Ray Birch

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations (NACUSO) has launched what could become one of the credit union industry’s most significant long-term legislative fights in decades: an effort to convince Congress to dramatically raise—or potentially eliminate—the statutory cap limiting how much credit unions can invest in CUSOs, arguing the decades-old restriction is increasingly preventing cooperatives from keeping pace with rapid advances in artificial intelligence, fintech and digital banking.

MILWAUKEE—At a time when the credit union industry continues to wrestle with consolidation, aging memberships and questions about how many new cooperatives can realistically still be launched from scratch, Corporate Central has quietly taken a step that executives there believe could help seed the next generation of credit unions before they even officially exist.

KENSINGTON, Md.—The “ghost car” may sound like an old-school dealership trick, but consumer advocates, regulators and auto retail analysts warn the tactic is evolving in the digital era in ways that could create fresh risks for borrowers—and for the credit unions financing their purchases.

MADISON, Wis.—When CUES began rethinking its consulting business, the goal wasn’t simply to offer more leadership coaching or executive assessments. Instead, the organization concluded many credit unions needed something deeper: help understanding how the entire organization functions together—and where the systems connecting people, departments and leadership teams may be breaking down.

CINCINNATI— As vehicle prices remain elevated and auto loan terms continue pushing further into seven-year territory, Kemba Credit Union is betting that one of the next big competitive plays in auto lending may be a simple one: letting members shop by the monthly payment they can actually afford—before they fall in love with a car they can’t.

SARTELL, Minn.—For years, many credit unions have viewed cryptocurrency as a speculative investment best left to exchanges and fintechs. But leaders at St. Cloud Financial Credit Union believe NCUA’s latest proposed stablecoin rule signals something much bigger: regulators are beginning to build a framework for how credit unions will participate in what they see as an emerging digital-money infrastructure.

DETROIT—For nearly two decades, the conversation around bank-credit union acquisitions has largely flowed in one direction.

ALPHARETTA, Ga.–A new program aimed at expanding credit union funding sources is providing access to term member deposits through the capital markets.

PHILADELPHIA—Credit unions could see meaningful relief from some federal compliance and examination burdens as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau continues to undergo restructuring under the Trump Administration, but legal experts are warning that any pullback by the CFPB may be quickly offset by a rise in aggressive state enforcement actions and consumer class-action litigation.

WASHINGTON—NCUA nominee John Crews used his Senate Banking Committee confirmation hearing Thursday to lay out an agenda centered on reducing regulatory burden for smaller credit unions, encouraging technological innovation and reviving the formation of new credit unions, while declining to weigh in on the legality of the NCUA's current one-member board because of pending litigation.