Skip to main content

Are You Holding Your Credit Union Back? A Directors’ Guide to Stepping Up Your Game & Staying Relevant

These are harder questions ...

 

 

May Blog - Asking Some Harder Questions

 

 

Are You Holding Your Credit Union Back? A Directors’ Guide to Stepping Up Your Game & Staying Relevant 

Your job as a board member is to push forward, not to hold back. Credit union board members may not always have a good sense of how their behavior impacts the credit union itself, often in extremely negative ways. Lack of awareness of the industry and of self can be at play here. Even with the best of intentions, sometimes boards are a drag on the organization without knowing it, creating the environment for catastrophic results.

 

By Kevin Smith

 

I know … I know. I’m coming out of the gates here with a negative perspective. I tried to put a positive spin on this but I decided that I didn’t want to beat around the bush on this.

 

 

 

Stay at home but not Zoom Options ...

 

Doorways to Success Series: Financial Mastery

 

The Financial Mastery series is a new approach to learning credit union financials, which are a requirement for all credit union board members and a tremendous value for all those who rely on ratios and balance sheets to keep the credit union running. The TEAM Resources Doorways to Success Series: Financial Mastery is a series of five videos taught by Tim Harrington, CPA. Tim has an international reputation for his ability to communicate complex financial concepts into plain language and images.

 

 

See more.

A Credit Union Guide to Strategic Governance

 

By Timothy P. Harrington and Kevin Smith

 

Price: $35 (plus shipping)

(10% discount for orders of 10 or more)

 

“With the new demands on board governance, A Credit Union Guide to Strategic Board Governance is a thoughtful reference for credit union boards of directors, balancing theory and practice."

Benita Neely

Board Member, Bridge Credit Union

Newark, Ohio

 

 

See more.

 

 

 

Tim Harrington, CPA, CEO

tharrington@forteamresources.com

520.290.5721

 

Kevin Smith, Consultant/Publisher

ksmith@forteamresources.com

608-217-0556

 

 

 

Timothy P. Harrington, Inc. dba:

TEAM Resources | forteamresources.com

Facebook‌ Twitter‌ Pinterest‌

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political comments.

Popular posts from this blog

Small credit union closures and mergers.

NCOFCU Podcast on the loss of small creditunions. Grant Sheehan CCUE | CEO-NCOFCU examines the rapid decline of small credit unions, why each closure matters to communities, and the threat this trend poses to the cooperative identity and tax protections of the movement. The episode explores practical solutions: larger credit unions acting as stewards, collaboration through shared resources and technology, and the advocacy work of the National Council of Firefighter Credit Unions to amplify every credit union's voice. Listen for a call to action on preserving community-focused financial cooperatives and strengthening the future of the credit union movement. Be sure to visit NCOFCU's "First Responders Credit Unions Academy" for your continued credit union education and certification in meeting N C U A’s requirements.  ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with  NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional f...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Breaking: NCUA Moves to Remove a Major Barrier to Board Service

NCUA just proposed a rule that would allow federal credit unions to reimburse or directly pay reasonable dependent care costs for volunteer officials when those costs are incurred while attending board meetings or performing official duties. Childcare and eldercare costs are real barriers to serving on a board — especially for working professionals, single parents, and caregivers. At the same time, expectations for board engagement, training, and oversight continue to rise. A few important guardrails remain: ✔️ Applies only to federal credit unions ✔️ Covers dependent care only — not lost wages or compensation ✔️ Requires written board policy and reasonable controls ✔️ IRS tax treatment still applies (talk to your CPA) Bottom line: this won't fix board recruitment challenges by itself, but it removes a real friction point for people who want to serve and simply can't absorb the added costs. NCUA is also asking for comments — including whether training and conferences...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

New FRCUA Manuals Alert!

New & Updated Manuals Now in the First Responder Credit Union Academy! NCUA "What you Need to Know." Building a Budget Policies & Procedures CEO Strategic Planning Checklist Board Strategic Priorities Directors'  Strategic Planning Checklist We’re always improving the First Responder Credit Union Academy to give you the tools you need to succeed. Our manuals are regularly updated with the latest insights, best practices, and industry guidance — so you can stay informed, confident, and ready to serve your members. Check out the latest updates and keep your skills sharp:  https://www.ncofcu.org/first-responder-credit-union-academy  ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with  NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: First Responder Credit Union Academy Financial Literacy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Blog Job Board  
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

‘No One Wants a New Car Now.’ WSJ Columnist Offers His Take on Why

NEW YORK–That new car smell isn’t quite the intoxicating perfume it has been for a long time, according to one automotive analyst. Under the headline, “No One Wants a New Car Now. Here’s Why,” the Wall Street Journal’s well-regarded automotive columnist, Dan Neal, observed that “America’s fleet of cars and trucks is also getting long in the tooth.” Neal’s reference was to a study by S&P Global Mobility that found the average age of vehicles in the U.S. is now 12.6 years, up more than 14 months since 2014, with the average age of passenger cars hitting14 years. All-Time High Burden “In the past, the average-age statistic was taken as a sign of transportation’s burden on household budgets,” Neal wrote. “Those burdens remain near all-time hig...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Advice On Winning Over Gen Z In ’25

NEW YORK—As 2025 approaches the close of Q1, how can credit unions win over Gen Z? By tailoring credit rewards for a digital-first generation, a new report recommends. Gen Z is reshaping the workforce and redefining financial behaviors. As of 2024, this generation is poised to surpass Baby Boomers in workforce size and will make up 30% of the workforce by 2030. This rapid growth presents a major opportunity for financial institutions to tap into a younger, digitally native audience with distinct spending habits and financial needs, emphasized a GlobalData report authored by Zachary Johnson, specialist, campaign execution & strategy, financial services at VDX.tv. “Unlike previous generations, Gen Z’s economic journey has been shaped by inflation and delayed career starts due to the pandemic and skyrocketing living costs. These factors have made them highly dependent on credit, with Gen Zers being 23% more likely to own a credit card than Millennials at the same age, and carrying...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Long-Stalled Credit Card Competition Act Moves Forward In Senate Clarity Act Markup

WASHINGTON—A long-stalled bipartisan push to boost competition in the credit card market moved closer to becoming law late Friday, as Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) advanced a new amendment attached to the Senate Agriculture Committee’s markup of the Digital Asset Market Structure and Investor Protection Act, commonly known as the Clarity Act. Dick Durbin The amendment, a core component of the long-debated Credit Card Competition Act, would prohibit major credit-card networks and large issuing banks from enforcing network exclusivity on credit cards. Supporters argue the measure would expand transaction-routing competition, weaken the dominance of the largest payment networks, and reduce swipe fees that merchants say inflate consumer prices. The renewed momentum reflects President Trump’s recent backing of efforts to rein in credit card costs, a shift that has altered the political trajectory of legislation that has struggled to advance in prior Congresses. With Tru...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

'Tis the season for fraud! Teller questions if member fraud is suspected.

  When a credit union employee suspects a member may be subject to fraud, they should initiate a careful conversation focusing on the nature of the transaction and external influences. The goal is to help the member identify red flags without the employee asking for sensitive personal information that the credit union should already have on file.  Initial Verification Questions    .pdf Before discussing the specifics of the suspicious activity, the employee should confirm the member's identity in accordance with established internal protocols.  Questions About the Transaction/Activity If the member confirms they are conducting a suspicious transaction (e.g., a large wire transfer or purchase of gift cards ), the employee should ask questions to help the member pause and think critically:  "What is the purpose of this transaction?" "Do you personally know the person or business you are sending money to?" "Have you ever met the...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Retail sales in the United States jumped nearly 11% this holiday season

PURCHASE, N.Y.–Retail sales in the United States jumped nearly 11% this holiday season compared with the holiday period in 2019, the year before the pandemic upended the global economy, according to a new Mastercard analysis. The report, Mastercard SpendingPulse , showed an 8.5% increase in retail sales over the holiday season, defined as Nov. 1 to Dec. 24, compared with last year. The figures exclude automobile sales. According to Mastercard, sales in stores were up 8.1% compared with last year, while e-commerce sales were up 11%. Compared with 2019, before the pandemic brought about an explosion of online ordering, e-commerce sales jumped over 61%. Online sales made up 20.9% of all retail sales this year, the Mastercard SpendingPulse reported. In 2019, online sales accounted for just 14.6% of all retail sales, underscoring how the pandemic has accelerated the shift to e-commerce. Beating the Rush In a statement cited by the Times, Steve Sadove, senior adviser for Mastercard, sai...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

New Vehicle Sales Slam on the Brakes

ARLINGTON, Va.—Total vehicle sales plummeted to 11.4-million units in March from February's rate of 16.7 million annualized units. Monthly sales levels were down 34.1% versus March 2019. “The global effects of coronavirus on the auto market are here, including disrupted supply chains, idle factories, and closed showrooms resulting in the lowest monthly sales number since June 2010,” said NAFCU Chief Economist and Vice President of Research Curt Long. “As most shelter-in-place orders were instituted in March, April's numbers are likely to be even lower. “NAFCU expects vehicle sales to continue to fall in Q2 as the effects of social distancing take hold, with some rebound in the latter part of Q3, though as with any virus-related forecasts, there is a high degree of uncertainty,” Long added. Cars,  Trucks Back Down Car and light trucks sales both fell dramatically during the month to 2.9 million annualized units and 8.5 million annualized units, respectively. L...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»