The primary Business Model for credit unions is straightforward. It is Money in Money out. Credit unions buy money ( deposits) from members (Cost of Funds) and then loans out those deposits to Members (Interest Income) at a higher interest rate (Margin). Of course, there are multitudes of nuance to this model, that’s why credit…

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Condoleezza Rice once said, “When you’re in a position of authority, you need truth-tellers around you.” Did she hit the mark? You bet.First, let us agree that one element of leadership is the authority. To be a leader, you must have some authority. This authority isn’t determined by power but by your ability to motivate,…

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Everyone seems to be talking about the new normal. I am not a fan of the phrase “new normal.” Normalcy has always been the siren’s call to irrelevancy and plateauing for credit unions. Here the five things your credit union needs to consider as we move out of this pandemic: 1. Branches that don’t transition…

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Historically branches are seen as transaction channels. Today, this view of branches has changed and continues to evolve. Members and potential members like the convenience of brick and mortar, they like the demonstration of financial strength and security. Still, the truth is, they rely less on branches for their daily, weekly, and monthly transaction business…

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Here is what we know. We are in the middle of a pandemic. This situation has forced each of us to rethink and reimage how we do business. There is a tendency to hunker down and attack the urgent needs of members, staff, and the credit union. We get done what is critical at the…

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The digital economy is a new world order where their digital profiles and personas are directing consumer behaviors and buying decisions. The digital economy will lead them to products and services, special offers, activities, and events based upon recommended by these profiles and personas. It’s not a matter of if or even when it is…

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Are you a resolutions person? I’m not a big fan of resolutions. It seems they are just another way to procrastinate what you should have done days, weeks, months, or even years ago. What I prefer to do to celebrate a new year is to evaluate, reinvent, and re-energize my focus and attention. How do…

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Too often I see organizations that keep getting in their way. They celebrate mediocre performance, average results, and incremental growth. Occasionally I find an organization that is satisfied in just cruising slowly into obsolescence, not willing to admit what is happening to the company. Today’s competitive, fast paced business climate does not tolerate medeocracy for…

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When doing a strategic plan, most organizations really are good at thinking with aspiration, hope, and promise. Where the “failure” happens is on the execution of the plan. If you think about engaging movies, they all seem to be stories that include a variation of the hero’s journey. “Lord of the Rings”, “Star Wars”, and…

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