Four years after NCUA placed five corporate credit unions into conservatorship, the biggest question that remains is what will be the final cost to natural-person CUs.

It's been four years since the most cataclysmic and costly series of events in the history of U.S. credit unions: the conservatorship by NCUA of five failed corporates.

Credit Union Journal spoke with NCUA Director of Examination and Insurance Larry Fazio, who shared NCUA's view on its management of those five failed corporates' investments and the conservatorships.

As the result of the new Qualified Mortgage (QM) rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, nearly half (44%) of credit unions in a survey conducted by NAFCU indicated they will cease originations of non-qualified mortgages, while another 44 percent will reduce originations.

Have credit unions simply become too sophisticated for volunteer board members to oversee? To understand? To manage any longer?

Celeste Cook, founder and President/CEO of cuStrategies, LLC, gives nine ways to open doors for your credit union and how to keep them open for new opportunities.

Roger A. Licht, President of Credit Union One, asks why the sale of US Central HQ is secret.

Banks and CUs have finally found common ground-both loathe the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

As part of Credit Union Journal's ongoing commitment to helping credit unions grow, in this issue a special Bottom Line report offers perspectives from more than a dozen people on boosting revenue and the bottom line in the second half of 2013.

With just 45% of the average credit union's members using its checking account as a primary checking service, Dennis Dollar says it's great to see CUs aggressively going after this product in 2013.

An improving economy has provided credit unions with three opportunities to improve their bottom lines, according to Scott Hansen.

Aspire FCU is spending more on technology and self-service delivery channels-while closing underperforming branches-to drive the bottom line.

Stefana Houldsworth, director of product management for automotive solutions for marketing resource management provider Spireon, told Credit Union Journal credit unions have every reason to stay focused on auto lending.

With manufacturer incentives making indirect auto an extremely tough market to compete in now, MidSouth Community FCU quickly turned to direct auto loans this year and has more than doubled results over last year.

An aggressive auto-loan recapture program and lower-balance mortgage refis are keys to making the bottom line at Shreveport FCU look even better this year.

CUs have been trimming expenses up and down the budget. But it's not so much to save money anymore as it is to reallocate dollars to more productive areas of the business.

Looking to cut costs? Investments in staff training may do the trick.

The clock is ticking on historically low mortgage rates, meaning credit unions must start to make some adjustments.

CUs are loosening credit standards to widen the pool and bring in more loans, reports The Members Group.

An emerging trend in which CUs that had previously sold their card programs only to bring them back in house is showing no sign of abating, according to Symitar.

CEOs are pulling several levers this year to bolster the bottom line, but none more important than the one tied to member convenience.

Want to boost the bottom line? Get to know your members better-and make sure they know you just as well.

American consumers have come to expect some sort of reward with the plastic cards they use.

Credit unions are showing a "healthy'"5.2% annual growth in lending, according to a new analysis of Q1 data by CUNA Mutual Group's Trends Report.

Financial Center FCU has launched G2, a mentorship program designed to help mold the next generation of credit union leaders.

CUNA is rolling out a national campaign aimed at the grassroots of credit unions-their 96 million members-with the theme, "Don't tax my credit union."

Eleven credit unions across this state participated in a joint effort at seven different locations as part of the Kansas Credit Union Association's "Make a Difference Day" campaign. At the various events consumers were presented with gift cards, cash, free coffee or free lunch.

A new report attempts to shed light on who the 51 million people are who actually make up the category of "the underbanked."