Knowledge

How NCUA & CUNA Support Credit Unions

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...

Credit Union Conferences 2022: Exciting Events Still to Come

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....

Top 5 School Credit Unions for Teachers

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...

Recent SBA 504 Program Updates Give Lenders More Opportunity

The Small Business Administration has recently made some changes to their SBA 504 program that allows financial institutions, such as Extensia Financial and credit unions, to expand their lending solutions to more small businesses.   Recently, the federal government...

In the Know: SBA 504 Loan

Small business owners who are looking to make a large equipment or real estate purchase can find affordable financing options with SBA 504 loans.The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a number of different loan programs. SBA 504 loans are unique given their...

Pet Fire Safety: Tips for CRE Owners

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...

Green Investments: Combining Planet Protection & Profits

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...

Types of Renewable Energy Grants

Every year, organizations are showing greater interest in the research and development of renewable energy sources. Between rural small businesses launching proprietary clean energy technologies and established enterprises looking to make a greater impact with their...

Commercial Construction Loans: a Helpful Overview

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...

Comparing 7a vs 504 Loans for Small Businesses

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...

The Importance of a Commercial Real Estate Lawyer

For any commercial real estate investor, there are few things more exciting than seeing the value of a portfolio grow and the number of properties expand. So, it can be of the utmost importance for investors to hire a commercial real estate lawyer who can help protect...

The Top Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Management Software

This Portfolio Management Software can Boost Profits & Efficiency Commercial real estate portfolio management software can be a lifesaver for commercial real estate investors who have more than two properties.  But it’s important to find the most compatible option...

The Tax Benefits of Owning Commercial Real Estate

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...

Why Lease Management Software is an Essential Business Tool

Save Time, Maintain Compliance and Reduce Errors with the Right Lease Management Software As a commercial real estate investor, your responsibilities include managing lease agreements for tenants. No matter the size of your commercial real estate investment...

Making ESG Investing More Inclusive

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...

Financial Stress Management for Investors

Plan Ahead to Avoid Financial Issues & Money Anxiety Financial issues are one of the most common causes of stress. According to the American Psychological Association’s Stress in America survey, stress about money is the highest recorded since 2015, with more than...

Top 5 Credit Union Books

These Popular Credit Union Books Cater to Credit Union Management and Board Members  As credit unions across the nation continue to compete with big banks and other financial institutions, there remains the need to quickly adapt services and solutions to the world...

Top 4 Ways to Passively Invest in Commercial Real Estate

How to Grow Your Money with Passive Commercial Real Estate Investments  What if you could invest money in commercial real estate property, watch that investment grow and contribute little time to managing it? It’s possible via passive real estate investing. A passive...

Community Solar: Why It’s Growing in Popularity

US Government Ramps Up Community Solar Program to Meet Ambitious Clean Energy Goals As the US Government and Department of Energy (DOE) target aspiring renewable energy goals in the coming years, community solar programs are accelerating and expanding. Renters, small...

How Will Inflation Affect Commercial Real Estate?

Current Inflation Struggles Signal Importance of Long-Term Investments Such as Commercial Real Estate It’s no secret that in recent months, Americans have noticed an incredible surge in prices of goods and services, from gas to groceries to construction. The impacts...

How to Check Your Business Credit Score

Here’s Everything You Need to Know to Understand Your Business Credit Score & Even Improve It There’s no better time than National Credit Education Month to educate yourself on the importance of your business credit scores. So, we’re here to outline for you how to...

Want to support the people in Ukraine?
Here’s how you can help

The situation in Ukraine has led to a humanitarian crisis that has forced civilians to flee their homes or take refuge in bomb shelters and subway stations throughout the country. As the world watches on TVs and smartphones, it's a natural thought to want to help in...

Real Estate Asset Classes for Commercial Investors

Understanding Asset Classes can Help You Achieve Your Commercial Investing Goals As a commercial real estate investor, your success lies in being an expert in the intricacies of your field as well as the market. So, it’s important to understand all the commercial real...

Solar Loans: Valuable Products for Credit Unions

Solar Financing is an Untapped Opportunity for Credit Unions Across the Nation According to a market research report released by Technavio, the residential solar market in the US is set to grow by $5.9 billion through 2025—a 10% overall increase. This rise is sure to...

In the Know: Credit Union Statistics

Here’s a Look at Today’s Key Stats Surrounding the Credit Union Industry  Credit unions have come a long way since their inception in 1901. Alphonse Desjardins, a Canadian journalist who organized a credit union in his home with an initial deposit of 10 cents, brought...

Small Business Statistics From 2021

Check Out These 14 Small Business Stats to Springboard into 2022 Despite the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the small business sector experienced overall growth in 2021. Key small business statistics prove a large portion of small businesses were able to...

2022 Small Business Trends

Key Business Trends to Keep an Eye on this Year Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of small businesses has continued to grow over the last few years. It’s a testament to people’s desire to see their ambitions fulfilled, to have more financial freedom and to...

Managing Cash Flow for Small Businesses

Small Business Cash Flow is Vital to a Venture’s Long-Term Success or Failure Owning a business can come with many incentives: financial independence, a flexible schedule, community support, job creation and so much more. But, it also comes with risks. A big one is...

“Extensia Financial has provided FAST CU with great LP opportunities which in turn allows us to strategize our balance sheet to best serve our members.”

– Paula Lehn, Chief Executive Officer

FAST Federal Credit Union