Keeping you connected to key credit union news, events, and trends: June 28, 2017
In This Issue
Headline News

LCUL's 2017 Convention Updates: Hotel Room Block Extended; Hall of Fame, Memorials, Recognition Awards Due Friday
The deadline for discounted room accommodations for LCUL's Annual Meeting & Convention has been extended to Friday, June 30. Don't miss the opportunity to get an all access pass to what's going on in the Louisiana credit union movement. For more information on hotel accommodations, please contact Jody Brooks, Director of Education.

Click here to make your hotel accommodations today!
 
Hall of Fame: The Louisiana Credit Union Hall of Fame is a program sponsored by the Louisiana CU Foundation and was established in order to recognize the valuable leadership, commitment, dedication, and contributions of credit union professionals and volunteers throughout the state. Inductees will be individually honored and recognized at the opening ceremonies of LCUL's Annual Meeting & Convention.  Questions about the Hall of Fame? Contact Connie Major , LCUL CFO.
  
Recognition Awards: The LCUL/CUNA National Awards Program showcases credit unions and chapters who demonstrate social responsibility (the Dora Maxwell Award), the credit union philosophy (the Louise Herring Award), and financial education (the Desjardins Awards). Those entries that win at the league level are submitted for the national competition.
 
Memorials: The Louisiana Credit Union League would like to honor credit union leaders that have passed away within the last twelve months at the 2017 Annual Meeting & Convention.

Questions on Recognition Awards and Memorials?  Contact Lacey H. Weaver , LCUL Vice President of Communications & Public Relations.
 
Hall of Fame, Recognition Awards, and Memorials are all due on Friday, June 30.

Click here for more information.
 
Additional information can be found on the League website. Questions? Contact the  League's convention team today!

LCUL's Social Media Giveaways Prepare CUs for an All Access Pass
Get ready for LCUL's social media giveaways! Throughout the month of July, LCUL will be getting credit unions in the convention spirit by posting different contests. All sorts of prizes are up for grabs. Make sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get in on the action.
 
Already in convention spirit? Well let's start hash-tagging now: #LCUL17.

LCUL will be inducting two attendees in the social media rock star hall of fame after convention. Remember to hashtag photos, takeaways, and general comments throughout the event. More information provided at the event!

Education Abounds in June for Louisiana Credit Union Volunteers and Staff
This month, LCUL saw great turnout at two education events on opposite ends of the state. Our Branch Manager Forum in Shreveport welcomed fifty attendees representing thirteen credit unions.  Presenter Rory Rowland, a favorite in the state, expressed the importance for branch managers to focus on their role as coaches who observe the big picture and analyze the results for their team.  Rowland stressed that the managers should avoid asking "why" questions, and focus on their roles as facilitators, counselors, and raisers of awareness.
 
Click here to see Rowland leading Forum participants in a CU cheer.
 
Jody Brooks, LCUL Education Director, was particularly pleased that an event held in Shreveport received such a good response.  "This year we've held events in Lafayette and Shreveport as we work to make training as convenient and cost-effective as possible for all of our credit unions.  Over the years, we have seen a downturn in attendance when we host programs outside of Baton Rouge, so the turnout for these programs was a pleasant surprise.  We hope to continue the trend by working with our chapters to meet their educational requests."
 
In addition to the Shreveport event, LCUL and the East Orleans, West Orleans, and Tri-Parish chapters co-hosted Board Member Boot Camp in Metairie.  League presenters Susie Fair and Steven Liberto provided training to forty-nine volunteers and staff representing fifteen credit unions on topics including:
  • The role of the board as policy maker, giving the CU paid staff the roadmap to follow
  • Protecting member privacy
  • Evaluating and maintaining appropriate insurance coverage
  • The importance of on-going financial education to meet NCUA requirements
LCUL will be presenting the Boot Camp at other chapter events around the state in the coming year.  If you have requests for training in your chapter, please e-mail us at [email protected]. 


CU volunteers and staff at Board Member Bootcamp

President Removes 'Acting' from McWatters' NCUA Title
President Donald Trump has removed "acting" from J. Mark McWatters' title, naming him the 10th chairman of the NCUA board. McWatters has served as acting board chairman since Jan. 23.


Just for Fun: Basic DO's and DON'Ts of Communicating With Your Staff
One of the most basic, but often most difficult roles of a manager is communicating effectively with staff. This can be a challenging task because each employee is different, and that means each person has a particular method of communicating. One employee may be outspoken and free with their thoughts, while another may be introverted and hesitant to speak up. Below are a few tips for communicating with your team and how you as a leader can better connect with every employee.

Professional Development

FREE Webinar TODAY for Affiliated CUs: 
Improving ROA Through a Sustainable Business Model
June 28, 11:00 am
LCUL is pleased to present this one hour webinar at no additional charge to our member credit unions. 

Join Raelynn Radway, Senior Strategist with CU Strategic Planning, to learn what it takes to improve earnings from a veteran "turn around" CEO.  You may be used to hearing regulators advise you to simply "cut expenses", but she will share her trade secrets for improving ROA while growing capital and assets. 

Although this program is FREE to member credit unions, your advance registration is required.  
 
If you're unable to join the webinar on June 28, you can still register as all registrants will be sent the link to the archive. 
 
Transaction Talk

Connected Devices: If Only They Would Use Their Power for Good Instead of Evil
Data thieves turn to Bluetooth technology at the gas pump.

Going old school for a moment to copy an expression used by Maxwell Smart, Agent 86 for Control, who ended most shows by lamenting about the bad guys: "If only they had used their powers for good instead of evil". And so it goes in the case of the internet of things.

Skimmers have been a source of breached credit and debit cards since before 2010. Primitive skimmers were bulky and unreliable. Later skimmers that were inserted behind the cover of the gas pump or the ATM were not easily detected. Having security tape with a warning "Please report any broken seals to the cashier" puts the burden on the customer to be wary of, and alert for skimmers, and put a damper on the rapid growth of skimmers at the pump - that is, until the internet of things came into popularity.
News from CUNA Mutual

Credit Unions Can Expect Continued Change with Fintech Disruption
Credit unions should expect continued shifts in the financial and insurance technology startup environment in the coming years, said CUNA Mutual Group's venture capital arm's president Brian Kaas during a presentation on financial technology trends and what credit unions can do to embrace the evolving disruption.

 Digital channels and the sharing economy continue to fuel technology disruption across all industries, particularly in the financial services sector. According to Accenture, approximately 80% of millennial consumers prefer receiving investment advice digitally rather than in-person. In addition, 43% of car-owning millennials believe car ownership is a hassle, according to Nerdwallet.

 These shifting dynamics in consumer preferences are driving investment activity and new industry partnerships. "Billions of dollars have already been invested in fintech startup companies," said Kaas. "Now, leading financial players are actively seeking venture capital investments and partnerships with emerging companies, indicating continued change is on the horizon for the financial service industry."

 Read more about fintech disruption here.
June 2017 CU Trends Report Now Available 
CUNA Mutual Group's Credit Union Trends Report for June2017 is now available online and can be accessed in the Compliance & Research section of our website, under the heading Research & Information.

During April, credit unions picked-up 433,000 in new memberships, loan and savings balances grew at a 14% and 8.5% seasonally-adjusted annualized pace, respectively. Firms hired 174,000 workers, nominal consumer spending increased 0.4%, and long-term interest rates decreased 18 basis points. Real GDP is expected to grow 2.3% over the next two years supporting credit union lending and membership growth.
 
Additional highlights of this month's report include:
 
  • At the end of April, CUNA's monthly estimates reported 5,926 credit unions in operation, 27 fewer than one month earlier. Year-over-year, the number of credit unions declined by 209, less than the 297 lost in the 12 months ending in April 2016.
  • Total credit union assets rose 0.5% in April, less than the 1.1% gain reported in April of 2016. Assets rose 8% during the past year due to a 7.4% increase in deposits, a 29% increase in borrowings, and a 6.5% increase in capital.
  • The nation's credit unions increased their loan portfolios by 0.9% in April, greater than the 0.7% pace reported in April 2016. Loan balances are up 11.8% during the last 12 months. With loan balances growing faster than savings, credit union liquidity is tightening up as the credit union average loan-to-savings ratio reached 79.3%, up from 76.2% in April 2016.
  • Credit union memberships rose 0.39% in April, up from the 0.34% gain reported in April 2016. Memberships are up 4.8% during the past year due to robust demand for credit, solid job growth and credit unions having comparatively lower fees and loan interest rates.
  • Credit union loan delinquency came in at 0.76% in April, similar to April 2016. However, credit union loan charge-offs rose to 0.58% in the first quarter, from the 0.52% reported in the first quarter of 2016, as loans originated over the last couple of years are now seasoning.
 
For more information, view the complete report here . If you have problems accessing the information or have additional questions about the research and information services provided by the Louisiana Credit Union League, please contact Danielle Thibodeaux at (800) 452-7221, ext. 3018 or [email protected]
Have You Heard?

Pelican State CU Grants $10,000 in College Scholarship Awards
Pelican State CU doubled its scholarship awards and granted a $1,000 scholarship award to ten college-bound Pelican members in its branch communities across Louisiana this year.
 
"We're beyond excited to continue our commitment to our graduating high school members' education and to our communities with the Team Pelican Scholarship Awards Program," said Pelican CEO Jeffrey K. Conrad.
 
A volunteer committee made up of Pelican employees scored the scholarship applications based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, leadership, community service and letters of recommendation.  Pelican scholarship awards can be used to cover tuition, textbooks, meal plans and much more.
 
The winners were announced LIVE on Pelican's Facebook page. Click here to watch the announcement!
ASI and A Shared Initiative, Inc. Partners with Catholic Charities' Program to Positively Influence Youth Saving and Spending Habits
ASI FCU sister nonprofit, A Shared Initiative, Inc. teaches children and mentors how to save through interactive spending workshop and game.
 
In partnership with Catholic Charities of New Orleans, A Shared Initiative, Inc. (ASII) is teaching children and adults the importance of understanding finances and achieving success through proper planning. As part of its outreach, ASII is joining forces with Catholic Charities' Isaiah 43, a parenting and mentoring ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans to increase youth understanding about money and finances.

The Isaiah 43 program empowers and engages youth to encourage peaceful conflict resolution, skillful communication, constructive discipline, forgiveness and leadership development. Each month, participants have an opportunity to learn life skills through one-on-one activities throughout the year. The activities allow the mentee and mentor to develop relationships, share new experiences, and exposes them to community learning.

ASII had the pleasure of working with youth of the Isaiah 43 program ranging from ages 9-14 years old. During this session, participants learned the five rules of money: Earn, Spend, Save, Invest, and Borrow. A Finance Edition of "the Bean Game" exposed the children to different scenarios to develop a smart spending/saving habit for the future. ASI Algiers Branch Manager, Richelle Williams, directed the kids with this engaging activity, helping participants navigate the "financial system". Participants were divided into teams and challenged to develop a plan for their "money" (beans) and prepare for a field trip. As each team allocated their beans to designated activities, game hostesses, Williams and Giazzlyn Brumfield, ASII's Nonprofit Manager, initiated unexpected delays including flat tires and emergency room visits, causing teams to lose beans from their funding.

Williams expressed, "the focus of the game is to help kids begin thinking about smart spending/saving habits for the future. While this game only lasts a couple of hours, our youth have a lifetime of learning in front of them. We want to be sure that understanding finances is at the forefront of their development".

"This collaboration with Isaiah 43 and Catholic Charities initiates conversations about finances early and often, children learn the importance of smart saving," states Brumfield. "Finances are an integral part of one's life. To help participants in Isaiah 43 learn and provide them with financial education through our community outreach is absolutely rewarding," Brumfield adds.

Ascension CU Celebrates Re-Grand Opening with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Ascension Credit Union celebrated its Grand Re-Opening of the newly renovated Main Office at 2430 South Burnside Avenue in Gonzales the week of June 19th thru June 24th, 2017. To celebrate the credit union gave away $500 in cash, an Apple watch, or an iPad each day during that week.
 
The Grand Re-Opening Ribbon Cutting ceremony was held on June 22 with many Ascension Parish community leaders and dignitaries, other credit unions' representatives, vendors, and members that joined in the celebration. Ascension Credit Union staff members are extremely proud of the new look.  It is very open and inviting and even has ATM access at the roadside.  
 

UNO FCU is a Fan of St. Bernard Parish's Jazz In June Concert Series
This June, St. Bernard Parish Leisure Services kicked off its first annual Jazz in June Concert Series. Every Thursday in June, these FREE family-fun, outdoor concerts feature some of the area's finest jazz and swing bands in Sidney Torres Memorial Park of Chalmette. 
 
UNOFCU was there last week to offer those in attendance a UNOFCU fan to fend off the summer heat and supplied a Bug Spraying Station just in case the mosquitos and gnats made an appearance, too.  The credit union will be back for the last concert of the season, Thursday, June 29th with Patrice Fisher and Arpa, Latin Jazz Band.
 
"We absolutely love taking part in St. Bernard community events," says UNO FCU CEO Chris Maurer. "These gatherings a wonderful opportunity to get to know our new neighbors and members."
 
UNOFCU opened their Chalmette branch earlier this year and is the first credit union to officially serve this community.  The Jazz In June Concert Series is made possible by grants through Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, Atmos Energy and St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs.


Quote of the Week:
"The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority." 
- Kenneth Blanchard

Learn about the program that earns both you AND your members rewards!

Educational Calendar
Upcoming Conferences & Seminars from your League:    

July 26-29:  LCUL's Annual Meeting & Convention
 
Upcoming Teleconferences & Webinars from your League

June 29: ACH Specialist Series: Same Day ACH: Preparing for Processing Debits, Effective September
July 6: Director Series: Effectively Assessing Credit Risk & Defining Credit Risk Appetite for Directors
July 10: Wire Transfer Security Issues: Regulatory Guidance, Risk Management & Monitoring
July 12: Regulatory Requirements When Employees Work from Home: Overtime, FMLA, ADA, Safety & More
July 13: Call Reports: Financial Statements & Schedules B-E
July 18: Creating an Effective Suspicious Activity Program: 
July 19: Regulation E Series: Regulation E Fundamentals: Back to Basics
July 20: Working with Troubled Members: Loan Extensions, Deferments, Re-Aging, Refinancing & Incentives
July 25: 20 UCC Provisions You Must Know When Cashing or Depositing Checks
July 26: E-Compliance Rules, Policies & Best Practices for Email, Web, Mobile & Social Media
July 27: Risk Management Series: Conducting a Fair Lending Risk Assessment
     
For a complete listing of educational opportunities available from LCUL, visit the League website and click on "Education".
  
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(800) 452-7221   www.lcul.com