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 Myth of Efficiency and the Allure of Scale

The Myth of Efficiency and the Allure of Scale

Do mergers and bank purchases, by increasing scale, also increase efficiency and lower operating costs? Or are credit unions focusing on the wrong method? Chip Filson argues the latter.

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Peter Pan and Captain Hook in Credit Union Land

Peter Pan and Captain Hook in Credit Union Land

The credit union community seems divided by Peter Pans, who believe in a future for the cooperative model, and Captain Hooks, who see the end around every corner. Chip Filson sees this and asks, “Which one are you?”

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What Credit Unions Can Learn from Bank Purchases

What Credit Unions Can Learn from Bank Purchases

Why do bank shareholders get a better deal during an acquisition by a credit union than member-owners in a credit union merger? Chip Filson breaks down the financial details of the two, and wonders why merged credit union owners get a raw deal.

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Mergers: a Credit Union Marketplace Trend

Mergers: a Credit Union Marketplace Trend

Mergers are a hot topic in today’s credit union world. Barb Cooper dives into how perception of mergers has changed over time, why a merger strategy might be beneficial, and what steps should go into ensuring success.

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The Math and Mysteries Behind Credit Unions

The Math and Mysteries Behind Credit Unions

Math can be tricky. Good thing we have NACUSO’s Denise Wymore here to help cover some of the more perplexing numbers behind credit union’s market share, members, and future growth.

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