News

How cryptocurrency will shape credit union services.

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 [...]

Ascent Federal Credit Union moves to merge with Goldenwest.

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 [...]

St. Lawrence FCU expands with two bank branch purchases.

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 [...]

Protecting the cooperative finance model.

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: [...]

Innovation Is the key to credit union survival.

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 [...]

Navy Federal report finds gaps in understanding of VA loans.

A new survey by the Vienna-based credit union reveals widespread misconceptions among servicemembers and veterans about VA home loans, underscoring a need for better education. Navy Federal Credit Union recently released new research highlighting persistent confusion [...]

Community banks can’t have it both ways.

Written By: Jim Nussle President & CEO America’s Credit Unions In response to the OP-ED article New data shows policymakers should focus on harmful impact of CU acquisitions. For years, community [...]

First Federal Lakewood to acquire Columbus-area bank.

The deal, expected to close in early 2026, will preserve customer ownership while expanding services and community investment across Central Ohio. First Federal Lakewood, the largest mutual bank headquartered in Ohio, announced on Wednesday that it [...]

School spirit: California behemoth continues rapid growth.

The Tustin-based SchoolsFirst FCU posted nearly $184 million in third-quarter earnings and surpassed $34 billion in assets, marking double-digit growth while opening a new branch in Burbank and solidifying its place among the nation’s top three credit unions. [...]

TDECU and Smart Financial Credit Union plan 2026 merger.

The tie-up of Houston’s largest and one of its oldest credit unions would form a financial cooperative serving more than 460,000 members across Texas, pending approval. Two of Houston’s most established credit unions — TDECU and [...]

Bigger than ever, fewer than ever

Written By: Michael Murdoch AVP of Marketing University Credit Union It is a curious moment for credit unions in the United States. Perhaps every moment is, but by most measures the [...]

America First Credit Union expands across Arizona.

With new branches opening in Goodyear, Mesa, and Queen Creek, and a landmark acquisition of a $1.4 billion bank, the credit union underscores its growing influence in a rapidly changing financial landscape. America First Credit Union [...]

Largest credit union merger in history is approved.

Digital Federal Credit Union and First Tech Federal Credit Union cleared a key hurdle with NCUA approval, setting the stage for a member vote and the creation of the fifth-largest credit union in the country. [...]

DCUC: Repeal the outdated MBL cap now.

From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council Few Americans realize that federal law limits credit unions from lending more than 12.25% of their total assets to [...]

Where the real divisions in America lie

Written By: Michael Jamesson Principal Jamesson Associates America is divided.  Political polarization infects our everyday lives in ways that would have been inconceivable a couple of decades ago. The kind of beer or [...]

Why Main Street matters more than ever

Written By: Phil Sutliff Commercial Banking Executive Langley Federal Credit Union The heartbeat of every community doesn’t echo in glass towers. It pulses on Main Street, inside the bakery that opens before [...]

Why credit unions must hold onto their identity

Written By: Judy DeLucca President & CEO New Orleans Firemen's Federal Credit Union Across the country, there is a growing chorus suggesting that credit unions should merge, consolidate, and “speak with one [...]

DCUC to Congress: Pass the CLF Enhancement Act

From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council When a financial crisis hits, Wall Street isn’t the one keeping the lights on in small towns, on military bases, [...]

The many flavors of credit union strategic M&A

Written By: Dennis Holthaus Senior Consultant Holthaus Consulting, LLC Most credit union’s strategic plans target growth: growth in total assets; growth in membership; growth in net earnings. While credit union boards and [...]

The race is on for scale, youth and tech

Written By: Peter Duffy Managing Director of Merger and Acquisition Strategy SRM Research we have conducted reinforces the growing sentiment in the C-Suite and boardroom of America’s community banks and credit unions [...]

Survey: Credit union executive pay soars

A new report from CUES found that total compensation for credit union CEOs rose more than 10% in the past year. Executive compensation in the credit union industry is surging, with top leadership roles seeing notable [...]

Why Congress should pass the TRAPS Act

From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council Every day, scammers target American consumers and siphon away millions of dollars – and military families are among the [...]

Navigating the credit union tech spend conundrum

Many credit unions struggle to bridge the gap between the ideal of seamless digital experiences and the reality of outdated systems and cost concerns. A new article from McKinsey spotlights the need for credit [...]

What community FIs should do now with SaaS

Written By: Tim Scholten President & Founder Visible Progress LLC SaaS may be necessary for many banks and credit unions to innovate faster and provide a better digital experience for their clients. [...]

Advocating on the frontlines of financial readiness

From the Desk of Jason Stverak Chief Advocacy Officer Defense Credit Union Council Every year, Congress passes the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – a must-pass bill vital to national security. DCUC [...]

The relentless pursuit of growth in credit unions

Written By: Kirk Kordeleski Partner PARC Street Partners For too long, credit unions have underestimated their potential. In a time of historic disruption—where traditional banks are retreating, where AI and digital-first platforms [...]

CU-bank deal #10 of 2025 lands in Louisiana

Before Wednesday, it had been nearly two months since a U.S. credit union announced a bank purchase, but the M&A space seems to be heating up. In the second credit-union-buying-bank deal announced in two days, OnPath [...]

Court orders immediate restoration of full NCUA board

President Donald Trump in April fired the agency’s two Democratic board members, but – barring an appeal – the credit union regulator will again be overseen by a three-person entity. A federal judge has reversed a [...]

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