This phrase is the foundation of the Dollar Associates, LLC approach to field of membership consultation.

We are convinced that the future of many credit unions is directly tied to the ability to diversify their product offerings and potential membership.

No one knows the process better for converting to a community charter than our team at Dollar Associates. Likewise, no one knows the questions you must be prepared to answer to make sure that you “do it right” when it comes to evaluating and applying for a FOM expansion.

Even though significant efforts have been made in recent years to streamline the rules and regulations pertaining to field of membership expansion requests, the process involved to convert to a community charter can, in many cases, become complex and cumbersome without clear direction and guidance. As shown in the chart below, the number of federal community charters approved has diminished greatly in recent years, indicating the complexity involved with gaining approval.

While the numbers have decreased in recent years, the benefit of adding potential members through a community charter continues to be a valuable diversification strategy for many credit unions, and we are here to make the process easier.

The Dollar Associates process in assisting our credit union clients in identifying potential field of membership expansion options begins with an initial consultation. This consultation allows us to strategize with you, your management team, and board to identify the field of membership opportunities available for your credit union. This initial consultation has proven to be invaluable for us and the credit union based on our experience in working with many credit unions considering field of membership expansion options.