by Brittany Rollek | Aug 9, 2019 | Articles
Published in: CU Business The strategic planning season is ramping up and many financial institutions have initiated the process of preparing for 2020 – identifying likely challenges, defining strategic direction, and forecasting the balance sheet and financial... by Alec Hollis, CFA | Nov 1, 2021 | Articles
Published by CUInsight The ALM First Financial Forum brings the brightest leaders in the industry together with exceptionally unique networking opportunities. This year’s Forum was held at the Silverado Resort in Napa Valley, a quaint but bold resort in the wine... by Shahid Sattar and Jake King | Oct 25, 2021 | Articles
Key Takeaways: Understanding swap use in today’s landscapeRemaining competitive in the lending space despite a flatter curveMaintaining a lower cost of funds in a rising rate environmentProtecting against the risk of unrealized losses in the investment portfolio Swaps... by Emily Hollis, CFA | Oct 5, 2021 | Articles
Published by CUInsight Capital is an important portion of any financial institution’s balance sheet, as it can be used to absorb losses and designates the percentage of assets a financial institution can stand to lose without becoming insolvent. The overarching... by David Ritter | Jul 21, 2021 | Articles
Published by CU Business It’s no secret that merger and acquisition activity is poised to ramp up in the financial services industry as leaders seek ways to manage reduced earnings, offer more convenient service through enhanced digital and physical channels,... by Alec Hollis, CFA | Jun 22, 2021 | Articles
Published by CU Insight The mortgage-backed security (MBS) market has seen some changes in 2021 stemming from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the agency responsible for regulating Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the “GSEs”). Perhaps the most notable is the cash... by Alec Hollis, CFA | Jun 17, 2021 | Articles
Published by CU Business So far in 2021 the mortgage environment has felt like a reversal of 2020’s anomalous events. Furthermore, as if hedging mortgage risk wasn’t complicated enough, 2021 has brought some interesting updates and trends—the outcome of which could... by Ray Birch | Jun 14, 2021 | Articles
Published by CU Today DALLAS—One ALM expert believes NCUA’s new rule on derivatives not only solves a “classic” dilemma for many of the very largest credit unions, it may also provide some assistance for credit unions further down the asset scale. Feature Derivatives... by Travis Goodman, CFA and Kevin Shaner | May 14, 2021 | Articles
Published by CU Business As of January 31, 2021 more than 1,700 credit unions list balances from purchased participations and over 850 Credit Unions list outstanding sold participations on their balance sheets. It may be a seller’s market currently, but there are... by Robert Perry | Apr 21, 2021 | Articles
Published by CU Business Despite the current conversations regarding rising interest rates and depositories’ bond portfolios, now is the time to look at long-term, sound asset liability management. Comments and questions such as “Rates went up and I should have locked... by Shahid Sattar and Jake King | Mar 16, 2021 | Articles
Published by CU Business New proposed derivatives rule may offer an opportunity for federally chartered credit unions to gain greater flexibility in managing interest rate risk and making profitable decisions. Last Fall, the NCUA Board of Directors unanimously... by Robert Perry | Mar 10, 2021 | Articles
Published by CU Insight We have all heard comments over the years regarding rising interest rates and depositories’ bond portfolios. However, instead of lamenting – “Rates went up and I should have locked in those gains” or “With the ten-year rising am I going to lose... by Robert Perry and Michael Oravetz | Feb 24, 2021 | Articles
Published by CU Business In a year where depositories face ongoing margin pressure, management teams and boardrooms across the country search for alternatives that generate additional profits. In many respects, credit unions may have a more challenging time... by Emily Hollis, CFA and Robert Perry | Jan 29, 2021 | Articles
Published by CU Times Throughout our twenty-five years as advisors to credit unions, we are continually impressed by their true community-oriented strategies. The service and care that they provide to their members is inspiring. At their core, credit unions are in the... by Alec Hollis, CFA | Jan 28, 2021 | Articles
Published by Bank Business Selling GSE-eligible mortgages is looking considerably more profitable than it has in years. Lender profitability has skyrocketed according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) performance data and our experience at ALM First Financial... by Robert Perry and Gleb Barkovskiy | Jan 28, 2021 | Articles
Published by Bank Business Additional stimulus payments, traditional seasonal liquidity trends, lower loan demand and the low-rate environment could challenge financial institutions even further to deploy excess cash effectively in 2021. Fixed income investment... by David Ritter | Dec 8, 2020 | Articles
Published by CU Management Use this disciplined approach as opposed to an emotional one to consider the impact of your organization’s options. Over the last decade, the number of credit unions has declined by approximately 30%; however, mergers dwindled during the... by Gleb Barkovskiy and Robert Perry | Dec 2, 2020 | Articles
Published by Bank Business Excess liquidity, net interest margin compression and a low-rate environmenthave made the search for investment yield top of mind for many financial institutions and their investment managers. However, it is critical to remember that simple... by Shahid Sattar | Nov 19, 2020 | Articles
The year 2020 has caused a significant shift in the way Americans view everyday activities due to COVID-19. Many storefronts have implemented card only policies to slow the spread of the virus. However, the trend of using cards over cash has been tilting more towards... by David Ritter | Nov 9, 2020 | Articles
Published by Credit Union Times After years of experience helping credit unions navigate mergers and acquisitions, we have been struck by a unique trend taking place this year due to ongoing uncertainty in the marketplace. Let’s simply call it the “year 2020 effect.”... by Brittany Rollek | Oct 26, 2020 | Articles
Published by Credit Union Business While uncertainty continues and financial institutions grapple with credit performance and what to expect in terms of potential losses down the road,finding new opportunities to enhance bottom-line performance while remaining...