THE feature

LAKE TAPPS, Wash.—An analysis of third-quarter 2025 credit-union mergers reveals a market that looks steady on the surface but is rapidly consolidating in scale. While merger volumes remained broadly consistent with earlier quarters, the size of the institutions being absorbed surged dramatically, according to new analysis from CEO Advisory Group.

TUCSON, Ariz.—When the next wave of payments innovation hits full throttle, credit unions may find themselves both in the driver’s seat and in the danger zone — especially on the topic of chargebacks.

WASHINGTON—As the Supreme Court weighs the most significant challenge to independent-agency protections in nearly a century, credit unions are facing growing uncertainty over the future structure of federal regulators—including the NCUA board itself.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—NCUA on Wednesday launched a sweeping “Deregulation Project” that could lead to the rollback or streamlining of a wide range of existing rules, signaling potential regulatory relief for credit unions through the elimination of outdated, duplicative, or overly burdensome requirements tied to governance, audits, and data-security guidance. 

PLANO, Texas—After years of high borrowing costs and stubborn inflation that have strained household budgets, new delinquency data across major consumer credit categories paint a mixed but more resilient picture of the U.S. economy, with credit-card delinquencies easing even as stress builds in auto loans and mortgages.