Credit Union Acquisition of Community Banks Rising, But Still “Small Proportion of Overall Consolidation”

Credit Union Acquisition of Community Banks Rising, But Still “Small Proportion of Overall Consolidation”

Credit union purchases of community banks is a hotly debated argument, with bank and tax advocates arguing that it’s time Congress reassess credit union tax exemption, but credit union advocates argue it’s a drop in the bucket of bank consolidation.

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Transparency: A Test for the Cooperative System

Transparency: A Test for the Cooperative System

Chip Filson comments on transparency and credit unions’ ability and often motivation to keep members in the dark about their operations, and how they are learning this lesson from their regulator.

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FOMO Business Decisions

FOMO Business Decisions

In the age where good things go quickly and buyers need to act fast to get what they want, Chip Filson cautions credit unions from falling into the habit of purchasing banks out of FOMO instead of member focus.

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What Credit Unions Can Learn from Morris Plan Banks

What Credit Unions Can Learn from Morris Plan Banks

Chip Filson contemplates the old Morris Plan Bank model, its history, its eventual downfall, and why credit unions purchasing banks might be following in its flawed footsteps.

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Current Whole Bank Purchases Illuminate Core Issues and a Glaring Deficiency

Current Whole Bank Purchases Illuminate Core Issues and a Glaring Deficiency

In a follow-up to his article on bank acquisitions, Chip Filson dissects four recent bank purchases made by credit unions and ponders the lack of transparency which he believes may suggest an unsettling trend.

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Ten Questions for Whole Bank Purchases

Ten Questions for Whole Bank Purchases

Chip Filson urges credit unions to carefully review these ten questions before considering any bank purchase.

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Banker—But No CU Official—to Testify at House Competition Hearing

Banker—But No CU Official—to Testify at House Competition Hearing

A hearing on consolidation in the financial services industry will feature the perspective of the American Bankers Association, which has warned about the impact of credit unions purchasing banks, reports David Baumann of the Washington Credit Union Daily.

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What Credit Unions Can Learn from Morris Plan Banks

What Credit Unions Can Learn from Morris Plan Banks

Morris Plan banks, which began the same time as credit unions, were the original consumer bank lending success. Their growth far surpassed credit unions. There are none left today. Is there a message for credit unions seeking scale by buying whole banks in this example? Chip Filson looks into the now extinct banks.

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