Regulations Learn More about Enhanced Protections for Service Members and Their Families ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 2, 2016) – The National Credit Union Administration will host a webinar, “Preparing to Comply with Regulatory Changes to the Military Lending Act,” on Wednesday, June 29, starting at 2 p.m. Eastern. During this webinar, staff from NCUA’s Office of Consumer Protection will provide a high-level overview of the significant changes to the regulation implementing the Military Lending Act, most of which go into effect by Oct. 3. The law now covers most non-mortgage-related consumer credit extended to active duty service members and certain dependents. View the entire press release here ​

Sunday Reading - We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident

We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident .  The Declaration of Independence is the founding document that formally announced the American Colonies' break from British rule. Adopted on July 4, 1776, it laid the philosophical and moral foundation for American self-governance, asserting that individuals possess inherent rights and that governments must be accountable to the people. While it didn't create a government or legal framework, the Declaration marked the birth of the United States as a sovereign nation. >  Hear why the Continental Congress decided to declare independence, how the text took shape...

CU*South Reports 13 Core Conversions

Be sure to stop by their booth in Seattle to congratulate them! FAIRHOPE, Ala.– CU*SOUTH , a CUSO, announced it closed its conversion calendar for 2018 with a record-setting 13 core conversions. “More and more credit unions are opting for the agility and security of a cloud-based core platform,” said Starla Honea, VP of operations at CU*SOUTH. “They’re leaving the old legacy systems operated by the ‘Big-4’ banking software vendors and taking control of their future through ownership and collaboration with their peers. “If you look at the Core Data Processing Guide published by Callahan,” added Honea, “you’ll see a total of 53 core vendors listed. Forty-six of those 53 lost market share and a couple held even. Only five core providers increased the number of credit unions served – and of those five, three offered the CU*BASE solution.” Derrick Smith, COO of CU*South, said the CUSO offers its CU*Base platform to credit unions throughout the Southeastern U.S. He...