2023 AICPA & CIMA Conference on Credit Unions

This session will review the past year, focusing on the impact of the many disruptors; Federal Reserve rate increases at a speed and level not seen, regulatory, auditor and accountants’ response and responsibility due to the banking turmoil, deposit wars in a new competitive environment, and a look at the rapidly changing consumer expectations and technology advancements needed to stay in the game. We will look at the challenges, as well as potential opportunities, facing credit unions in the future.

In the ever-transforming battle for customers/members, fintechs seek to be the new rulers of the banking universe. And the tides have turned. From 2019 to 2022, digital banks have the largest growth rates of primary relationships. Now, for the first time ever, more consumers in the Gen Y and Gen Z age groups name a digital bank as their primary institution than all of the community banks and credit unions combined! Experience live demonstrations of the banking apps that are reimagining the definition of PFI as Primary Financial Interactions, instead of Primary Financial Institution, and changing consumer attitudes and banking behaviors.

Finance leaders need to complete their transitions from being doers to thinking and acting strategically. The sense of urgency has increased exponentially. Their members, team members, and communities are relying on them to help guide them through unyielding uncertainty while continuing to be highly competitive.

Although many wish for a pause button – it does not exist. Falling behind strategically comes at a much higher cost today.

During this session, we will share keys to success that financial leaders can put into action.

Dr. Eyler provides a forecast of the US economy, with headwinds and tailwinds, starting with global issues down through how some states may be more affected than others by recent changes in interest rates and labor markets toward 2025 and beyond. With another president election coming in 2024 and geopolitical issues across the world, there are fiscal, economic and social costs and benefits yet to unfold. How will current forecasts change and in what ways? How will interest rates evolve given the latest data and forecasts and also different political and economic settings? How will credit unions and their members changes as a result, and what are credit unions facing as challenges and opportunities? Dr. Eyler shares his insights on labor markets, lending conditions and broader challenges and opportunities toward the next decade.

A historic Fed tightening cycle contributed to multiple bank failures in 2023 and shined a light on poor risk management practices. With significant rate movements happening in a short period of time, depositories everywhere have experienced shifts in their interest rate risk exposure and balance sheet dynamics. In this session, we will review recent events and focus on timeless balance sheet management fundamentals, including understanding hedging and funding strategies.

Has your credit union or auditee delved into new programs that may provide accounting challenges to your staff or auditors. Such areas may include: purchased financial assets, leases, deferred compensation plans, ECIP, Grants and Single Audits, and more. With these new programs there may be certain accounting and reporting that can be missed. In today's session we will cover some of these more complex accounting areas and explore ways to ensure proper accounting and reporting is performed.

This session is a higher level, presentation only version of the Auditing CECL Workshop. Following a second wave of the CECL adoption, credit union auditors need to establish an effective and efficient process to audit the CECL models that is fit for the size and complexity of the organization. This session will leverage what we’ve learned from auditing with the first wave of CECL adopters to guide participants in audit approach that fit in line with the CECL A&A guidance. We will walk through example CECL calculations of common approaches and discuss audit approaches.

This session will go through what Financial Institutions are battling when it comes to fraud. The pandemic raised a new generation of fraudsters and fraud in todays world is at an all-time high. Fraud is being talked about from the Oval Office all the way down to the front level staff of your business. Come learn about all the different things fraudsters are doing to exploit your customers and your business. 

Financial institutions are resilient organizations and regularly faced with a cycle of challenges. We will dig into the balance between loan growth and credit quality in an environment marked by economic uncertainty, changing market dynamics, and evolving regulatory frameworks. Ensuring lenders are prepared to navigate these complexities to ensure sustainable growth and minimize potential risks is critical. We will explore the key factors that contribute to the uncertainty on the horizon, such as fluctuating interest rates, shifting borrower profiles, and broader economic indicators.

Changes in business operations as a result of the pandemic, talent shortages, rising interest rates, and a liquidity crunch has created new challenges for credit unions. These circumstances have also provided opportunities for credit union partnerships and mergers. This session will include a panel of experts who have assisted credit unions successfully navigate the strategic merger process. Topics will include current trends in credit unions and bank acquisitions, member value proposition, common pitfalls and keys to success.

Regulatory and accounting rule changes have made it easier than ever for institutions of all sizes to implement hedging strategies, and for many, the environment is right to do so. In this session, we will explore how to set policies and procedures in place to be able to use derivatives, then look to real world examples of how institutions have recently been using hedging strategies to reduce interest rate risk, lower cost of funds, and achieve broader strategic objectives.

Times have changed and remote auditing has become increasingly popular. Join us for a discussion on applying auditing standards to real-life examples of remote auditing.  Explore ways to overcome the challenges of remote auditing and conduct efficient engagements for your clients.

Compliance with the new CECL rules is crucial for financial institutions, and failure to comply can result in earnings and capital mismanagement, audit and regulatory risk, and reputational damage. To ensure compliance, institutions need to develop a comprehensive CECL policy and maintain robust governance and control frameworks.

Dive into the fascinating world of Data Analytics featuring two seasoned leaders from the Credit Union industry on how to stay ahead by channeling the power of data. Gain invaluable insights on practical data analytics applications, pitfalls to steer clear of, and best practices for implementing data analytics. We will also touch upon the future trends that will shape the landscape of data analytics in Credit Unions.

Can you get the best of the experts? 

Use this session as an opportunity to challenge industry experts with technical questions that have been swirling in your head. Come prepared with questions and see if you can stump your colleagues.