Filene Research Institute

Through independent research and innovation, the Filene Research Institute explores issues vital to the future of credit unions and consumer finance.


Research Publications

  1. Costs and Consolidations

    Cover_image_web

    In Credit Union Costs and ConslidationsFilene Fellow James Wilcox answers the question “Is there significant empirical evidence that credit unions can reduce their costs by operating at a larger scale?”

    Findings include:
    • Differences in average performance across credit unions of different sizes have risen over the last two decades.
    • A large fraction of credit unions, as measured by assets, are involved in mergers in any give year.
    • Scale matters, but it is not the only thing that matters.

    categories » Collaboration, Risk Management, Small Credit Unions

Comments

2

    • Phil F. Frani
    • Jul 2, 2008

    Is there any information available as to what the average credit union invests in obtaining new members?

    • Josey
    • Jul 7, 2008

    Sheshenoff estimated about four years ago that a CU spent an average of $200 to obtain a new member. Unfortunately, we are not certain what formula/variables were used by Sheshunoff to come up with this number.

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