CUSOs Are Our Best Choice for a Strategic Partnership
Vic Pantea argues that while the world may be full of third-party vendors anxious to do business with your credit union, only CUSOs offer the full benefits of being a true owner and partner.
Are Credit Unions Democratic? Does it Matter?
Are credit union elections simply a scam? Are credit unions simply going through the motions to provide the idea of democracy even where none exists? Chip Filson weighs in on the debate.
The Death of the Member
Are credit union members slowly being transitioned from owners to customers, and if so, can the cooperative foundation of the industry survive? Emily Claus weighs in.
Taxi Medallions in the American Cooperative System
The role of ownership has always been a core aspect of the cooperative model. But if that’s the case, why did the NCUA undermine the right of ownership in the NYC taxi medallion issue? Chip Filson contemplates the ramifications of this choice.
Executives on Leadership: The Power of Ownership
Continuing her series on executive leadership, Alycia Meyers shares insight on how to inspire the power of ownership within your employees and members alike.
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.
Credit Unions and Farming: What We Can Learn About Business Sustainability
Contrary to the cliché that size is equal to success, Chip Filson argues that various credit union sizes serve to make the industry stronger. Relating credit unions to the co-op method of community supported agriculture, he reminds us that scale is no substitute for community.
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.
Why Don’t Credit Unions Tell Members How They Make Money?
My Beef with Credit Unions — In this new CUSO Magazine series, a long-time credit union member and industry insider vents about the decisions credit unions make in their day-to-day operations, and wonders why they take that strategy. In this first edition: why is fee income something to be ashamed of around members?
