We have the esteemed Tom Glatt from Glatt Consulting on each quarter to give us his latest Credit Union HealthScore -- and the last few have been nothing short of epic -- the interviews and the HealthScores. So, as we close out 2015, we invited Tom back on the show to discuss his most recent findings. And, as most industry analysts have reiterated the last few months, credit unions are firing on all cylinders right now.

But Tom also shares a concerning blip in his research that should make most of us pause for thought and hope it's just a blip and nothing else. Next quarter's report should tell us if this blip is a trend or a flame out. Stay tuned in Q1 2016 to find out.

And to complement our informative chat, I had a couple pint-sized characters crash our conversation and give their take on credit union performance. Always an adventure around the CUbroadcast virtual studios. Many thanks to Tom for being a good sport -- and providing us with his experienced insight, of course. Enjoy!

It's no secret that credit union lending has been nothing short of epic lately. And there's no end in sight -- even if interest rates have been inched up a bit. But to add icing on this already tasty cake, auto loans as of late have brought in reportedly 30-40% new credit union members. That's gotta feel good going into this holiday season and closing out 2015.

To get the details, we invited CUNA's Chief Economist and Chief Policy Officer Bill Hampel to share with us how this double shot of good news has occurred, why these numbers are so significant, and how long it will last with lofty expectations looming in 2016.

A mighty fine way to end the year with this type of news after mired in the thick mud of the recession and its aftermath. Enjoy and keep up the good work in 2016!

Achieva Credit Union has set a new precedent in a recent Florida bank merger (Calusa Bank), which could have significant ramifications on credit unions looking to do the same in the near future. And from the latest trends with credit unions taking over banks becoming more and more common (as opposed to the other way around), it appears it could come to fruition.

To get the details on this milestone merger, we invited Howard & Howard Attorney Michael Bell on the program who was in the mix with this deal. We discussed such items as how the deal/merger was structured, why it was a merger, why this is a game changer, what does it mean for future deals, and advice for other credit unions looking to venture down this bank merger road. Check it out and let us know what you think.
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Now that NCUA's field of membership (FOM) adjustments have thoroughly marinated within our industry, it's time to get a reading on what's transpired so far and what's around the corner when it comes to these looming changes.

To get an insider's view on FOM, we invited NAFCU's Director of Regulatory Affairs Alicia Nealon on the show. Alicia shared her take, along with a couple of the more significant changes and their impact on the industry. We also asked if these changes "pushed the envelope" enough for credit unions to grow even further, grabbing a bigger marketshare in 2016. Lastly, Alicia pointed out the February 8, 2016, commentary deadline for credit unions and how important that is to help shape these changes for the foreseeable future. Enjoy!
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What is point of sale financing (POSF) and why is it a no brainer for credit unions to enhance their recent lending success? Well, we answer those questions and more with CU Direct's ​Senior Product Manager Michael Hartley, as he joins us to discuss POSF and CU Direct's recent study with Filene Research Institute called: "Blue Ocean Lending for Credit Unions: Point of Sale Financing."

Michael shares with us some of the key findings of this enlightening study that will benefit credit unions looking to venture down this POSF path, along with opportunities, recommendations, and advice for these credit unions. Seems like a logical step for this industry to take for additional success in the lending arena. Lastly, we connect the dots on how CU Direct's OnSpot Financing fits in this mix and where credit unions can take it in 2016. Enjoy!
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