A Once-a-Decade Opportunity
Chip Filson argues that what the aging Central Liquidity Facility needs is reform that focuses on cooperative solutions to the problems that ail it.
Hamilton: The Credit Union Connection
While most associate Lin Manuel Miranda with his musicals, Chip Filson tells of his family’s history with credit unions in Puerto Rico and contemplates how our credit unions could support the island after disaster.
Hauptman’s First NCUA Board Meeting: A Ray of Hope
Chip Filson reflects on Kyle Hauptman’s first NCUA board meeting, how he chose to break from the script, and what it may predict for the rest of his time on the NCUA.
Merger Math in Credit Unions: A Deeply Flawed Process
Mergers may seem like a sound strategy for the individual institution, but are they a sound strategy for the industry and the member-owners who make them possible? Chip Filson doesn’t think so, and goes even further to say the process is broken against the member.
Chairman Hood’s House Testimony: Members’ Interest Only Matters When Selling to a Bank
Chip Filson wonders whether members’ interests are protected in both credit union-bank acquisitions and mergers, or only the former.
When Vision is Lost: Difficile Est Bonum Esse
As we celebrate this holiday season, Chip Filson reminds us that doing good is very hard, but ultimately worth it. Sustained vision is difficult to maintain, but it’s not impossible and we have an obligation to our founding principles to fight for that vision.
The Unseen Cooperative Advantage
At a time of year when everything feels hectic, Chip Filson reminds us of the wisdom of patience, both with the holiday season and with finding solutions to problems ailing the credit union industry.
The Key to Credit Unions’ Future: Trust Each Other
Chip Filson says an often overlooked element of the credit union model is the trust and involvement of regular member-owners in their credit union. By placing more trust in the member-owner, we are strengthening our credit unions, not burdening them.
Cooperative Trade Associations Need to Evolve with the Times
Trade Associations have had a critical role in the credit union industry over the years. Chip Filson is concerned though that they may be resting on their laurels, and have failed to evolve with an ever changing industry. What does the future hold in store for them?
Banks and Credit Unions Don’t Merge, Stop Saying Otherwise
Saying a credit union “merged with” instead of “acquired” a bank may seem trivial, but Chip Filson doesn’t think so. He says it blurs the lines between the two different financial institutions and weakens the cooperative nature of credit unions.
