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Articles by Roman Ojala
Industry Insights
No Comments From employee engagement to community impact and beyond, these are the initiatives credit unions must focus on to stay aligned and prepared for the challenges ahead. Read More » No Comments Members are changing the way they deposit their money, saving more and opting for lower-yielding, more liquid account types. Read More » A partnership with the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University has helped the credit union reduce reports of elder fraud by as much as 50%.
How Loan Trends Are Adjusting Balance Sheets In 3 Ways
In recent quarters, members’ borrowing habits evolved alongside the economy. While real estate originations — both residential and commercial — increased in 2024, in the first quarter of 2025 it was consumer originations that shined, growing 4.4% quarter-over-quarter. While real estate originations rose 30.8% compared to 1Q24, a seemingly impressive year-over-year gain, they dropped by 13.6% compared to the final three months of 2024.
Has Credit Union Revenue Peaked?
Credit union revenue surged after the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in March 2022. The consistent rate bumps between March 2022 and September 2024 allowed credit unions to add higher-yielding loans to their balance sheets and expand adjustable-rate loans, driving revenue through interest income. Since September 2024, however, the inflow of higher-yielding assets has slowed. Consequently, revenue growth has also slowed.
Credit Union Revenue Builds Resilience Despite Challenges
Credit union revenue surged after the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in March 2022. The consistent rate bumps between March 2022 and September 2024 allowed credit unions to add higher-yielding loans to their balance sheets and expand adjustable-rate loans, driving revenue through interest income. Since September 2024, however, the inflow of higher-yielding assets has slowed. Consequently, revenue growth has also slowed.
Overdraft Fees Weigh On Members In The Second Quarter
QUARTERLY NSF AND OVERDRAFT FEES PER SHARE DRAFT ACCOUNT FOR U.S. CREDIT UNIONS | DATA AS OF 06.30.23 © Callahan & Associates | CreditUnions.com The 5300 Call Report breaks non-interest income into two major categories — fee income and other operating income. These broad categories are composed of many separate, important subcategories that, in many ways, can be more enlightening than the overall category totals.
Top-Line Revenue Expands At U.S. Credit Unions
The U.S. economy has fared well relative to expectations coming into the year. There were 1.6 job openings for every jobseeker in June, underscoring the labor market’s resilience. Economic activity as measured by GDP grew at a 2.1% annualized pace in the second quarter, beating expectations of 2.0% growth. Despite the strong top-level growth, economists pointed to a reduction in consumer spending as a point of concern.
Get Ready For The Student Loan Payments Pinch
EXPECTED STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT AMOUNTS FOR U.S. CONSUMERS RESUMING PAYMENTS| DATA AS OF JULY 2023 © Callahan & Associates | CreditUnions.com Federal student loan payments will resume in October after a pause of more than three years. According to a TransUnion study published in July, those payments will total more than $200 per month for half of all borrowers; they’ll total more than $500 for 19% of borrowers.
The Impact Of Higher Rates On Credit Union Earnings
The Federal Reserve’s ongoing push to fight inflation by raising interest rates has had a dramatic impact on credit union earnings. On the revenue side, higher interest rates pushed credit unions to reprice asset portfolios, leading to higher loan and investment yields that bolstered margins and revenue. At the same time, slowing deposit growth left credit unions with limited liquid funds available for lending, leading many to run certificate promotions or borrow money to fund lending.
Auto Lending Surges As Other Categories Stall
How Do You Compare? Use industry data to determine how your credit union performs against others, uncover new areas of opportunity, and support your strategic initiatives. Callahan’s credit union advisors are ready to show you how — are you ready to see how you stack up? Schedule Your Peer Demo Today
How Did First Quarter Economic Trends Impact Credit Unions?
How Do You Perform Against Peers? Callahan’s Peer software offers endless opportunities to pull custom research and comparative performance benchmarking to make strategic, member-driven decisions for your institution. Let us show you how it works with a free custom scorecard with metrics and peer groups of your choosing. CLAIM YOUR CUSTOM SCORECARD TODAY
Mortgage Originations Drop. Market Share Remains Flat.
How Do You Compare? Learn how your institution’s mortgage performance stacks up against peers and the industry. Callahan’s Peer Benchmarking Suite makes it easy for credit union leaders in any role to measure performance, identify new opportunities, and support strategic plans. LEARN MORE TODAY
Credit Union Liquidity Profile By State
Date For 50 States Plus More Callahan’s State Of The Industry report offers an in-depth look at industry performance from the past year with leader tables, performance rankings, state listings, and more. It’s a glimpse in the rear-view mirror to help leaders navigate the road ahead. ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY
Share Growth Slows In Lockstep With Personal Savings Rate
How Does Your Share Growth Compare? Use industry data to determine how your credit union performs against others, uncover new areas of opportunity, and support your strategic initiatives. Callahan’s credit union advisors are ready to show you how — are you ready to see how you stack up? Schedule Your Peer Demo
It Takes Time For Loan Portfolios To Reprice
FEDERAL FUNDS RATE VERSUS YEILD ON LOANS FOR U.S. CREDIT UNIONS | DATA AS OF 06.30.22 © Callahan & Associates | CreditUnions.com The average yield on loans for U.S. credit unions historically lags changes in the federal funds rate by a minimum of one year. When the Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate beginning in the second half of 2007, it wasn’t until mid-2009 that the yield on loans started to reflect the repricing of loan portfolios.
3 Investment Trends From The Fourth Quarter Of 2021 | Credit Unions
The Federal Reserve was late in admitting that high inflation data was not transitory; consequently, it now finds itself behind in the battle to manage inflation. Consumer price index reports show prices have risen with each passing month, straining cost-of-living expenses for consumers. To fight inflationary pressures, the Fed has several tools, including raising rates or restricting the growth of the money supply.
Q3 Investment Trends: Total Growth of $6B as Shares Remain Above Historical Norms
Source: Callahan & Associates Total credit union investments increased 0.9%, or $6.3 billion, over the three months since June 30, 2021 and finished the quarter at $707.4 billion. This small increase was a rebound from last quarter’s 0.3% drop, which snapped a six-quarter pandemic-spanning streak of increasing investment balances. Cash balances fell 1.1% since June, the second straight quarter of declines after increasing dramatically throughout 2020 and early 2021.
Credit Unions Have A Staffing Problem | Credit Unions
Not long ago, the nation was in economic turmoil. In response to COVID-19, businesses shut down and laid off workers in droves, pushing the unemployment rate to 14.8% in April 2020. Unemployment dropped to 4.8% by the end of September 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and extended unemployment benefits expired earlier that month; however, it is too early to tell whether this cessation will push Americans to return to work.
From Liquidity To Investments: Credit Unions Put Cash To Work | Credit Unions
Credit unions reported year-over-year share balance growth of 14.4% as of Sept. 30, 2021, evidence that members continue to deposit funds into share accounts at a pace higher than historical norms. Still, share growth has slowed somewhat from the record pace throughout the pandemic. Industry deposits grew 2.0% quarter-over-quarter, the second-slowest rate since COVID-19 quarantines began in early 2020.
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