5 reasons your marketing isn’t working, and what to do about it
“Bo, we need marketing help. Can you help us?” Of course I can, but more often than not when I start digging in with a new client I find that marketing is the last thing [...]
News Archives
Be the orchestra!
I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by saying most everyone was ready for 2020 to come to a close. Things were difficult, challenging, and ever-changing. 2020 had most of us [...]
How to connect with Hispanic consumers in 2021
Credit unions used to depend on social events to connect with their Hispanic community - events such as Hispanic Heritage Month festivals, financial education seminars, etc. In the era of social distancing, credit unions have [...]
NAFCU counters banker attack with facts on CU tax exemption
NAFCU is defending the credit union industry as bank lobbyists continue their attacks on credit unions and the industry's tax-exempt status. "For decades, credit unions have stood as pillars in their local communities and have [...]
Measure twice, convert (your core) once
Undertaking a core conversion is no small task, and it’s a decision no credit union takes lightly. When reading about the process and talking to peers who have lived it firsthand, it quickly becomes [...]
Using knowledge to ‘carry one another’
Brian Castle never underestimates the value of knowledge in changing lives. Castle is vice president of real estate at $63 million asset Pine Bluff (Ark.) Cotton Belt Federal Credit Union. He began his career as [...]
Offer your employees wellness benefits they’ll love
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you’ve probably been seeing heart-shaped chocolates and cards everywhere you look. But, did you know that February is also American Heart Month? Your heart is an [...]
Sound practices for effective HMDA compliance
Last week, the Federal Reserve System published the latest edition of the Consumer Compliance Outlook. This issue includes an article entitled HMDA Data Collection and Reporting: Keys to an Effective Program, which outlines, among other [...]
Do fintechs scare you as much as they do these CEOs?
Just how scared should banks and credit unions be of fintechs, big techs and others? It’s far from an idle question. The head of Chase made headlinesin mid January when he said the industry [...]
Machine learning meets cybersecurity
The healthy and transformative relationship between Machine Learning (ML) and cybersecurity continues to unfold in front of our eyes. As our world becomes increasingly digital, the demand for ML and cybersecurity has peaked. We often [...]
Three payments strategies to help you thrive in the post-pandemic world
As a member of the CO-OP SmartGrowth Team, I’m constantly asked by our credit union clients what the future of credit and debit spending will look like after the pandemic is over. And it [...]
The hybrid work from home model – reimagining how we work together
As I speak with credit union leaders every week about organizational culture considerations, it’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has created both opportunities and challenges associated with the work from home shift. These issues [...]
The 2 imperatives of brand leadership and why 2021 is the year to step up
This is a transformative moment for credit unions. Members’ needs have evolved and changed greatly in the past 12 months (we just passed the grim anniversary of the first COVID-19 death in the US). At [...]
Employee engagement: Is it possible to focus on and achieve in today’s environment?
Employee engagement: is it possible for credit unions to focus on and achieve this in today’s environment? Let me kill the suspense: YES it is! In fact, here a few important insights from a [...]
The surprising truth about executive blind spots and trust
No one likes to hear about their blind spots. We might even dismiss them – thinking they don’t have a big impact. Yet, as we all know, “Objects in the mirror may be closer than [...]