FINTECH NEWS Institutions from Connecticut to Idaho say logins are not enough and that long-term trust, data and outcomes now define success. Credit unions for years have competed on rates, service at [...]
Crystal Long said she will step down after 15 years leading the El Paso institution, as it pursues growth in New Mexico through a pending bank acquisition. The longtime chief executive of GECU, the [...]
A new forecast from TruStage says U.S. economic growth is expected to slow modestly in 2026 while declining interest rates help revive credit union lending. The latest economic forecast from TruStage suggests the U.S. economy [...]
Regulatory approval allows the Maryland credit union to serve new counties and pursue growth among households, businesses and local governments. Maryland-based Nymeo Federal Credit Union has received federal approval to significantly expand its field [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council Every few years, the banking lobby dusts off the same tired script and launches a new campaign attacking credit [...]
The California fintech says creating a federally regulated bank would streamline its operations and deepen its role in consumer credit markets. Upstart Holdings, the San Mateo, Calif.-based artificial intelligence lending platform, said it plans [...]
Written By: Michael Macchiarola Chief Executive Officer Olden Lane For much of their history, America’s credit unions have thrived through steady, deliberate decision-making. Prudence, patience, and incremental progress are virtues in a [...]
Michael Calcote will lead the Colorado-based institution following the retirement of Gerry Agnes after nearly two decades at the helm. Elevations Credit Union has named Michael Calcote as its next president and chief executive, [...]
The acquisition of American National Bank-Fox Cities would expand the credit union’s presence in Northeast Wisconsin and mark another example of the growing wave of credit union-bank combinations. Landmark Credit Union has reached an agreement to [...]
State regulators say they intend to approve the combination of Credit Union 1 and MAC Federal Credit Union following a public comment period. Alaska regulators have signaled their intent to approve the merger of [...]
Federally insured credit unions reported rising membership, stronger earnings and steady loan growth even as consolidation continued across the industry. Federally insured credit unions expanded their balance sheets and sharply increased profits in 2025, [...]
INDUSTRY NEWS One group of panelists said the cooperative financial sector must sharpen its identity, modernize its digital offerings and rethink how it generates revenue if it hopes to compete in a rapidly shifting financial marketplace. [...]
Industry veteran Dennis Dollar told credit union leaders that a new requirement could reshape how regulators review executive pay and governance. A new succession planning rule from the National Credit Union Administration is poised to become [...]
Written By: Scott Simpson President & CEO America’s Credit Unions This week, more than 6,000 credit union leaders from across the country are gathering in Washington, D.C., for America’s Credit Unions’ Governmental [...]
At a Washington mini-conference, an industry advocate said lawmakers may have slowed the Durbin-Marshall bill but could still advance it through other legislative vehicles. What was once expected to be a brief legislative skirmish [...]
The Pennsylvania institution says the move will widen membership eligibility across several states while preserving its cooperative mission. Citadel Credit Union, the $6.6 billion-asset institution based in Exton, Pennsylvania, announced Monday that it has [...]
The Governmental Affairs Conference will bring thousands of industry leaders to the capital for strategy sessions, keynote addresses and meetings with lawmakers. Credit union leaders from across the country are gathered in Washington this [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council Next week, credit union leaders from across the country will arrive in Washington, D.C. with something powerful in hand: [...]
The federal regulator approved 157 combinations last year, while credit union acquisitions of banks remain near record levels. The nation’s credit unions continued to consolidate in 2025, though at a slightly slower pace than [...]
Written By: Geoff Bacino Founder & CEO Bacino & Associates It’s not often that the Supreme Court is our leadoff hitter, but the arguments in the Trump v. Slaughter case that was [...]
The $2.1 trillion bank taps the former Alliant Credit Union chief to oversee services for companies with up to $25 million in annual sales. Wells Fargo, the fourth-largest bank in the United States by [...]
The Illinois-based lender is partnering with Vertyx and backing a new affordability initiative aimed at unlocking housing mobility. Great Lakes Credit Union, a $1.4 billion-asset institution based in Bannockburn, Ill., has formed a new [...]
An analysis in Geoff Bacino’s newsletter argues that history and candidate recruitment give the party out of power a plausible, if difficult, path to retaking both chambers. With just over 250 days until voters [...]
The purchase would create a nearly $2 billion-asset institution and mark the second whole-bank acquisition by a credit union announced in 2026. Peoples Independent Bancshares Inc., the holding company for Peoples Independent Bank, has [...]
Written By: Jeff Marsico Principal of Strategic Consulting Services Wolf & Company P.C. I occasionally deliver an intriguing presentation at bankers conferences called Predictapalooza: It Could Happen. My premise is that at [...]
The deal expands ABNB’s footprint in north central North Carolina as banks and credit unions continue a steady wave of branch transactions. ABNB Federal Credit Union has reached an agreement to acquire two North [...]
The deal would create a $21 billion institution serving 1.4 million members, continuing a wave of large credit union consolidations nationwide. Suncoast Credit Union, the largest credit union in Florida and one of the [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council I serve as Chief Advocacy Officer of the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC), representing credit unions that support service [...]
The April 2026 deal, approved by state regulators, will add $108 million in assets and expand the lender’s footprint across Northeast Ohio. 7 17 Credit Union will merge with Geauga Credit Union on April [...]
The proposal outlines how credit unions may apply to issue payment stablecoins under the GENIUS Act and sets a public comment deadline of April 13. The National Credit Union Administration on Wednesday unveiled its first proposed [...]
Richard Romero will step down in March 2026 as the $1.1 billion-asset institution prepares for leadership transition. Richard Romero, who has led Seattle Credit Union for more than a decade, said he will retire [...]
Written By: Michael Jamesson Principal Jamesson Associates Free markets and capitalism are frequently conflated. However, the fact of the matter is that capitalists are rarely in favor of free markets. Rather, those [...]
The deal for Citizens Bank & Trust locations would transfer $63 million in deposits and loans as the credit union expands its footprint. Family Savings Credit Union, a $1.1 billion-asset institution based in Rainbow [...]
A new national survey finds overwhelming support for credit unions’ not-for-profit model, as Americans rate them far more favorably than large banks and urge broader access to their services. As national debates intensify over affordability and [...]
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust, buoyed by record earnings, plans to push deeper into the Gulf South and extend its national lending reach, signaling an ambitious next phase for the state’s largest locally owned bank. Gulf [...]
As lawmakers advance a measure targeting interchange fees, financial institutions say the proposal could reshape how residents pay for everyday purchases — with higher costs and new frictions for businesses and consumers alike. A rare coalition [...]
The deal aims to preserve local ties in Western Massachusetts while offering broader services and greater financial scale. Alden Credit Union, a nearly century-old community lender based in Western Massachusetts, announced on Thursday that [...]
Written By: Monica Parks Chief Information Officer Bank3 This isn't just another data breach story. This is a leadership crisis that should shake every organization to its core. Last week, Politico reported [...]
New NCUA call report data analyzed by Tyfone shows BECU edging past Pentagon Federal, reshaping the top five by assets even as earnings surge for most. Year-end call report data for individual U.S. credit [...]
The proposed deal would create a $1.4 billion institution rooted in Catholic social teaching, pending a member vote in March. Notre Dame Federal Credit Union of Indiana and Catholic United Financial Credit Union of Minnesota announced [...]
The appointment caps a seven-year rise at the Silicon Valley lender as its retiring chief steps aside after more than three decades. Star One Credit Union, a $9.3 billion-asset financial institution rooted in Silicon Valley, announced [...]
New rules subject some in-state credit unions to a 1.2% business tax on bank acquisitions, a shift that could alter merger strategies and push deals beyond Washington’s borders. When Washington State quietly revised its tax guidance [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has wisely adopted a policy direction to “review and potentially revise” all its [...]
The Texas-based credit union plans its first major expansion beyond state lines, combining with an Oklahoma City institution rooted in aviation and community banking. Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union, one of Texas’s largest member-owned financial institutions, is [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council When Washington’s budget gridlock grinds the government to a halt, the men and women in uniform shouldn’t have to [...]
With Congress racing to avert a funding lapse, financial cooperatives move quickly to cushion the impact on military members, civil servants and contractors. As lawmakers in Washington edged late Wednesday toward a potential deal [...]
Written By: Kirk Kordeleski Partner PARC Street Partners For too long, credit unions have underestimated their potential — and underestimated the importance of leadership transitions. In a time of historic disruption — [...]
A Tyfone analysis of newly released NCUA call reports finds that while some large institutions improved earnings in 2025, others saw profits decline. Year-end call report data from the National Credit Union Administration is [...]
Fourth phase of agency review aims to trim requirements seen as duplicative or unnecessarily restrictive, while preserving safety and soundness. The National Credit Union Administration on Tuesday unveiled the fourth round of proposed regulatory [...]
The deal would bring four community banking brands under Bennington’s umbrella, reflecting a broader push by regional banks to grow while preserving local identities. Bennington State Bank, a Salina, Kansas-based institution with deep roots in the [...]
INDUSTRY NEWS The rule would give federal credit unions discretion to cover childcare and eldercare expenses, a move aimed at widening the pool of board members and easing the burden on unpaid officials. [...]
The move underscores mounting strain on the smallest federally insured lenders, as losses and declining membership prompt stepped-up regulatory intervention. For the second time in less than a week, the National Credit Union Administration [...]
Veteran credit union executive will take the helm in February, succeeding Kevin Ryan after a year of leadership transition. Financial Center First Credit Union, a nearly $900 million institution serving central Indiana, announced this [...]
Written By: Scott Simpson President & CEO America’s Credit Unions After enough years of observing Washington work, you start to recognize the seasons. Midterm years have a different energy to them. Action [...]
Action against People Trust Community Federal Credit Union follows recent interventions as regulators confront mounting losses and thin capital at the smallest lenders. The National Credit Union Administration on Friday placed People Trust Community [...]
Fresh off a merger creating a $20 billion cooperative, the Minnesota-based lender aligns with the Timberwolves and Lynx amid broader debates over credit unions’ expanding reach. Just weeks after completing a merger that vaulted [...]
Written By: Joshua Herman CEO CU WealthNext My career has mostly been in the U.S. credit union system. In fact, most of my life has revolved around the U.S. credit union system. My first [...]
The $98 million community bank near the Ohio–Michigan line says the new name reflects its roots in northwest Ohio while signaling ambitions beyond a single village. For more than eight decades, Metamora State Bank has carried [...]
Whitesville Community Credit Union’s rapid merger with a struggling Owensboro institution reflects both regional growth ambitions and the mounting pressures on the smallest lenders. Whitesville Community Credit Union, a $33.2 million cooperative based in [...]
A planned union between California Coast Credit Union and San Diego County Credit Union, announced as a transformative consolidation, is now stalled by a Superior Court lawsuit challenging the deal’s termination and raising questions about its future. [...]
Eight days into 2026, the credit union–bank acquisition trend has already resumed, underscoring a consolidation pattern that has reshaped parts of the financial services industry in recent years. Zeal Credit Union of Livonia, Michigan, [...]
The case underscores how a small, community-based financial institution unraveled after its chief executive abused his authority, ultimately leading to federal intervention and a merger. A former credit union chief executive in eastern Indiana [...]
Written By: Ryan Ross President & CEO University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union Every week, another op-ed questions whether credit unions are losing their way. While the industry has evolved, one thing [...]
High mortgage costs and limited affordability have pushed housing into a downturn, even as recent data hints at tentative buyer interest. As the U.S. economy moves into 2026, the housing market stands out as [...]
The deal brings together accounting, advisory and operational expertise as banks and credit unions face mounting regulatory and technological pressures. Wolf & Company, P.C., a nationally recognized accounting and consulting firm, has acquired the [...]
INDUSTRY NEWS The purchase of a Charlevoix bank branch and the completion of a separate Upper Peninsula acquisition underscore how credit unions are steadily reshaping community banking in Michigan. When 4Front Credit Union [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council When Congress returns in January, lawmakers will face renewed pressure to pass the so-called Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) [...]
Written By: Anthony Hernandez President & CEO Defense Credit Union Council An Air Force colleague of mine recently posted something that changed my thinking. At the end of each year, many leaders [...]
FINTECH NEWS As community financial institutions embrace AI, the technology promises to transform member service, lending and risk management while raising regulatory and operational questions about data, ethics and human oversight. Artificial [...]
Written By: Phil Sutliff Community Banking Executive & Strategic Growth Consultant LeadFirst IQ Client relationships are not always shaped by the big moments. They are often shaped by one small, decisive moment [...]
Michael Magnavita will step down in May 2026 after nearly four decades at the Pennsylvania credit union, with the board naming Chief Operating Officer Drew Stanley as his successor. Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union, [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council The credit union movement has never lacked passion. We have never lacked purpose. And when you look at the [...]
The Los Angeles-based cooperative turns to a veteran lending and retail banking executive as it looks to deepen university partnerships and expand digital tools after a year of leadership transition. University Credit Union, a [...]
Written By: Judy DeLucca President & CEO New Orleans Firemen's Federal Credit Union As Washington dismantles decades of progress in community finance and special education, we face a moral test that defines [...]
New survey data show rapid adoption of electronic workflows alongside unresolved hurdles in system integration and regulatory alignment. Community banks across the United States are accelerating their shift toward digital banking, particularly in lending, [...]
The U.S. Mint’s decision to halt penny production has left credit unions grappling with shortages and uncertainty as industry leaders press lawmakers and regulators for clear rules on rounding and cash transactions. When the [...]
As the Supreme Court weighs a challenge to long-standing protections for agency leaders, the fate of the NCUA’s board — and the independence of financial regulators — hangs in the balance. The National Credit [...]
The deal would expand Greylock Federal Credit Union into Franklin County as both institutions say the partnership strengthens community banking at a moment of heightened industry consolidation. Greylock Federal Credit Union and Franklin First [...]
The North Fulton startup secured state and federal authorization to open as organizers move to complete a capital raise, marking a noteworthy step in an era when new bank charters have become exceedingly uncommon. [...]
Written By: Patrick Conway CrossState Credit Union Association President & CEO, and American Association of Credit Union Leagues Board Chair When credit unions speak with one voice, powerful things happen. At CrossState [...]
The credit union said longtime leader Dwayne Naylor will step down in January as Dave D’Annunzio prepares to assume the role amid recent operational challenges and a major merger. Civic Credit Union announced on Tuesday that [...]
The National Credit Union Administration grants a new charter in California, marking the third de novo credit union formed in 2025 as the industry continues to contract. A new financial institution will soon open its doors [...]
Federally insured credit unions expanded to $2.4 trillion in assets and added 3.1 million members in the third quarter of 2025, NCUA data shows. Federally insured credit unions ended the third quarter of 2025 [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council Senator Elizabeth Warren’s recent broadside against credit unions – calling their overdraft practices “predatory” amid Americans’ economic struggles – [...]
FINTECH NEWS The GENIUS Act’s new federal framework for issuing and holding stablecoins forces community institutions to decide how to innovate without losing their footing. The arrival of the GENIUS Act has [...]
The agreement, which would give the combined company $5.4 billion in assets, marks South Plains’ latest push to build scale across the state as Houston remains one of the nation’s fastest-growing banking markets. South Plains Financial, [...]
Written By: Tim Scholten President & Founder Visible Progress LLC Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology have been gaining mainstream attention for years, but the next phase of their evolution is set to unfold [...]
The appointment of Bryce Mortensen marks a major leadership transition for the Milwaukie-based credit union as it expands its technological ambitions and prepares for its next phase of growth. Oregonians Credit Union, a $338 [...]
The proposed deal, which awaits a member vote and regulatory approval, would unite two Ogden-founded credit unions into a $4 billion-asset organization with 55 branches. Ascent Federal Credit Union, a small but longstanding institution [...]
Written By: Michael Macchiarola Chief Executive Officer Olden Lane Credit unions and community banks have long dominated the deposit gathering and consumer lending in the pockets of America uninteresting to the country’s [...]
The acquisition of Citizens National Bank’s Hammond and Morristown branches marks a strategic shift for the North Country credit union, even as members recently rejected a larger merger. St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union, a [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council For more than 60 years, the Defense Credit Union Council has been synonymous with military-focused credit unions. Yet today, [...]
FINTECH NEWS Many banks and credit unions are racing to modernize account opening while holding onto the face-to-face connections that built their reputations. For decades, opening a new bank account was a [...]
Written By: Scott Simpson President & CEO America’s Credit Unions There’s something uniquely powerful about cooperative finance. This model isn’t defined by competition, but by collaboration. I’ve seen it time and again: [...]
The deal would create the nation’s fourth-largest credit union as Washington-based BECU enters California for the first time, adding 17 branches in the Sacramento region. Boeing Employees Credit Union, better known as BECU, is [...]
The agreement, pending regulatory approval, would create a $4.7 billion-asset financial institution serving more than 440,000 members and customers. GECU, El Paso’s largest locally owned federal credit union, announced that it has agreed to [...]
The move keeps longtime chief executive Bruce Brumfield in place after his planned succession is abruptly halted. Founders Federal Credit Union has halted its long-planned leadership transition after confirming that Keith Wilson, its president [...]
Written By: Alan Bergstrom Founder Bergstrom Consulting Services The credit union landscape has shifted dramatically over the past few decades. Forty years ago, credit unions were gaining momentum as consumers sought [...]
From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council On November 5, 2025, I had the opportunity to testify before the NCUA Board about the agency’s proposed budget for [...]
The financial services firm forecasts weaker expansion and continued restrictive monetary policy despite gradual rate cuts. The U.S. economy is expected to grow more slowly in 2026 as persistent inflation, uncertain tariff policies, and restrictive monetary [...]
