National Credit Union Administration Deborah Matz Board Member

PALS Home | Schedule & Invitation | Event Registration | Workshop Presentations | Best Practices | NeighborWorks® Partnerships

Partnering and Leadership Successes (PALS), an initiative introduced by NCUA Board Member Debbie Matz, encourages credit unions to share innovations to improve member service and reach everyone in their field of membership.

PALS is an outgrowth of Access Across America, which was introduced by NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar to promote the extension of affordable financial services nationwide. In the past three years under Access Across America, 64 million more Americans have become eligible to join federal credit unions. PALS intends to help turn these potential members into actual members, and help credit unions make even more of a difference in their communities.

PALS provides forums for credit unions to educate and inspire each other through networking workshops and best practices.

PALS Workshops

Free PALS workshops are being scheduled across America to inform credit unions about opportunities to attract new members and offer a wide variety of new services:

• New Ideas to Reach New Members - October 27, 2004, Honolulu, Hawaii
  This upcoming workshop is inspired by a wide range of initiatives that have been successful in attracting new members from all walks of life. On the final afternoon of the Credit Union National Association's Future Forum, two PALS panels of credit union leaders will present initiatives that can help more credit unions diversify their memberships, diversify their assets, and strengthen safety and soundness.

• Serving the Underserved Without Losing Your Bottom Line - October 11, 2004, Rochester, New York
  This workshop was inspired by New York State credit union leaders who shared their success stories in serving underserved areas. Speakers described how to offer a wide range of needed services – including risk-based loans, payday loan alternatives, financial education, micro-business loans, affordable mortgages, home repairs, volunteer income tax assistance, and international remittances. All presentations – including the keynote address from Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton – will be posted on the Workshop Presentations section of the PALS website.
  
  
• How to Make More Mortgages -- June 2, 2004, Boston Massachusetts
  This workshop shared innovative programs that are opening the door of homeownership to members from all walks of life. Attendees from credit unions of all sizes learned how to keep more of their members’ mortgages at their credit unions, and how to leverage partnerships to reach new markets with affordable mortgages that will help more first-time homebuyers achieve the American dream. To get ahead of rising interest rates, asset/liability management experts shared a series of strategies to manage interest rate risks while freeing up liquidity to make more mortgages.
  
  
• Member Business Lending – March 25, 2004, San Francisco, California
  This member business lending workshop gave more credit union leaders an opportunity to decide whether business lending is right for their credit unions. Experienced business lenders shared ideas to safely make more business loans. Government experts and business loan consultants addressed risk factors and explored partnership opportunities. This workshop also devoted more time to explain NCUA’s enhanced member business lending regulation.
  
  
• Alternatives to Predatory Financial Practices – January 26, 2004, Dallas, Texas
  This PALS workshop shared credit unions’ affordable loan programs, special savings programs, and many innovative services to save consumers who are most vulnerable to financial predators. These credit union programs provide much-needed alternatives to triple-digit interest and exorbitant fees charged by predatory lenders, rent-to-own stores, check-cashers, and pawnshops.

• Member Business Lending – October 16, 2003, Washington, D.C.
  Less than a month after the NCUA Board approved a new member business lending regulation, this PALS workshop enabled credit unions to share ideas from successful business loan programs. Credit unions also learned the legal requirements and explored partnership opportunities. While member business lending is not for every credit union, this workshop explained how business lending can diversify membership and strengthen loan portfolios.

• Making the Latino Connection – July 8, 2003, Durham, North Carolina
  Latinos – America’s largest and fastest-growing minority – have tremendous purchasing power. But they have different needs and expectations from financial institutions. At this PALS workshop, credit unions shared creative ways to bridge cultures and connect with Latinos in their communities. The workshop’s free Latino Connection Kit is available on the PALS website.

• Partnering with NeighborWorks® – April 1, 2003, San Francisco, California
  Credit unions that partner with the NeighborWorks® Network gain new members, provide affordable mortgages, and receive deposits from community organizations. This PALS workshop explained how to form partnerships with more than 250 NeighborWorks® organizations. A free publication of case studies is available here: “Credit Union Partnerships with NeighborWorks Organizations: Proven Models for Success.”

Additional PALS workshops will be scheduled in 2004. To suggest future topics and locations, call Steve Bosack at (703) 518-6305 or e-mail sbosack@ncua.gov.