Skip to main content

Lack of Young People on Boards ?

Editor's Note: This piece was originally published on ChipFilson.com

By Chip Filson
Filson, Chip

This observation on America’s credit unions is from Leo Sammallahti​, Marketing Manager, for the Coop Exchange.  Leo lives  in Finland.

“When I first read about a “Credit Union Governance Modernization Act” I was optimistic that this would help ensure there is more democratic accountability in the form of open and contested elections. Unfortunately this seems not be the case.  Rather the focus is making expelling credit union members easier.

“I totally support being able to expel abusive and violent members to protect the staff.  If there has been cases where this has been made too difficult they should be tackled with better legislation. If the new act is limited to cases like this, I totally support it.

“However, I’m concerned whether the act could be used by incumbents to solidify their positions by expelling critical members seeking to challenge them? I’m not saying this is the case, just interested whether such risk is involved. I also question the language used in it, talking about how credit unions should have more control over their members. Shouldn’t it be the other way around–how to ensure members have more control over their credit unions?

“I believe that perhaps more than ever,  American democracy would benefit from revitalization of credit union democracy. Instead of focusing on polarizing politics, credit unions could foster vibrant democratic practices rooted in their local communities, without party political point scoring and division.

We also need to encourage young people with skills and ideas to stand for the board for this to work out. This is the most educated generation in the history of the country, so I’m sure there are more than enough qualified candidates to stand for the board.”

A Second Observation

Apropos to Leo’s last comment, last week I received the following email from a senior credit union employee:

“CU’s are supposed to be democratically governed through the election of member chosen representatives. Due to  a possible age-driven mass exodus of board members, it appears that replacement of these directors is a coming problem.

“Director replacements are full of issues such as the CEO filtering and controlling who gets nominated; or the  nominating committees filtering applicants, NOT by qualifications, but by other unknown criteria. And anyone not nominated must solicit petitions to get on the ballot, an almost  impossible process that is frankly a JOKE.

“I am mentoring a midlevel credit union leader in (state).  He has been trying to offer his youthful vision and services  to a credit union board by getting on the ballot.  The push back he is receiving from many angles is sad and upsetting to me.  This young man could add significant value.”

My Comment

Are these two observations on the lack of young people on boards just a coincidence?   Or is this  generational absence in credit union governance glaringly obvious to anyone taking note?

Chip Filson is a co-founder of Callahan & Associates and well known within credit unions as an author, frequent speaker, and consultant. Filson also previously served as president of the Central Liquidity Facility (CLF) and Director of the Office of Programs at NCUA. For more info: www.chipfilson.com
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political comments.

Popular posts from this blog

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>»

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>»

Fire Police City County FCU rebrands to reflect company growth

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – A federal credit union with a long history in the Fort Wayne area is changing its name to something that the company said Tuesday reflects its ability to serve a larger sector. Fire Police City County Federal Credit Union, founded in 1933, will go by Summit Choice Credit Union starting in April. Members and locals will start to notice new signage and aesthetic changes at each branch throughout the month. The rebranding does not affect the credit union’s structure, ownership, or member accounts, according to the news release. Summit Choice Credit Union remains a member-owned financial cooperative, governed by the same principles and operated by the same team.  Its website  reminds members that new cards are being issued due to the rebranding. The credit union was originally formed for the families of local firefighters. Today, it serves employees of more than 350 local businesses around greater Fort Wayne. “Adopting the name Summit Choice Credi...
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>»

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...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Employers should take note, as company culture starts with professional development.

Employees and employers alike may have thought they understood company culture, and likely did until recently. Coming to work, knowing company values, interacting with others are all no brainers when it comes to the driving forces that make up company culture. Buy a seismic shift is occurring on two fronts. One, various generations are working together in multiple industries and two; the pandemic has changed attitudes about where work can occur and how that may or may not affect culture. The Linkedin Global Trends 2022 report says more freedom to work where and when employees want, as well as attention to wellbeing, are important demands employers need to consider. Consider the numbers: when picking a new job, 63% of professionals put work-life balance as the top priority. Sixty percent are interested in compensation and benefits and 40% say the colleagues and culture they will be working with are their top priorities. Employers should take note as company culture starts with profess...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Fed Gets Green Light for Interest Rate Cuts as Unemployment Rate Jumps to 4-Year High

The Federal Reserve is now seen as likely to   cut interest rates   multiple times before the end of the year, following another weak jobs report that showed unemployment jumping to a four-year high. The U.S. economy added just 22,000 jobs in August, less than economists had expected, the  Bureau of Labor Statistics  reported Friday. The unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, up slightly from 4.2% in July but hitting the highest level seen since October 2021, when the economy was still recovering from pandemic-driven layoffs. Although the new jobs report was troubling news for the economy, for prospective homebuyers with secure jobs it likely means further easing in  mortgage rates  in the days to come. Mortgage rates hinge primarily on the yields of  10-year Treasury notes , which plunged Friday to their lowest level since early April, when President  Donald Trump 's Liberation Day tariff announcement sparked panic in financial markets. It signals furth...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

One Fed Bank President Wants to See Rates at 3% or Higher by Year-End

James Bullard  ST. LOUIS–Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said he would like to see the Fed’s benchmark rate increased to at least 3% by year-end 2022 to counter the highest inflation in four decades. Bullard also said he favors shrinking the Fed’s bloated balance sheet. “I would like the committee to get to 3-3.25% on the policy rate in the second half of this year,” Bullard told reporters after a speech at the University of Missouri, Bloomberg reported. “We have to move forthrightly in order to get the policy rate to the right level to deal with the inflation we have got in front of us.” As CUToday.info reported, the Fed raised its benchmark overnight rate by 25 basis points last month to a target range of 0.25% to 0.5%. Bullard, who favored a half-point increase, was the lone dissenter in the 8-1 policy vote. Bloomberg noted forecasts released with their policy decision showed officials expect to raise rates to 1.9% by the end of the year, ac...
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>»

How Big Do Credit Unions Have to Be to Survive?

With two thirds of all credit unions at less than $100 million in assets, concerns are growing that competitive forces – dominant megabanks, the rapid uptake of digital banking, fintech inroads, low rates and more – could result in massive consolidation. Several industry experts and leaders see alternative ways forward. But how many small institutions can follow that path? Or will? With the tectonic changes altering retail banking — “trillionaire” banks spending billions on digital technology and sophisticated marketing, consumers increasingly able to switch institutions (or divide up their business) on an app — can a $50 million, $200 million or even a $500 million credit union expect to survive, much less thrive? Credit unions, much like community banks, have seen their share of doomsday headlines. Yet thousands remain. In fact, the credit union industry saw significant growth in terms of total assets and members in 2020, as shown in the first of the two charts below. But that indust...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»