Three credit unions achieved strong loan growth without indirect lending by focusing on direct member relationships. Western Heritage CU grew loans 24.79% by empowering loan officers, Ferguson FCU grew 42.05% after expanding its field of membership, and California CU grew 24.16% through consistent sales management and goals. Their common strategies included investing in sales staff, empowering frontline staff to make decisions, focusing on core strengths over campaigns, and monitoring loan quality.

1. Strategies To Make A Direct Impact On
Auto Loan Growth
Three credit unions without indirect lending take the road less traveled
to increase loans and relationships.
By Ted Goldwyn
5277 Views
When Kurt Schmidt took over as CEO of Western Heritage Credit Union ($78.3M, Alliance, NE) in January 2014, he
had lending on his mind.
“Since 2009, the credit union had seen no asset growth and had a slight decline in loan growth,” Schmidt says.
“That was a major initiative I was focused on when I got here: how do we get lending turned around.”
Indirect lending and participation loans have been key drivers of growth for many credit unions in recent years.
According to Peer-to-Peer analysis from Callahan & Associates, indirect loans as a percentage of total credit union
auto lending grew to 49.07% as of the end of 2014.
INDIRECT AUTO LOANS/TOTAL AUTO LOANS
For all U.S. credit unions | Data as of 03.31.15
© Callahan & Associates | www.creditunions.com

2. Source: Peer-to-Peer Analytics by Callahan & Associates
Credit unions that did not engage in indirect lending and participation loans increased their loan portfolios by
7.41% last year compared with 10.82% growth for the industry as a whole.
LOAN GROWTH
For all U.S. credit unions | Data as of 03.31.15
© Callahan & Associates | www.creditunions.com

3. CU QUICK FACTS
WESTERN HERITAGE CREDIT UNION
Data as of 06.30.15
HQ: Alliance, NE
ASSETS: $78.3M
MEMBERS: 10,944
12-MO SHARE GROWTH: 4.40%
12-MO LOAN GROWTH: 24.79%
ROA: 0.38%
Source: Peer-to-Peer Analytics by Callahan & Associates
*All credit unions in U.S., vs. credit unions over $50M in assets, with no indirect lending or participation loans.
Yet Western Heritage is one of several cooperatives to achieve remarkable portfolio gains without the benefit of
indirect auto lending or participation loans.
A Direct Approach To Change
Schmidt spent the first three months on the job analyzing his
credit union’s strengths and weaknesses. Although one of its
two branches had a strong sales culture, the credit union was
not hitting its loan growth goals. He discovered that loan
officers in these branches had strong ancillary sales — GAP,
credit life and disability — but these same representatives were
not empowered to open deposit accounts; thus, they missed
out on significant opportunities to cross-sell and deepen
relationships.
So Schmidt took a three-step approach to put lending back on
track. He mothballed the credit union’s stagnant indirect
lending program, focused on team coaching and motivation,
and restructured loan approval authority and limits.
The results were remarkable. According to a recent Peer-to-Peer analysis, by the end of 2014 Western Heritage
posted 33.64% growth in its loan portfolio over the prior year, the second-highest growth among 637 credit unions
nationwide that do not have indirect lending or participation loans. The only credit union on that list that showed
stronger growth last year was Ferguson Federal Credit Union ($58.3M, Monticello, MS). CEO Leslie Pitts attributes
Ferguson’s impressive 57.45% growth largely to one major change implemented in early 2014.

4. CU QUICK FACTS
FERGUSON FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Data as of 06.30.15
HQ: Monticello, MS
ASSETS: $58.3M
MEMBERS: 4,140
12-MO SHARE GROWTH: -1.04%
12-MO LOAN GROWTH: 42.05%
ROA: 1.35%
“We became a community-chartered credit union in April 2014,
gaining all of Lawrence County, MS, within our field of
membership,” Pitts says. “In our area, the majority of our
members and potential members are mid-career and are in
their prime borrowing years.”
“We strive to capture every sales opportunity in all
departments,” Pitts continues. “For example, our accounting
department monitors incoming ACH activity to identify outgoing
loan payments to other financial institutions.”
At that point, according to Pitts, a credit union employee picks
up the phone and calls the member to discuss refinancing with
the credit union.
“It’s not just the front office’s responsibility to help with loan growth,” Pitts says.
Schmidt also credits his team’s commitment for Western Heritage’s success.
“It’s been an entire team effort, leveraging what they do well,” Schmidt says. “We are fortunate because our team
is made up of super stars. Leadership can try to put the right culture in place, but it takes motivated staff. We have
that in spades.”

5. CU QUICK FACTS
CALIFORNIA CREDIT UNION
Data as of 06.30.15
HQ: Glendale, CA
ASSETS: $1.465B
MEMBERS: 87,197
12-MO SHARE GROWTH: 10.36%
12-MO LOAN GROWTH: 24.16%
ROA: 0.87%
Strategies To Make A Direct Impact On
Auto Loan Growth
Three credit unions without indirect lending take the road less traveled
to increase loans and relationships.
By Ted Goldwyn
5275 Views
Success At A Large Credit Union
California Credit Union ($1.465B, Glendale, CA) placed 22nd in loan growth on that list of 637 credit unions
nationwide that do not have indirect lending or participation loans. Notably, it led the pack among credit unions
with more than $1 billion in assets.
CCU grew loans by 19.69% in 2014. And this year is looking even stronger, with 24.16% growth year-over-year
through June.
“Our growth is directly attributed to our investment in great sales people and consistent sales management,” says
John Bretthauer, EVP/COO for CCU. “From the teller referring a credit card to the loan officer originating the most
sophisticated real estate transaction, CCU’s sales team is managed to monthly productions goals.”
The credit union monitors those production numbers daily, and
weekly sales meetings ensure staff activities help the credit
union meet or exceed targets.
According to Bretthauer, CCU focuses on establishing long-term
relationships with its members by providing them with a direct
link to a trusted advisor who works with their changing financial
needs.
“We make every effort to present our brand as being a credit
union that can anticipate the member’s needs,” Bretthauer
says. “We will grow and change with them.”
5 Keys To Remarkable Loan Growth
Western Heritage, Ferguson Federal, and California Credit Union differ greatly in size, field of membership, and
geography. However, there are five common denominators that underpin their loan growth success.
First, the credit unions invest in people. Senior leaders at all three credit unions emphasize the role of member-
facing staff. Through trackable incentive plans, accountability, and continuous coaching and recognition, these

6. credit unions motivate their teams to shoot higher and farther.
Second, they empower the front-line to make decisions. Prior to Schmidt’s tenure at Western Heritage, an all-
volunteer credit committee made loan decisions.
“We were losing some of the passion to fight for loans,” Schmidt says.
The credit union disbanded the committee and granted higher limits to loan officers, with the ultimate authority
resting with the CEO and vice president of operations.
“Declining a member should be a painful experience,” Schmidt says. “You shouldn’t allow someone in an ivory
tower that has no interaction with members to make loan decisions. I want the person on the spot approving the
loan.”
Third, these credit unions don’t waste time or money on lending-focused marketing campaigns. Of the three
institutions, none attributed their growth to a special loan campaign.
“Our only loan marketing comes from word-of-mouth,” says Pitts of Ferguson FCU. “We maximize every lending
opportunity with new and existing members.”
Bretthauer at California Credit Union echoes the sentiment.
“Our marketing is less campaign-based and more target- and relationship-focused,” he says. “We are not a ‘hot
deal’ type of financial institution.”
Fourth, all three credit unions focus on core strengths. Schmidt made some drastic changes during his first year on
the job, enabling Western Heritage to focus on the credit union’s competitive advantages. This included
abandoning business lines — such as mortgages, business lending, and indirect lending —that didn’t support the
core growth strategy.
And finally, Western Heritage, Ferguson Federal, and California Credit Union monitor their loan quality.
When loan volume picks up, it is easy for credit quality to suffer. The key is to anticipate and monitor potential
issues before they occur.
“While times are good, many might view the special assets departments as akin to the Maytag Repairman,”
Bretthauer says. “However, as many credit unions have learned, by the time you realize you need a special assets
group it might be too late.”
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