Insights from Catalyst

Is liquidity tight and loan demand strong at your credit union? In the past, you’ve likely looked at selling loan participations to ease liquidity and create balance sheet capacity for continued loan demand. However, as interest rates rose, you may have been hesitant to enter into a loan participation sale due to potential pricing below par. But with the potential for falling interest rates ahead, are there reasons to revisit this decision?

2019 began where 2018 left off…waiting for a resolution to the growing trade dispute with China and wondering what the next interest rate move would be. The Federal Reserve closed out 2018 with a 25 basis point rate hike that became hotly debated as soon as it was executed.

The FPC held its first meeting on May 29, 2019. The purpose of the meeting was to further establish the FPC framework, outline work group initiatives and continue the overall faster payments momentum.

Credit unions’ love affair with economics is going to become more graphic this year. Allow me to explain. For 20 years now, one of my favorite roles has been to connect credit union leaders to the emerging financial landscape via an annual Economic Forum.

Credit unions are looking to enhance yield, while managing risks like prepayments, calls, credit, reinvestment and convexity concerns. Federal National Mortgage Association’s (FNMA) Delegated Underwriting and Servicing (DUS) bonds could be an attractive investment solution.