Does Common Bond Matter Anymore?

Does Common Bond Matter Anymore?

Today, fields of membership with limited scopes have been replaced with the more generalized community charter. Chip Filson looks at the evolution of the common bond and what we can learn from it.

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A Question of Leadership

A Question of Leadership

Chip Filson asks a seemingly simple question: What makes a leader? In his opinion, the answer is and should be different for the cooperative system.

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The Advantages of a Second to Market Strategy

The Advantages of a Second to Market Strategy

The urge to come first is strong in our consumer culture. But is being first always best? Esteban Camargo explains the advantages of a second to market strategy.

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Thoughts on Mergers: The Tallest Candlestick Ain’t Much Good Without a Wick

Thoughts on Mergers: The Tallest Candlestick Ain’t Much Good Without a Wick

Is the race to merge folly? Chip Filson believes that by discarding member focus and legacy for the sake of growth we undermine the public’s faith in cooperative design. And that might spell disaster for credit unions in the long run.

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The Cooperative System’s Unique Capabilities In a Crisis

The Cooperative System’s Unique Capabilities In a Crisis

Cooperatives are uniquely positioned to respond well to crises thanks to their ownership structure and mission. But responding well takes more than just that. Chip Filson details what credit unions and their leaders need to do in those situations.

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Think Writing’s Important? Think Again. It’s Even More Valuable Than You Thought!

Think Writing’s Important? Think Again. It’s Even More Valuable Than You Thought!

Writing shouldn’t just be a skill, it should be a core competency of your organization. Dawn Moore questions whether your credit union truly grasps the importance of writing, and suggests ways to have it play a bigger role.

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Central Liquidity Facility: The One Thing Necessary

Central Liquidity Facility: The One Thing Necessary

If the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and Central Liquidity Facility (CLF) are both “lenders of last resort” why is the CLF deemed so unappealing? How is the FHLB system so much more relevant for credit unions than their own liquidity backstop? Chip Filson might know why.

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Things On Your “To Do” List You Wish You Had Done

Things On Your “To Do” List You Wish You Had Done

NACUSO’s Denise Wymore ponders the reasoning behind credit union’s slow adaptation of new technologies and systems, and why we found ourselves on the less prepared end of the coronavirus pandemic.

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NCUA’s Leadership in an Emergency

NCUA’s Leadership in an Emergency

What is the role of the NCUA in an emergency? Chip Filson argues that the less they involve themselves, the better off the industry will be.

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The Five Keys to Good Customer Service Part Two: The Customer May Not Always Be Right, But Neither Are You

The Five Keys to Good Customer Service Part Two: The Customer May Not Always Be Right, But Neither Are You

“The customer is always right” is a saying as old as time, though it’s certainly not always accurate. Client Service Representative Morgan VanEnk reminds customers and workers alike that neither one is always correct, and working together is the best way to get any problem solved.

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