Guest Writer

When a credit union board considers closing rural branches, the decision is about more than costs and efficiency. It also affects member access, community presence, and trusted relationships. These are the moments that test co-operative governance. The real challenge is ensuring co-operative values are weighed alongside financial and regulatory considerations when difficult trade-offs arise.

Good governance during an amalgamation is not about controlling the process. It is about paying attention to the right things, at the right time, and having the discipline to stay in your lane when it matters.

There’s a version of cybersecurity that lives entirely in the IT department — firewalls, patch schedules, antivirus software. That version no longer reflects the risk facing credit unions today. For many boards, the conversation still ends there. In 2026, that approach is no longer adequate, and the consequences of underestimating this risk are no longer theoretical.