Strategic Planning & Consulting Services

Callahan's strategic planning and consulting services are grounded in 20 years of dedication to the credit union industry. Building on a foundation of expertise in financial performance analysis, our consultants bring to your planning sessions a broad view of the industry as well as in-depth knowledge of the issues affecting credit union performance today.

While we dedicate ourselves to improving the financial well-being of credit unions, our consultants understand that inspiration for innovation can come from all corners of the financial services industry. Therefore, we challenge our credit union partners to step outside the traditional mindset that has dominated financial services and look for new ways to deliver greater member value through the cooperative model.

How Our Firm Works with Credit Unions
Often, potential clients come to us with a specific issue they want to work through with their board or executive management team. Here are some examples we have fielded over the past year:

• Can you help us with our vision? This community thing isn't working. We need to rethink who we are.
  
  
• How can we get our earnings up and still maintain member value? Will it be possible to manage through the earnings squeeze that we are experiencing?
  
  
• We have strong relations with our core sponsor, but every credit union around us has gone to a community charter. Should we change to a community charter to compete?
  
  
• Last year, we invested considerable resources in scenario planning. We don't want to discard the framework, but don't have the same amount of time to spend. Can you help us move forward from that foundation?
  
  
• We're bogged down in single digit growth, facing a high expense ratio and extremely competitive loan markets. Is there some way to leverage our strategy by working with other credit unions or organizations, rather than do it all ourselves?
  
  
• We're satisfied with our current strategic planning approach. Can you update us on critical industry issues and what other successful credit unions are doing?

In other situations, credit unions ask for guidance in setting the entire planning agenda and in presenting the recommendations to the Board. Please call Jay Johnson at (800) 446-7453 ext. 352 to discuss the unique needs of your credit union.