Skip to main content

How to Spot a Board in Trouble: Tim Harington

This is not a comprehensive list. In fact, we’d like to hear from others the things that they’ve seen or what they look for. We’re sure our smart readership has some things to add. This is also not a checklist. We’re not suggesting that once you’ve identified all eight of these you’ve found your troubled board. (Notice that some of these are countervailing.) But these are things that show up regularly and have been present when dealing with troubles.
How to Spot a Board in Trouble, Red Flags
How to Spot a Board in Trouble
  1. No turnover on the board – Why? Lack of desire for change? Lack of recruiting? Difficulty in recruiting? Contentment with the status quo?
  2. Heavy turnover on the board – Again, why?
  3. No diversity on the board – this means you really don’t represent the demographics of your membership. (We doubt your field of membership is made up exclusively of 67-year-old white dudes.)
  4. The CEO attends all committee meetings – Is this the board’s overreliance on the CEO? Or is this the CEO's inability to let go of control?
  5. No executive sessions – This suggests that there is a lack of trust somewhere (or a lack of understanding of executive sessions). See our blog post about this topic.
  6. Same chair for the last 20+ years – This is a red flag about resistance to change. (This could be a chair that has been begging for years for someone else to take the helm, which is also a red flag.)
  7. Four CEOs in the last five years – Not long ago we talked about the “rebound” CEO, which means it’s very possible to have had three CEOs in the last five years and that’s only a bump in the road and not a red flag. But the minute you reach the number “four” this is a giant red flag.
  8. All of the board members are from the single SEG sponsor (even though the CU has had a community charter for years). Do we have to explain this one? See #6.
How to Spot a Board in Crisis
How to Spot a Board in Crisis
Some of you are going to disagree. We’re fine with that. 

Some of you are going to point out a piece of anecdotal evidence that contradicts what we’ve said above. We’re also fine with that, and we still strongly make our claim despite your story.

Let’s duke it out and talk about it.

Yes. Context is everything. These are red flags that cause us to explore and ask more questions.

 Team Resources

7049 E. Tanque Verde Rd., PMB 136
Tucson, AZ 85715

Phone: 520.290.5721
Fax: 520.290.8378
Cell: 520.906.7501





Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political comments.

Popular posts from this blog

"Cheers to 2026: Thank You for 25 Years"

        As we close out 2025, we want to take a moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every member and supporter of the National Council of Firefighter Credit Unions Inc (NCOFCU). For the past two and a half decades, your unwavering support and dedication have been instrumental in helping us achieve our vision of becoming the leading credit union association dedicated to serving first responders and their families.       Thanks to your commitment, we have prioritized education for your volunteer directors and staff, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to serve your credit union communities effectively. Together, we have elevated the operational excellence of credit unions through targeted training and support, making a real difference in the lives of first responders and their families.      Your involvement has been the cornerstone of our success, and we are truly grateful for the trust you have p...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Sunday Reading - What's the point of a consumer electronics show?

  What's the point of a consumer electronics show? Consumer electronics shows are large convention-type events where companies debut new technologies and products. The largest and most notable shows are CES in Las Vegas, a trade show every January, and IFA Berlin, which takes place annually in September. The events have historically introduced novel, cutting-edge products that later became household standards, like HDTVs, VCRs, DVDs, and gaming consoles ( see list ).   Over time, these shows evolved from product showcases ( see last year's coolest gadgets ) into complex industry ecosystems, serving as a meeting ground for startups, multinational technology companies, investors, and the media. Hardware launches, keynote speeches, and...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Auto Link, Home Link, and CalcuLink Unite Under New Parent Brand: Centergy Solutions

Auto Link, Home Link, and CalcuLink Unite Under New Parent Brand: Centergy Solutions Auto Link announced a major rebrand that unifies its three established product lines- Auto Link, Home Link, and CalcuLink- under one cohesive parent brand. The transition marks a strategic evolution designed to simplify the company’s ecosystem, strengthen product synergy, and enhance the overall experience for credit unions and the members they serve. The new Centergy Solutions brand reflects the company’s mission to deliver a more connected and integrated suite of digital tools across auto and home lending, auto and home buying, and financial decision-making. From an operational perspective, the unified brand also allows Centergy Solutions to accelerate innovation and improve platform alignment. Under the new parent brand: • Auto Link continues to support financial institutions with industry-leading digital auto lending tools that boost member engagement and loan volume. • Home Link provides consume...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

What Trump’s ‘one big beautiful’ tax-and-spending package means for your money!

  Trump’s megabill will bring sweeping changes for household finances. President  Donald Trump  signed his “one big beautiful” tax-and-spending package on July 4 — legislation that will bring sweeping changes to Americans’ finances.  After the  Senate passed its version  on July 1, the House Republicans on July 3  voted to approve  the multi-trillion-dollar domestic policy legislation and send it to Trump’s desk for signature. The final bill makes permanent Trump’s  2017 tax cuts  while adding new relief, including a senior “bonus” to  offset Social Security taxes  and a  bigger state and local tax deduction . The plan also has tax breaks for  tip income , overtime pay and  auto loans , among other provisions.  The GOP’s marquee legislation will also enact deep spending cuts to social safety net programs such as  Medicaid  and food stamp benefits,  end tax credits tied to clean energy  an...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

What Will 2026 Hold for CUs?

NEW YORK—As credit unions look to the new year, forecasters heading into 2026 see the U.S. economy cooling but not collapsing, with slower job growth, easing inflation and modest interest-rate cuts forming the backbone of a “soft-landing” outlook that still hinges on big unknowns: trade policy, geopolitics, fiscal decisions in Washington and whether households keep spending after several years of higher prices. Credit union leaders know they have a stake in all of that and more. In addition to the economic forecasts below, the CU Daily also other 2026-related previews, including: 2026 Forecast: The Auto Sales, Lending Trends to be Watching 2026 Forecast: What Companies are Saying About Hiring in New Yea r 2026 Forecast: FASB Puts Two Digital Asset Topics on its Agenda 2026 Forecast: How One Large Bank is Deploying Generative AI 2026 Forecast: Automobile Prices to Remain High as Loan Terms Get Longer 2026 Forecast: Is This a Model for How CUs Might Approach Workforce & AI? What the ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Homeownership, 101

  Home Sweet Home   Homeownership, 101 Historically, homeownership has been considered a cornerstone of the American Dream. Today, about 65% of American households own a home , and roughly 5% own more than one. Homeowners view these residences as not only a place to live, but also a path to building substantial wealth. Centuries ago, homeownership became more common   as political systems evolved to allow individuals, rather than governments, to own land. In the US, the number of homeowners increased as mortgages became more accessible: Roughly 74% of today’s US homeowners used a mortgage to finance their home. Real estate makes up roughly half of the t...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Eight Credit Unions Pay $42 Million in Special Dividends to 1.1 Million Members

  By  Jim DuPlessis   | January 05, 2026 at 04:00 PM So far this season, CU Times has tallied 19 credit unions, which have announced $160.3 million in special dividends for members.       Eight more credit unions have reported special dividends, paying their 1.1 million members $42.1 million in December and January. The bulk of the dividends came from Police and Fire Federal Credit Union of Philadelphia and Eastman Credit Union of Kingsport, Tenn., which each announced $16 million in rewards approved by their boards. The late January payout from Eastman ($9.7 billion, 356,492 members) will bring its total special dividends to $225 million since 1998. A news release from the credit union said “the Extraordinary Dividend is never guaranteed, but the strong financial performance of ECU in 2025 enabled the Board of Directors to approve this year’s $16 million payout.” Eastman’s $16 million payout represents about $47 per member and 19 basis points of its averag...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

No New Pennies, New Rules: Treasury Sets Guidance For Cash Transactions

WASHINGTON—For credit unions and their members, the penny’s long goodbye is no longer theoretical—it’s operational. Just before Christmas the U.S. Treasury quietly released a detailed set of  Penny Production Cessation FAQs,  confirming that the federal government has stopped manufacturing new pennies and laying out how businesses, financial institutions, and consumers should prepare as the coin gradually slips out of everyday use. The move reflects a basic math problem: It now costs 3.69 cents to produce a single penny, nearly triple its cost a decade ago. Treasury estimates halting production will save taxpayers $56 million annually, while acknowledging that the coin’s purchasing power—and relevance—has steadily eroded in an economy dominated by electronic payments. What Changes At The Register—And What Doesn’t Despite the halt in production, pennies are not being eliminated. Roughly 114 billion pennies remain in circulation, and the Federal Reserve will continue recirculati...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

More evidence that a March rate hike is appropriate.”

Darwit Kebede WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy added 199,000 jobs in December, according to new data from the Labor Department. While that was the fewest jobs added in any month of 2021, one credit union economist sees signs a “strong recovery” continues. The 199,000 new jobs came in well below what many economists had forecast, with most expecting it would be double that number. Nevertheless, despite the weaker than anticipated numbers, 2021 will still go down as a year of record-breaking jobs growth, with the country adding 6.4 million jobs during the year, the most since records started in 1939.   The unemployment rate fell to 3.9% in December, marking a new pandemic-era low. “The labor market added fewer jobs than expected in December,” said CUNA Senior Economist Dawit Kebede. “However, the unemployment rate continued to decline, falling below 4%, which indicates a strong recovery. Overall, the economy added on average 537,000 jobs per month in 2021. “The employment data was co...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Next Gen of Payments Could Leave ACH System Behind, Bank CEO Cautions

NEW YORK–The next generation of payments could leave the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system behind as stablecoins and tokenized deposits move into the banking core, according to one bank CEO. Custodia Bank CEO Caitlin Long said during a discussion with TheStreet Roundtable host Scott Melker that the “tokenized dollars are going to be big. Yes, there’s a distinction between tokenized bank deposits and stablecoins. Yes, right now, all the activity is in stablecoins, but we’re going to link the two in a safe and sound way.” During the discussion, Long cited Citi’s upgraded forecast for the sector, which now projects between $3 trillion and $4 trillion in stablecoins outstanding by 2030, according to Yahoo Finance, which noted Long believes even that range is far too conservative. “Those numbers are still too low,” she said. “I think they’re way too low.” According to Long, the innovation lies in embedding blockchain technology directly into the banking infrastructure rath...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»