The market has priced in six FOMC rate hikes of 25 basis points by the end of the year, with almost four projected by midyear. Although volatility is likely, expectations are for a continued increase in interest rates. Most credit unions will benefit from this, but investing in a rising rate environment has its challenges. What does it mean for your investment portfolio?

Every year, credit unions must undergo a Supervisory Committee Annual Review, often referred to as a SCAR. Perhaps your credit union is due for one. At this point, you must decide which kind of review your credit union needs. What will it be? A Full-Scope Review or what’s known as “Minimum Procedures.”

At their November 2021 meeting, the Federal Reserve revealed they will begin to taper their asset purchases – a program that started at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and should conclude mid-summer of this year. What does this mean for credit unions?

New Year’s Day will represent more than the flip of the calendar this year. After six years of discussion and deliberation, the NCUA’s final subordinated debt rule will take effect January 1, 2022. What do credit unions need to know about this upcoming rule change?

When it comes to originating loans, whether for the lender’s portfolio or for selling into the secondary market, automation is a basic requirement. Today, there are too many legacy manual processes throughout the applicant’s journey from origination to closing. It’s not enough to have a system of record to process the information required to generate a compliant and saleable loan.

As I talk to credit unions, I often hear that digital transformation is one of their biggest challenges. So, I set out to write a simple blog about how remote deposit capture can make life easier for credit unions as they face this process. But said blog took a detour in the direction of complexity…

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many changes in the market, including the way consumers think about their finances. More businesses are being launched now than at any time in the past decade as American workers pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, thanks in part to the rise of pandemic-induced innovation and emerging technologies. Commercial lending is a great way for credit unions to meet the moment and align their business strategies with meeting their members’ needs.

Night fades to morning, morning turns to night. With each passing day comes change – a constant cycle that also holds true in the world of investments. As you may know, the London Interbank Offered Rate is being phased out in the U.S. and replaced with a new benchmark rate, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. Here’s what you need to know.

Shana Richardson has read a lot of headlines lately about banks pulling out of HELOC lending, and even a couple of credit unions. While lenders were complaining about the regulators clamping down on certain types of lending and other associated matters following the housing crisis – and it was a housing crisis – here we are doing just that. Were the regulators correct?

Inflation, Deflation, Disinflation…Now Stagflation? The first three terms are probably familiar, but stagflation may be new to some. However, its been popping up more frequently in recent news. What does it mean and how should we prepare for the possibility of its arrival?

Compliance is a recognized safety and soundness issue influencing the direction of examinations and the perception of management’s effectiveness in the organization. The nature of compliance has become a landscape of almost constant change. Those credit unions who wish to weather the onslaught of regulatory upheaval have come to recognize that an effective and robust compliance program will protect the credit union in these challenging times.

How many systems, both digital and manual, do your borrowers and employees have to navigate before booking a loan? The answer may surprise you and provide some critical insight if you aren’t surpassing your loan growth goals.

In Greek mythology, Achilles was the greatest of all Greek warriors. But despite his overall strength, one small, unprotected area on his heel led to his ultimate downfall. As warriors against fraud, credit unions vigilantly establish safeguards to protect their institutions, but one small vulnerability – email – can be the Achilles heel that cripples financially and reputationally.

Cornerstone’s ALM Key Ratio Analysis Report includes an Expense Analysis, which can provide insights for your credit union. The Expense Analysis, found on page 11 of the report, gives you another perspective to consider when looking at the costs to run your credit union as they relate to offering loans and share drafts—the products and services you offer your members to make their lives better.

Despite supply issues and higher prices across the auto industry, car sales have continued to remain strong. As new and used vehicles continue to sell, financial institutions have had plenty of opportunities to make car loans and increase their share of the auto-lending market, but it hasn’t been easy for credit unions attempting to do so.

Conversation around interest rate derivatives has gained more traction within the credit union industry over the last year. And recently, the NCUA Board approved a final rule that modernizes the proposed derivatives rule. Here’s what you need to know.

We are living in fast-changing times. Lenders that fail to meet the changing demands of their borrowers will be ill-equipped to compete for their business. While other industries have learned to deliver high levels of customer engagement and satisfaction online, many lenders are still originating loans much as they were 20 years ago.

Credit union asset growth remained strong in the first quarter. However, these days, describing asset growth as “strong” is an understatement. After increasing 16.2 percent in 2020, assets grew at an annualized rate of 17.5 percent in the first quarter of 2021.

Today, millions of consumers will make shopping decisions about cereal, chicken, tomatoes, and potatoes. And for many, those decisions will be based on one key factor: convenience.

There’s a lot of confusion for consumers about their credit scores, which is to be expected when borrowers receive ‘educational’ scores from various services does not often match lenders see in the FICO score. Most consumers, and Ser Tech, believe it’s important to see the scores lenders use during the loan approval process when making borrowing decisions.