United Solutions Company is committed to helping credit unions become stronger, more efficient, and profitable. The Credit Union Rescue Team was created based on the philosophy of credit unions helping credit unions. Designed as a mentorship program, there is no charge to offer mentorship or receive a mentor! Learn all about our program at CreditUnionRescueTeam.com.
This week we asked our CU Rescue Team mentors were asked the question “What parting words of wisdom would you offer a Credit Union Executive?” Below is the response from some of our Mentors.
Terence Field:
I think the Credit Union Rescue Team is great mentorship program that allows us the opportunity to share our combined knowledge with other Credit Union’s around the country. I feel as Credit Union leaders we have an obligation to help other Credit Union’s when we can. I hope Credit Union’s that might benefit from our combined knowledge will take advantage of this program.
Sherman K Louis:
Our CEO stated, “Once you get involved in the credit union industry and see the positive impact that CU’s have on the community and membership it creates a greater sense of fulfillment”.
Brian Smith-Vansergriff:
Credit unions face a series of challenges in the coming years and I believe many of those are opportunities to collectively enhance the value we can provide to members. We are operating in a historically tight labor market, making it tough to both attract and retain strong employees. There is a slow, albeit accelerating, changing of the guard in our board rooms as very committed volunteers with decades of experience are reaching the end of their service tenures. Identifying qualified members to fill those positions is a daunting task. We are seeing an unprecedented level of economic mobility among our members and employees, further complicating our abilities to retain core relationships.
As credit unions continue to merge with one another, acquire bank competitors, introduce new products, and provide services via seemingly unending number of delivery channels, I would challenge leaders across this great industry to always be guided by the cooperative principles that rest at the core of our missions. In my experience, tough decisions are often made much easier by simply asking each other, “Is this good for the membership?”. If the answer is a resounding “Yes!”, the decision should be crystal clear. If not, it may simply mean that an alternative approach should be considered or that there needs to be some more work done to move toward a better solution.
I encourage every member, employee, manager, and volunteer to look to the credit union network as a resource for navigating the future. Many generations before us have faced increased competition and many economic challenges to build this industry. I think it is incumbent upon all of us to do the same for future generations of credit union members.
Do you have a question to ask our trusted group of mentors? Email USC-Marketing@unitedsolutions.coop with your questions and check back at USC’s blog to see your answers! Have a question about our mentorship program? Email info@unitedsolutions.coop.
Get to know our mentors and sign up for our program at CreditUnionRescueTeam.com!