THE DEPOSIT INFLUX AND HOW DAILY DEPOSIT MANAGEMENT IS BECOMING A CREDIT UNION PRIORITY

The last eighteen months have seen deposit increases in the range of 20% for many credit unions. Not only has this growth in deposits created an earnings issue with the tight margins today, but this deposit influx has had a significant impact on capital ratios, loan-to-share and return on assets.

While enhanced lending initiatives, expanding into more diversified lending products and perhaps going deeper into the loan pool have been employed by some credit unions in an attempt to put this excess liquidity to work with an increased return, the reality is that loan growth in this market has not kept up with deposit growth and – in many cases – has trailed it two to one.

More and more credit unions have begun looking for ways to manage their balance sheet on the deposit side, and there is a growing movement in credit unions to put in place daily deposit management programs to serve their depositors with more options and to take some deposits off balance sheet. Members have responded well because it often strengthens their federal deposit insurance coverage and gives them a single source (your credit union) that can manage a diversified deposit investment for them.

The concept of daily deposit management for community banks and credit unions was innovated by a New York firm, Reich and Tang. They are the recognized leaders in this space. We have the principals at Reich and Tang scheduled to be with us for a Dollar Associates sponsored webinar on June 23 to discuss this concept that is growing in credit union land.