Foundation Documents: When Words Matter

Foundation Documents: When Words Matter

In honor of Juneteenth, Chip Filson looks at the foundational documents of America and ponders whether or not credit unions have such documents, and what those documents may say about credit unions.

Read more
Three Essentials to Great Customer Service: The Secret Ingredients of Success

Three Essentials to Great Customer Service: The Secret Ingredients of Success

Stuart Kuzik and Sky Alvarado of CU*NorthWest share their organization’s three secret ingredients to great customer service in the credit union industry and how you can incorporate them into your recipe.

Read more
Who Is Responsible for Cooperative Democracy?

Who Is Responsible for Cooperative Democracy?

As credit unions gear up for the annual meeting season, Chip Filson reminds them not to forget who should be at the center of all decisions and included in decision-making processes: the member owners.

Read more
NCUA and Mergers: Keeping Members Out of the Room Where It Happens

NCUA and Mergers: Keeping Members Out of the Room Where It Happens

In the past month, the NCUA has approved of two mergers, both without a vote from the members of the merging credit union. While permissible under NCUA rules, the silence of those involved and the unwillingness to share information has Emily Claus asking why owners are being kept out of the room where it happens.

Read more
Reporting Coop Success In the Glare of Live Market Updates

Reporting Coop Success In the Glare of Live Market Updates

While required to complete monthly and quarterly financial reports, few credit unions will publicly share the results of said reports. Chip Filson takes issue with this decision, which he says undermines the rights of member-owners and limits transparency.

Read more
Credit Union Ownership Education and Assuming the Obvious

Credit Union Ownership Education and Assuming the Obvious

In an effort to educate their members on all things financial wellness, credit unions are often in danger of skipping over how they can educate their members as owners. Emily Claus discusses the importance of ownership education and how credit unions can teach “the obvious.”

Read more
CUSOs Are Our Best Choice for a Strategic Partnership

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.

Read more
Are Credit Unions Democratic? Does it Matter?

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.

Read more
The Death of the Member

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.

Read more
Taxi Medallions in the American Cooperative System

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.

Read more