Annual Credit Union Research Workshop stimulates discussion on industry data

Research shared with industry and academic leaders on Friday highlighted key areas of focus and opportunities for credit unions to take action. Hosted by America’s Credit Unions, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Cooperatives, and Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business, the fourth annual Credit Union Research Workshop included a panel discussion and presentations on three credit union-focused academic papers.

The panel featured America’s Credit Unions Chief Economist and Vice President of Data and Research Curt Long, Navy Federal Credit Union Chief Economist Heather Long, and credit union economist Bill Hampel, who discussed where gaps exist in credit union data and encouraged the academic audience to fill them.

America’s Credit Unions Director of Data and Statistics Paul Ledin presented findings from “When Credit Unions Cross the Aisle: Performance after Bank Purchases” by Anna-Leigh Stone of Samford University. Key findings from the research suggests that "the absence of persistent effects on interest pricing should reassure policymakers that these transactions do not compromise consumers.”

Additional papers presented at the event include:

• “Banking Socially” by Francesco D’Acunto of Georgetown University, Quentin Dupont of Georgetown University, and Agustin Hurtado of the University of Maryland; and
• “Credit Union Expansion into Low-Income Areas: Implications for Credit Access and Consumer Outcome” by Olivia Wilkinson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The event is organized yearly to promote collaboration, stimulate discussion, and share research related to the industry.