Wednesday, November 12, 2008

CUs are well-capitalized safe harbors, paper says

FORT WORTH, Texas (11/11/08)--Credit unions nationwide have not been as severely impacted as other financial institutions by the economic problems hitting the U.S. this year, due to their conservative nature and relatively high levels of capitalization, according to a Monday article in the Fort Worth Business Press.

Because credit unions are not motivated by profits, they don't have the same pressures as stock organizations, Dick Ensweiler, president/CEO of the Texas Credit Union League, told the newspaper. Therefore, credit unions can take a long-range view as to what is in the best interest of their members and make future plans accordingly, he added.

In talking to member credit unions statewide, Ensweiler found they are doing well for the most part because they are well-capitalized at an average rate of 11%, he said.

Although a few credit unions in California and Florida went though some difficulties because real estate values are plunging, most credit unions are not heavily involved with mortgage loans, Ensweiler told the paper.

However, those credit unions that were funding mortgages experienced trouble, he added.

courtesy of cuna.org

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