Knowledge

Women’s History Month is a time when everyone can honor the legacy and impact of women. In celebration of this important time, our lens is on the vital role women play as entrepreneurs and small business owners.  In fact, women started 49% of new businesses in the...

Entrepreneurs are a key segment of our economy. They infuse job creation, economic development and innovation into their communities.  To help facilitate all that growth and development, credit unions play an important role in ensuring entrepreneurs have the right...

AVANA CUSO is proud to be the best credit union service organization (CUSO) for commercial real estate lending. We operate as a true partner by personally guiding CUs through the loan approval process. Likewise, if a good loan were to go bad, we’re an advocate for our...

About 60 million people live in rural communities throughout the country. Rural dwellers’ inconvenient distance from financial hubs and their unique financial needs mean they often look for specialized support.  As such, there are a number of savvy credit unions that...

Every new year brings new innovations in the financial services space. So, now’s the time – before competitors beat you to the punch – to reassess if members’ digital needs and preferences are met for 2023.  In today’s ever-evolving environment, if credit unions...

Credit union conferences are a great place for CU professionals to gain inspiration, stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, and learn about new services and tech impacting credit unions.  Luckily, there are some highly recommended credit union conferences...

As you now well know, credit unions have the upper hand over larger financial institutions in the most impactful of ways. Given their lower fees, better savings rates, superior customer service and greater personalization with financial products, the benefits are...

Any seasoned commercial real estate investor understands the power of diversifying their portfolios with real estate stocks. This is especially true as we head into a potentially volatile and unknown economic environment and real estate market. As a result, many...

Here’s a Look at the Top Credit Union Publications & Sources for CU News & Industry Updates Credit union leaders and employees do their best to serve their communities and leverage their expertise to provide fair and equitable financial services to their...

October 17-21 is Risk Awareness Week, so there’s no better time for credit unions to reflect on their risk assessment practices for commercial real estate (CRE) lending. This includes what their risk appetite is given the current financial climate. Brianna Vaughan,...

October is Financial Planning Month, making it the perfect time for commercial real estate investors to assess their portfolios and identify areas for growth. No matter the portfolio, there are likely areas to diversity, and right now commercial real estate is the hot...

For credit union leaders and professionals who are looking to sharpen their skills and better serve their members, there are a number of organizations out there that can help.  Including legislative advocacy, member protection regulations and industry-leading...

Here’s a Look at the Top 5 Credit Union Conferences to Close Out 2022 As summer winds down and we look ahead to Q4, there is still an incredible amount of value that credit union professionals can gain by attending the CU conferences being held the rest of the year....

As a new school year commences, it’s the perfect time to focus on how educators are appreciated and supported. School credit unions are specialized financial institutions that do both in truly value-added ways. By joining one of these credit unions, teachers gain...

Borrowing in the Space is up +19% YOY in Q2  Despite widespread economic headwind, the commercial and multi-family lending business has shown incredible resiliency. Loan originations in the space were up 19% in the second quarter of 2022 compared to this time last...

Nearly 40,000 pets die every year in house fires. For commercial real estate owners with pet-owning tenants, it’s always a good time to review the recommendations for keeping building inhabitants (both pet and human) safe and the risk of fires low.  What are the Risks...

Renewable Energy Investments Provide an Opportunity to Turn a Profit & Save the Earth As the climate crisis continues to spark devastation across the globe, all living beings experience life-altering consequences ranging from rising temperatures, environmental...

Whether a new business is looking to construct its first physical location or an existing company has plans to expand operations, there comes a time for many enterprises when real estate construction or upgrades become a part of their growth strategy. Commercial...

Small business loans are important in supporting not only small business growth but also economic development and job creation across the United States. Two common loan options for small enterprises today include SBA 7 a loans and 504 loans, which are both backed by...

4 Investor Tips For Fire Safety Requirements for Buildings, Construction Safety and More One of a commercial real estate (CRE) investor’s main responsibilities is ensuring their investment property is safe. There are two main reasons for this. First, tenants expect...

Can You Deduct Commercial Property Taxes? Here’s the Answer, Plus the Other Tax Advantages of Owning Commercial Real Estate. Strategically and wisely investing in real estate can be a surefire way to build wealth. But working to build that wealth doesn’t stop with...

By Sundip Patel, co-founder and chief executive officer, AVANA Companies The past few years have seen institutional investors increasingly aware of the benefits – both to their finances and to their reputations — of putting more...