The most-read posts from the America's Credit Unions Blog this year
These stories captured your attention and sparked important conversations throughout the year. From crisis response and strategic planning to advocacy and member protection, the most-read posts from the America's Credit Unions Blog reflect the issues that matter most to credit union professionals. Here are the posts that resonated most with readers in 2025.
Credit unions: a safety net when Americans face financial hardship
Members 1st Federal Credit Union demonstrated how credit unions prepare to support members during crises like the federal government shutdown that affected more than 2 million civilian employees. The credit union offered multiple forms of support, including payment skips, personal loans with deferred payments, and free one-on-one financial counseling through partner GreenPath.
SVP of Consumer Lending Operations Erin Hermany emphasized building flexibility into programs because no two members' situations are the same. Drawing on lessons from the 2019 shutdown when 27% of federal workers missed mortgage or rent payments and 62% depleted their emergency savings, Members 1st laid groundwork to roll out relief immediately.
Seven steps not to miss in your strategic planning process
Strategic planning requires more than an annual meeting or checklist. It demands a comprehensive process that begins with environmental scanning using SWOT and PESTLE analyses to understand both internal capabilities and external market factors. Prioritizing strategic initiatives requires tough decisions about what not to pursue based on analysis results and available resources.
Stakeholder engagement throughout the process builds buy-in and ensures plans remain realistic by involving leadership, board, staff, members, and community partners. Regular monitoring through monthly or quarterly reviews enables organizations to adjust strategies based on results, data, or market conditions, making strategic planning a living framework rather than a set-and-forget document.
Why community banks increasingly choose credit unions as buyers
When Matt Reynolds' family decided to sell Colchester State Bank in Illinois, preserving the community's financial health was their top priority, leading them to select Land of Lincoln Credit Union as the buyer. Since 2012, only 100 banks have sold to credit unions compared to 2,499 banks that sold to other banks, yet these voluntary market-based transactions reflect strategic alignment around shared community values.
Credit unions' not-for-profit status enables them to reinvest significantly into local communities rather than funneling deposits to shareholders, providing critical financial services like affordable mortgages, auto loans, and financial counseling. The acquisition allowed the former bank to offer 30-year fixed-rate mortgages and expanded auto lending options previously unavailable due to size constraints, while the credit union gained agricultural lending expertise. Land of Lincoln Credit Union introduced financial literacy programs, community sponsorships, and contributions that significantly surpassed previous support levels including donations for schools, sports programs, and practical aid like gift cards for police officers to help vulnerable residents.
Credit unions maintain and enhance financial infrastructure rather than creating financial deserts, as larger banks often siphon deposits away after acquisitions leaving communities underserved. Reynolds, now vice president of business development and lending at Land of Lincoln, reports that employees realized improved salaries, stronger benefits, and professional development opportunities with clear pathways for career advancement.
From 'worst player' to C-suite all-star: Brett Fisher shows how Finance Council membership pays off
Brett Fisher credits Finance Council's network and committee work for building the confidence that propelled him to CFO at $1.6 billion Skyla Credit Union. He now chairs the America's Credit Unions Finance Council Conference Planning Committee and serves as vice chair of the Council's executive committee.
Fisher's first strategic move after joining Finance Council in 2019 was volunteering for the Conference Planning Committee, where weekly calls with 10 to 15 finance leaders forced him to speak up and test ideas, ultimately developing sharper presentation skills and quicker decision-making abilities.
Fisher tracks three concrete returns on investment: faster strategic pivots that shaved weeks off decision cycles for derivatives and Visa-stock monetization, a stronger talent bench from spotlighting emerging voices, and member-level value from extra capital now funding digital upgrades and rate offers. Fisher's advice to new members emphasizes that sitting quietly in the back row restricts what you gain, recommending early committee volunteering, turning conference nights into networking opportunities, and actively participating in forum questions to build reciprocity and credibility quickly.
Executor embezzles $3.7 million from dementia patient, exposing a growing elder-fraud crisis
A 66-year-old trustee systematically drained $3.7 million from his 92-year-old dementia patient's accounts through withdrawals, checks, and credit-card charges, squandering the funds on lavish vacations, gourmet dining, shopping, theater tickets, alcohol, and extensive plastic surgery. In 2024, older Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams and fraud, representing a 25% increase over 2023's $10 billion, while victims aged 60 and older filed 147,127 complaints with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, reporting $4.9 billion in losses.
Common forms of elder financial exploitation include property theft, misuse of income or assets, forged checks, fraudulent use of Power of Attorney privileges, lotteries, phony charity solicitations, investment fraud, medical scams, contractor scams, grandparent emergency impostors, and romance scams.
At Achieva Credit Union's Clearwater branch, teller Jennifer Sgro saved an 89-year-old member from a $9,500 scam by recognizing an unusually large urgent request, engaging the member in conversation. Credit unions can establish defenses through trusted contact designations at account opening, legal safe harbor protections under the Senior Safe Act, mandatory annual red-flag training, embedded fraud alerts in e-statements and mobile apps, and more.
