News & Insights
Based on the high concentration of swaps, this article will explore what a swap is and how it helps manage the fair value change of a fixed-rate mortgage loan portfolio.
In today’s fast moving financial environment, credit unions are expected to make smart, timely investment decisions that support the balance sheet and ultimately strengthen member service. Yet many traditional trading processes can slow teams down – requiring manual research, using scattered data sources and managing workflows that aren’t built with busy credit unions in mind. That’s why more credit unions are turning to online bond trading platforms.
The monthly Market Overview & Data Report is a comprehensive summary of February'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.
The U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service added FedNow as an instant payment option for certain federal agency disbursements through its Digital Pay program, with the first payments sent in early September.
The week began with another government shutdown, albeit shorter and less severe than October’s. The Senate passed five of the six remaining measures to fund the government.
Entering 2026, inflation has continued to moderate from its post pandemic peak, though it remains above the Federal Reserve’s long run 2% target. Over the past year, price pressures have eased unevenly: goods inflation largely normalized, while services inflation, particularly healthcare and insurance, remains sticky.
With more than 98% of expected call report filings submitted, this update provides a first look at the year-end trends across the credit union industry.
Mortgage rates recently dipped close to 6%, a meaningful psychological and economic threshold for both borrowers and lenders. That move has been closely tied to the GSEs’ announcement of roughly $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities purchases, which helped tighten MBS spreads and pull conventional mortgage rates lower. While that development has sparked comparisons to the Federal Reserve’s MBS buying during the pandemic, today’s environment and its implications for credit unions, looks very different.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump announced he will nominate Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as the Chair of the Federal Reserve.
The week began with the worst cross-asset selloff since Liberation Day in April 2025, the day President Trump announced his global tariff policy. Investor anxiety was triggered by Trump’s push to take control of Greenland, a NATO ally, after he threatened tariffs against other NATO nations.