Three big BC credit unions lost money in 2023, leaving the system weaker.
Social Identity and Co-operative Enterprise
In today’s world, much is made of ‘identities’. Social identities have always been important, especially in politics. What is noteworthy is how our identity preferences have shifted over time. Last October CCEC Credit Union merged with Community Savings. In the preceding two years I was asked about the prospects for CCEC as a small independent […]
Central1 Power Struggle
The C1 proposals serve the interests of larger credit unions, in the way risk would be redistributed and the way political power concentrated.
Concentra Sold, Who Benefits?
SaskCentral has sold its 84% interest in Concentra Bank to the Equitable Bank Group. Is it a good deal for the mid-size and smaller credit unions of Canada that been the primary clients of Concentra?
Feedback on the amended FIA
The BC Financial Services Authority (‘BCFSA’) has completed its first full year of operation and reported out. It is time for credit unions to assess how well the new regulatory regime works.
Concentration Risk
BCFSA is not targeting the risks, risks that are highly concentrated in the very large institutions, and community-based credit unions may be the collateral damage.
Classic Credit Unions
Classic or community-based credit unions are under stress. Leadership is needed to take on the challenges.
Financial Hamster Wheel
Low wages, predatory lending, and barriers to social mobility trap and disadvantage too many. Employers, governments, credit unions, retailers and others need to step up.
The Absent Owners
MEC: The Success Delusion
The failure of MEC is the result of a perverse definition of success, also taken up by credit unions.