In today’s competitive marketplace, small credit unions are faced with a variety of challenges. The SAS Credit Union program is designed to facilitate growth and provide solutions to the challenges impeding growth for credit unions $50 million and under. Available assistance includes:

• CU Initiative Account
• Guidance in resolving Document of Resolution items and/or other issues revealed by exams and audits
• Analysis of member usage of products/services
• Suggestions to improve operational efficiencies
• Suggestions to enhance member utilization of credit union
• Facilitation of strategic planning sessions/development of business plans
• Support in determining feasibility of field of membership expansion and guidance on regulatory requirements
• Budget development
• Assistance with Bank Secrecy Act risk assessments
• Assistance with ACH risk assessments

SAS Workshops and Forums - You are Invited to the 2012 Small Credit Union Workshops - February 7th and 9th

Throughout the year, The Cooperative Initiatives Department of the LSCU will be hosting Small Credit Union Workshops and Forums to give your credit union the opportunity to network with your peers, share best practices and gain insight on issues affecting smaller asset sized credit unions. The Cooperative Initiatives Department invites you to the 2012 Small Credit Union Workshops – February 7^th in Tampa, Florida and February 9^th in Birmingham. We have an exciting line-up of speakers and topics which deal with issues you face every day in your credit unions. Click for the workshop agenda.

Jim Warren, CEO of Tyndall Federal Credit Union, will provide insight into his credit union’s collection programs and NCUA Economic Development Specialists Chuck Brandon and Lisa Terrell give an exam and supervision update. In Florida, the lunch speaker is Rob Lefkowitz, highlighting the growing CRASH Program and in Alabama, Lee Taylor will showcase the Young & Free Program. Each one-day workshop will also feature a state of credit unions overview, a compliance overview and a lending panel made up of your fellow credit union executives.

Registration is only $79 and remember, you can use your Initiatives Account to cover the registration fee. Click here to go to the LSCU Education Calendar and register online. Please contact Adena Whitman, Director of Member Relations, at adena.whitman@lscu.coop or 205-437-2134 if you have questions.

SAS Toolkit

The Small Asset Size Credit Union Toolkit is a valuable, ever-expanding resource containing budget, business plan, financial education and financial projection templates, questionnaires, sample presentations and best practices studies.

Custom Performance Report

Each affiliated credit union under $35 million in assets will receive a custom performance report on a quarterly basis. The 35+ page financial analysis will help credit unions assess their performance through peer comparisons in their state, peers in NCUA Region 3 and national peers. The report also includes a five-year financial comparison for the credit union. Key performance areas are highlighted with graphs and questions to consider.

The key performance areas are:

• Growth trends
• Earnings
• Loans
• Shares
• Operating expenses
• Fee and other income
• Net worth
• Liquidity trends
• Productivity measures
• Investment performance
• Net interest margin