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The CDFI Briefing
Federal Court Temporarily Blocks Government Layoffs
Mike Beall, CUDE, Chief Experience Officer
8 hours ago30 min read
Isn’t It Time to Stop Retreating in Strategic Planning?
The name itself sounds safe, even gentle. “Retreat” promises time to think, to step back, to breathe. Yet in an operating environment that feels anything but gentle, it is fair to ask whether that word still serves the moment. The economy does not pause for reflection, and neither do competitors who now move with the precision of code and the speed of a click. Maybe it is time the word caught up.
Joe Brancucci, EVP CU Results
6 days ago8 min read
Mission as Strategy: What All Credit Union Leaders Can Learn from CDFIs
Filene’s latest report, “Amplifying Your Credit Union’s Mission: Financial and Community Impacts of Being a CDFI,” answers that with solid data. It finds that CDFI-certified credit unions outperform non-certified peers on nearly every key metric—without a corresponding rise in delinquencies or charge-offs.
CU Strategic Planning
Sep 124 min read
Two Don’t-Miss CDFI Webinars in August
We’re hosting two webinars this month that will give credit unions the lowdown on the CDFI Fund and answer any questions you might have. Register today!
CU Strategic Planning
Aug 42 min read
It's Time to Start Planning Your FY 2026 CDFI FA or TA Application Now!
Here’s What Credit Unions Need to Know A successful application for a CDFI Financial Assistance (FA) Awards requires ample time to...
Christopher Verdsoci, CUDE
May 293 min read
How Strategy Shapes Credit Union Loan Portfolios
Improving your balance sheet isn’t just a best practice—it’s a survival strategy. But as I talk with credit union leaders across the...
Joe Brancucci, EVP CU Results
May 283 min read
Upcoming Webinar: All Things CDFI
May 28 at 10:00 Pacific/1:00 Eastern Join our CDFI experts for a timely and in-depth webinar covering the CDFI Fund topics of importance,...
CU Strategic Planning
May 151 min read
What CDFIs Need to Know About the President’s 2026 Budget Proposal
The President’s FY 2026 budget request, released May 2, proposes to eliminate discretionary award funding for the CDFI Fund, retaining...
CU Strategic Planning
May 83 min read
Why Credit Unions Should Consider Scenario Planning
Credit unions can use this strategic tool to imagine a range of plausible futures and explore how they might respond.
Stacy Augustine
Apr 182 min read
Raghavan Speaks on CDFIs
Raghavan also addressed the process of building the new CDFI certification framework—including the recertification process for all existing
Mike Beall, CUDE, Chief Experience Officer
Mar 63 min read
Ft. Randall FCU: We Think We Can, We Know We Can
The credit union has been working with CU Strategic Planning since 2021, when they applied for and received certification from the Community
CU Strategic Planning
Feb 273 min read
America’s First Black Credit Unions
Black Americans have relied on cooperatives since the 19th century, when both free and enslaved Black people would pool their money to pay f
CU Strategic Planning
Feb 183 min read
Celebrating Shirley Senn’s Legacy and Her New Mission to Support Small Credit Unions
Over her ten years with us, Shirley has been an integral part of our team, helping CU Strategic Planning secure over $1 billion in awards an
Vanessa Henry
Dec 18, 20242 min read
All Things CDFI - News for CDFI Credit Unions
December 17, 2024 Welcome to our new recurring series, “All Things CDFI.” Mike will share the latest updates on CDFI Fund news, deadlines...
Mike Beall, CUDE, Chief Experience Officer
Dec 17, 20241 min read
NCUA Guidance Letter Issued on Overdraft and NSF Fees
Key takeaways from the NCUA's guidance: Charging multiple NSF fees on the same expense (i.e. charging a fee on a represented item) is likely
CU Strategic Planning
Dec 11, 20242 min read
How to Manage Your Credit Union’s Risk When Lending in Lower Credit Tiers
If credit unions are going to be a relevant player in the lending marketplace they will need to take calculated risks while mitigating risk
Joe Brancucci, EVP CU Results
Nov 25, 20243 min read
TA Awards Go to 100% of Our Credit Union Applicants
All 15 credit unions that CU Strategic Planning helped apply for Technical Assistance awards received the $300,000 maximum award.
CU Strategic Planning
Nov 22, 20242 min read
10 Steps to Take NOW for CDFI Recertification Success
We've pulled together ten steps you can take before the end of the year to help secure your credit union's CDFI recertification.
Vanessa Henry
Oct 31, 20244 min read
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