If you had to make a list of some of the most invaluable assets that credit unions have, loyalty is undoubtedly right at the top.

Today, credit union members and consumers have more ways than ever to pay for goods and services, including Buy Now Pay Later, automated clearing houses, mobile wallets, and peer-to-peer payments. At the same time, payment methods are getting smarter.

There was a time when on-demand (also referred to as "instant issue") cards were one of those "nice to have" benefits for credit union members. They were fast, convenient, and efficient - but they weren't necessarily a "must have" feature like mobile banking.

According to one recent study, the annual inflation rate in the United States grew to 9.1% by June 2022 - the highest rate since 1981. As a result, how people shop for things like credit cards is changing. This is especially true as not just inflation rises, but the prices of fuel and other essential items do as well.

Whether your credit union member earns $30,000 a year or $300,000 a year, everyone is feeling the crunch from inflation. And this should come as no surprise, considering inflationary pressure is at a 40-year high. Even so, many financial institutions are reluctant to discuss inflation in a real way and offer tangible steps consumers can use to reduce the impact. However, your credit union could be the lighthouse that helps members weather the storm and navigate their way through the fog. Here are four key marketing messages and campaigns credit unions can use to help your members and your bottom line.

The Great Recession negatively impacted countless consumer credit scores, leaving many in a financial bind. Thankfully, credit unions (CUs) are stepping up to help people get back on their feet, offering their members a variety of credit-building services and tools--from low-priced secure loans and complimentary credit consultation to virtual debt management courses. Instead of charging high service fees, many CUs have resorted to more consultative methods.  Increasing credit can be a time-consuming process requiring patience and self-control. Below, we outline four key ways your CU can begin to either initiate credit or rebuild your members' credit scores.

The value of offering your credit union members credit cards has never and will never be in question. Credit cards have become a fundamental linchpin in consumer lending strategies for credit unions. However, not all credit card offerings and strategies are created equally. Specifically, the changing credit card industry makes selecting the best sourcing model more important than ever for credit unions.

Credit cards play a critical role in credit unions' consumer lending strategies, but many credit unions have hesitated to switch to in-house cards. This has mostly been due to the unique characteristics of credit cards and inadequate core systems. However, today's credit unions must rise to the challenge and implement an efficient card management system, which will ultimately benefit both their CU and its members. Throughout this article, we'll show you the top six key advantages of a core-integrated card payment solution.

Did you know that, according to 2021 fourth-quarter data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Americans have over $856 billion worth of credit card debt? The amount rose tremendously from the third quarter of 2021, increasing by $52 billion. It is the most significant quarterly increase the U.S. has seen within the past 22 years and the third and only spike since the start of 2020.

As a credit union, it's imperative that you offer merchant card services to local small businesses. Why? Because credit card payment processing is at the very core of small-scale companies, and of course, one of your credit union's goals should be to help them prosper.