Can younger members see themselves?

Nurture young leaders to get more young credit union members

One of the most common long-term strategic challenges facing credit unions is the member aging monster. It’s a topic we’ve covered quite a bit right here in this very blog. Of course, there’s no one magic bullet for attracting and retaining younger members, but there are a lot of possible ways to give younger members…

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Three more ways credit unions can help new homeowners

The first few months as new homeowners feel incredibly busy. There’s just so much to do. You feel like you’re learning something new about homeownership every day, and some of the things you learn aren’t exactly fun. I previously shared my experience with online mortgage loan tools, and then the budgeting difficulties new homeowners might…

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Home Buying with Sam(PART 2 – CLOSING)

New home buyers need a budgeting coach

A couple of months ago (wait… really? Two whole months?) I shared my experience at the beginning of the home buying process and the ups and downs of online mortgage tools. Now that I’m past the buying process and into the owning process–which is both way better and way scarier, by the way– I can…

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Start Credit Unions to Save Credit Unions

The CU De Novo Collective is a band of volunteers with two closely linked missions: help new credit unions get started, and help smaller credit unions survive and thrive. How did this get started, and how did we get to the point where the CU De Novo Collective Foundation is actually raising capital to start…

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I felt a chill go down my spine

Are you scared yet?

Halloween is just around the corner, so I started thinking about which scary novel to read this season. I thought about re-reading “The Shining” by Stephen King, but wasn’t sure I could keep Jack Nicholson’s face from invading my dreams. So I started thinking about even older classics like “Dracula” by Bram Stoker, or Mary…

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How to get all that googly magic working

OMG! Managing Your Google Business Profiles

Ever Google for driving directions, or a good burger joint on the way to Aunt Sally’s house? Of course you have. If there’s one thing that’s nearly universal in modern life, it’s the fact that no one has to ask for directions any more, and we pretty much know what to expect when we get…

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the best way to understand what is important is by asking questions

OMG! Budget season is coming up!

You’re already juggling loan campaigns, maintaining a website, writing press releases, newsletters and emails, posting social media, designing posters and brochures, updating branch signage, planning your next community event, etc., etc. You know, those everyday expectations that keep you busily bouncing between tasks all day long. Then all of a sudden it’s Budget Season. As…

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Most credit unions are not very good at self-promotion.

How to “do the right thing” without bragging

Credit unions are the perfect example of people banding together to solve a problem, and accomplishing more through cooperation. Since their beginnings in mid-1800s Europe, credit unions have embraced the values of “honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.” Today’s credit unions continue to “give back” to their communities everyday – which is a…

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3 big money questions from a new father

2024 has already been a crazy year, or maybe that’s just because I’ve spent most of it as a brand-new, first-time-ever Dad. Yes, parenthood is wonderful, watching my daughter grow and change is breathtaking, and I really, REALLY miss getting a full night of sleep. But this article isn’t about that. Instead of talking about…

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