Insights from Catalyst

The payments industry is ever-changing. There is a growing need for faster, seamless payments as new technology and competitors emerge. Until recent years, however, there had been no united payments industry effort to provide additional alternatives for instant transactions. All of that is now on the cusp of change.

Credit unions are an essential part of the financial services sector, serving millions of people around the world. Therefore, it is crucial they operate with the highest level of accuracy to make sound business decisions and provide the best possible services to their members.

As 2023 unfolds, credit unions remain focused on expansion and growth, even though liquidity has tightened, and share growth has slowed. While near-term growth may be difficult to achieve, market indications suggest that share growth will rebound later in 2023 or early 2024.

Since the Fed began increasing the fed funds rate 11 months ago, credit unions across the country have been heavily impacted by the rapid ascent of interest rates. Credit unions experienced some benefits to the rise in rates, but challenges emerged as well. Therefore, it is no surprise that interest rate risk (IRR) tops the list of NCUA’s 2023 Supervisory Priorities.

In the digital banking era, credit unions can’t afford to be reactive to members’ financial needs in everyday life, given the rising competition of fintechs and neobanks, as well as traditional bank competitors. And being proactive doesn’t mean spending a ton of money to build out a stand-alone digital credit union or reorganize the entire operation.