Skip to main content

Practical Tasks that Achieve Strategic Benefits; by Tim Harrington CPA


Focus the Meeting Agenda & Board Packet on the Important!
By Tim Harrington, CPA

At TEAM Resources, we believe the board packet and monthly board meeting agenda should be built around the credit union’s Purpose (Mission) and Key Strategies. This is board level stuff. As we look at the information generally provided to a board in the packet, most directors cannot easily discern what is important, such as what is supporting the Purpose and Key Strategies. Board packets generally contain a lot of information and detail that is operational in nature. The format of information presented to the board can make their job easier or harder. Out of not knowing exactly what the board really wants from the CEO and the  executive team, the CEO will usually give them a “shotgun approach.” That is very common for CEOs to do in the absence of board guidance.

Start everything with a reminder of “Why We Are Here”: The Mission (Purpose) and Key Strategic Drivers.


From the TEAM Resources approach, the general requirement for the board packet and meeting agenda are as follows:

1. Present your Mission and Key Strategic Drivers (KSDs) at the top of your board Agenda right under the word “Agenda.”

2. Create an Instrument Panel of the Key Strategic Measures.
This will help keep the board (and your management team) discussing the big picture.

3. Limit reports to what is essential and what aligns with Purpose and Strategy:
  • CEO report
  • Financial Report
  • Strategic Report
  • Executive Staff reports
4. The Executive Staff Reports should align with Purpose and Strategy.     
    • Start every staff report with a direct indication of how this report aligns and supports the Purpose and Key Strategic Drivers (KSDs). 
    • This compels the Executive Staff to recall what their big picture purpose is. It also guides the directors reading the report as to why this information is being shared with them.
    • Reduce executive staff reports to those things that tie to the Purpose, KSDs, a standard industry ratio, or those that regulation requires.
    • Keep the reports as a “brief” or a “summary” unless a high level of detail is required.
    • The CFO can do an in-depth financial analysis semi-annually (or at most quarterly). Otherwise the report is a brief or summary that aligns with strategy.
5. Deep Dives:
There is information that is helpful for the board to get a more comprehensive view of, but only periodically. These “Deep Dives” might take place the 1st and 2nd month of each quarter for example. They require a little extra meeting time as you go into depth. We would recommend scheduling a deep dive for the following items.
    • Asset Liability Management (ALM)
    • Investments
    • Branch activity
    • Commercial lending
    • Allowance for Loan Losses (ALL)
    • Enterprise Risk Management
    • Others as determined by the board
6. Remove from the board packet any info that does not tie to the Purpose and KSDs unless it is:
  • required by regulation;
  • a pressing urgent need;
  • something that is out of the ordinary and important;
  • something that is at variance with what was planned;
  • a policy update; or
  • is just needed due to common sense.
By using these ideas, the board will see and stay on the big picture. The more purely operations information the staff gives, the more directors feel the need to review and question it. By giving reports on the Purpose and Strategy, it helps the board stay on a level where they are really helpful to the organization.

Kevin Smith
Consultant/Publisher
Team Resources
608-217-0556

https://forteamresources.com/tims-blog/
Ksmith@forteamresources.com

Save The Date

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political comments.

Popular posts from this blog

Why Auto Lending Is Starting To Stand Out As A Real Threat To CUs

  By Ray Birch MILWAUKEE—Auto lending is emerging as one of the biggest areas of risk for credit unions, even as the broader U.S. economy continues to perform better than many expected, according to Bill Handel, chief economist at Raddon, a Fiserv company. Delinquency trends in auto portfolios are now approaching levels last seen during the Great Financial Crisis, Handel said, driven by a combination of high vehicle prices, elevated interest rates and increasing financial pressure on lower-income consumers. “There’s probably still a lot of risk in the auto portfolios,” Handel said. “Our numbers in terms of delinquency behavior in the United States are now rivaling what they were during the Great Financial Crisis.” Economy Holding Up Better Than Expected Despite those pockets of risk, Handel said the broader economy remains surprisingly resilient. “If you look at the U.S. economy, it’s actually performing quite well—probably better than most people would have anticipated,” he said. ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

When Cooperation Turns To Competition: A Turning Point For The Firefighter Credit Union Movement

  By Grant Sheehan For decades, firefighter credit unions have stood as a model of what cooperative finance is meant to be—institutions built not to compete ruthlessly, but to serve a shared mission: supporting the financial well-being of those who risk their lives in service to others. That’s what makes the recent actions of Firefighter First Credit Union so concerning. Firefighter First FCU was not just another participant; it was a founding member of the National Council of Firefighter Credit Unions (NCOFCU). It helped shape the very principles of collaboration, mutual respect, and non-encroachment that have long defined our community. Those principles weren’t accidental; they were intentional safeguards to ensure that firefighter-focused credit unions could grow together, not at each other’s expense. But something has changed. Firefighter First FCU’s decision to pursue a nationwide charter marks a clear shift in direction—from cooperation to direct competition. This isn’t simpl...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Small Credit Unions Don’t Lack Representation—They Lack Board Education

  By Grant Sheehan 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 U.S., 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 opportunities, and conferences are offered, the realities of travel costs, staffing shortages, op...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

With Graham Signaling New Budget Bill, Credit Unions Brace For Tax Debate

By Ray Birch WASHINGTON— Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham’s comments Wednesday that Republicans will “expeditiously move toward creating a second budget reconciliation bill” are giving new shape to what had been a speculative discussion in Washington—and prompting renewed attention within the credit union industry to whether the movement’s federal tax exemption could again surface as lawmakers look for possible offsets. In a post on X, Graham said that after consulting with President Trump, his team and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the Senate Budget Committee will move quickly on a second reconciliation package focused on “adequate funding to secure our homeland” and support for the military. The remarks are notable because they offer one of the clearest indications yet that a second fast-track budget measure—previously discussed but far from certain—may now be gaining traction. CUToday.info on Wednesday reached out to House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arringto...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

The United States at 250: How the Country Has Changed in the Past 50 Years

  In July, the United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary. The country’s last major milestone was 50 years ago, at its bicentennial on July 4, 1976. U.S. society has changed profoundly since then. Over the past five decades, the U.S. population has  aged significantly,  with the percentage of people 65 and older nearly doubling. The country has also become  more racially and ethnically diverse,  as growing shares of people identify as Asian or Hispanic. And following more than 70 million immigrant arrivals, the percentage of  foreign-born people  in the population has more than tripled.  Americans are also  less likely to be married  than ever before. Women – who now have far more options outside of the home than they did in 1976 – have contributed to a  boom in higher education  and helped  expand the workforce.  And even though many Americans are financially better off than they were 50 years ago,  econ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Sunday Reading - How were the National Parks started?

  America's 'Best Idea'       How were the National Parks started? America's National Park System includes roughly 85 million acres of US territory, equal to the size of Germany, set aside by federal law for preservation. There are 63 areas officially designated as national parks—including the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Acadia—and more than 400 additional smaller units ( see map ). In 1872, Yellowstone was established   as the first national park dedicated to public enjoyment and recreation, though its foundation also  displaced several Native American tribes . By 1916, the growing system required the creation of the National Park Service to preserve its lands for future generations. Eventually, hunting and logging were banned in the parks, though regulated extractive activity is still permitted in nati...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Agencies Issue Exemption Order To Customer Identification Program (CIP) Requirements

WASHINGTON--The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, and NCUA, with the concurrence of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, issued an order Friday granting an exemption from a requirement of the Customer Identification Program (CIP) Rule implementing Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act. The CIP Rule requires a bank or credit union to obtain taxpayer identification number (TIN) information from its customer before opening an account, and the exemption permits a bank or credit union to use an alternative collection method to obtain TIN information from a third-party rather than from the customer, the agencies stated in a joint release. The order applies to accounts at all entities supervised by the agencies. "Since the CIP Rule was issued initially in 2003, there has been a significant evolution in the ways consumers access financial services, along with a rise in reported customer reluctance to provide their full TIN due, in part, to...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Honoring Our Member Credit Unions Ranked Among the Top 100 in 2025

Celebrating Excellence: Honoring Our Member Credit Unions Ranked Among the Top 100 in 2025   Best-performing US credit unions of 2025 At NCOFCU, we take immense pride in the strength, resilience, and impact of our member credit unions. Today, we are thrilled to recognize and celebrate several of our members who have earned a place among the Top 100 Best Performing Credit Unions of 2025 —a testament to their unwavering commitment to service, financial stewardship, and community leadership. This achievement is not just about rankings—it reflects the daily dedication to members, the trust built within communities, and the innovation that continues to drive our movement forward. 🌟 Our Honored Members We proudly congratulate the following institutions for their outstanding performance: #7 – Long Beach Firemen's Credit Union A remarkable top-10 finish that highlights exceptional operational excellence and member value. Long Beach Firemen’s CU continues to set a high bar for perform...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Michael Lozoff PA Speaks to Important Lessons from the CFPB-Navy Federal Consent Decree

Important Lessons from the CFPB-Navy Federal Consent Decree On October 11, 2016, the CFPB issued a consent order citing Navy Federal Credit Union for unfair and deceptive debt collection practices. Navy Federal was ordered to pay a $5.5 million civil penalty and to pay affected members $23 million. The CFPB found that the $77 billion Navy Federal violated the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (the “CFPAct”) in two principal respects. First, the CFPB said NavyFed made deceptive representations to members about its intent to take legal action against delinquent debtors, its intention to contact members’ military chains of command about their debts, and the effect of delinquency or repayment on consumers’ credit ratings. Second, the CFPB charged NavyFed with unfairly restricting members’ electronic account access—blocking debit cards, ATM usage, and online account functions—when the member had a delinquent credit account. Credit unions nationwide are won...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»