The Biden Administration issued its anticipated executive order seeking to coordinate efforts among federal agencies to craft a national policy for digital assets.
While some pundits are worried about the impact of regulation, we assert that this effort brings digital assets, including cryptocurrency, into the mainstream, which should be a positive for financial institutions looking to operate in the space.
Topics: Vendor Contract Negotiation, Cryptocurrency, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, Cryptocurrency for Banks and Credit Unions, Digital Assets, Blockchain
The CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference was in-person for the first time in three years, giving many credit union executives a long-overdue chance to have face-to-face meetings.
SRM made the most of the week, engaging with scores of executives, getting a sense of their challenges and opportunities, and lining up discussions to assist in crafting strategies and finding solutions for both.
Topics: Digital Banking, Vendor Contract Management, Cryptocurrency, Credit Union Vendor Management, Cryptocurrency for Banks and Credit Unions, Loan Growth, Deposits, Overdraft
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Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) has emerged as one of the most discussed and fastest-growing areas in consumer lending. What has been surprising is the unwillingness of many financial institutions to add it to their product offerings, according to a recent survey by IntraFi Network. Though BNPL upstarts like Klarna and Affirm continue to claim new territory, the survey indicates that 80% of community banks have no plans to add these services.
Topics: Digital Banking, Vendor Contract Negotiation, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, Buy Now Pay Later, BNPL, Installment Loans
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Volatility tends to be a two-way street, so the recent price correction in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies shouldn’t come as a shock. Still, that doesn’t take the sting out of the size and speed of the recent decline in Bitcoin, which lost more than half its value between mid-November and late January.
Topics: Vendor Contract Negotiation, Cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, Digital Assets
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Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors play an increasing role in bank and credit union decision-making. Climate considerations, whether the result of government mandates, shareholder activism, or environmental shifts, have altered risk assessment models. Additionally, the prospect of regulators adding ESG metrics to examination criteria is gathering steam.
Topics: Vendor Contract Negotiation, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, Gen Z, Brand Loyalty, ESG, Climate Change
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Financial institutions (FIs) of all sizes struggle to recruit and retain younger employees and customers – a challenge exacerbated by the rise of neobanks that offer enhanced experiences, streamlined processes, and faster decisions.
Topics: Payments, Vendor Contract Negotiation, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, Rewards Programs, Gen Z
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So many assumptions about banking – and business in general – have shifted over the past 20 months that it’s reasonable to question whether long-held beliefs about consumer loyalty need to be revised as well.
Topics: Vendor Contract Negotiation, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, Branding, Loyalty, Sustainability
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Most of the excitement surrounding cryptocurrency has focused on Bitcoin and similar altcoins. This is understandable, as this asset class accounts for over 95% of the market value assigned to digital currencies and has been responsible for eye-popping returns in recent years.
Topics: Vendor Contract Negotiation, Cryptocurrency, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, DeFi, Stablecoins, CBDC
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In a recent post, we discussed two trends we anticipate driving strategy discussions for bank and credit union leadership teams in 2022. Our first trend breakdown focused on operational items – including back-office automation, loan originations, branch footprints, and artificial intelligence.
This blog will look at evolving customer trends that financial institutions (FIs) should address to maintain their valuable status as financial services providers of choice.
Topics: Payments, Vendor Contract Negotiation, Credit Card, Cryptocurrency, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, Buy Now Pay Later
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The National Credit Union Association delivered an early gift to the institutions it regulates – guidance for handling digital assets such as cryptocurrency.
A growing number of credit unions have shown interest in offering crypto services to their members. Still, many have been reluctant to take the plunge without parameters from the NCUA. The agency’s guidance should provide some comfort for leery executives.
Topics: Vendor Contract Negotiation, Cryptocurrency, Bank Vendor Management, Credit Union Vendor Management, DeFi, Digital Assets
