News & Insights
It is becoming very clear that the housing market is all about interest rates. Existing home sales rose 3.4% in October, the first increase in two months. Sales are based on contract closings signed in September when mortgage rates had fallen to the lowest level in almost two years.
To support growth and career development, Catalyst welcomed six young professionals (YPs) to join this year's Strategic Summit as “crashers.” Following Summit, Catalyst asked the crashers to share their conference takeaways.
In this month's Catalyst Vision – your go-to monthly publication for Catalyst news, educational articles and updates on important topics . . .Two Roads to Loan Participation: Direct Placement or Automated Platform | YP Crashers Reflect on Their Experience at Strategic Summit | Credit Unions Maintain Strong Earnings Amid Slower Loan Growth | The Instant Payment Landscape Today - a Review of Summit 2024 | Stop Check Fraud in its Tracks with OrboGraph's Don Samuels
Credit union earnings have remained strong this year even though loan growth has slowed according to Steven Houle. Houle spoke to an audience of credit union leaders and board members at Catalyst’s Strategic Summit and emphasized that credit unions should recognize their strong performance despite other contributing factors.
Instant payments took center stage at the 2024 Catalyst Strategic Summit, and for good reason…the shift to immediate payment options through the FedNow® Service is quickly and dramatically remaking what payments look like for financial institutions across the country.
Loan participations offer credit unions a flexible and strategic way to manage loan portfolios, diversify risk and enhance liquidity. Today’s market provides sellers with multiple avenues to reach potential buyers. The two primary approaches are direct placement and placement in a marketplace.
The Fed unanimously voted to cut the benchmark rate by 25 basis points to a target range of 4.50% - 4.75%. According to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, the move was the second step in the Fed’s recalibration of monetary policy (the first step being September’s rate cut).
The monthly Market Overview & Data Report is a comprehensive summary of November’s key economic and market metrics that are fundamental to credit union financial management. The report not only summarizes key economic and market data, but also explains how these metrics are relevant to credit unions. It further includes industry peer performance data and assessment, relative value evaluation, and an upcoming economic calendar. It is also an excellent report to include in credit union board and ALCO packets.
There was lots of discussion leading up to the monthly job report due to the hurricanes and ongoing Boeing strike occurring during October. No one was quite sure how these situations would play out in the labor market.