Members United believes, besides paying competitive rates, it is important to provide credit unions with a total value "package." In other words, we offer member credit unions a set of tools and resources they can use to remain competitive and flourish well into the future.

For example, we are pleased to leverage our staff expertise and connect members with affordable seminars, webinars, and educational in-person conferences. Of note, our wholly-owned CUSO, Balance Sheet Solutions, LLC, provides education throughout the year including several ALM-related webinars, at very affordable prices. Please review their education schedule at www.balancesheetsolutions.org. In addition, Members United also offers several educational opportunities throughout the year (please visit the "Education/Training" section under "Events" at www.membersunited.org).

Educational opportunities are one important aspect, but there is much more to think about that goes beyond rates. To this end, we are pleased to provide you with this informational piece to help your credit union's key staff members make knowledgeable financial decisions that may be of overall benefit to your credit union.

• Are there compensating balance requirements and/or capital requirements in order to qualify for an investment you are contemplating? Are there transaction limitations, timing requirements, or other operational considerations that might impact the rate your investment will receive? It is important to understand all aspects of a particular investment's rate structure, as well as its respective rate drivers.

• Do you know and understand the timing of rate updates from institution to institution? When looking at rates, be aware that they are dynamic and may be a 'snapshot' of what was available at a particular point in time, so they may no longer be accurate or available.

• Is it important to your credit union that an institution also offers competitive lending rates? Review both sides of your credit union's balance sheet, and think about the lending side and how important that is to your overall relationship with that institution.

• Does the institution pay competitive rates on most of their products, during all economic cycles and conditions?

• How important is service satisfaction to your credit union? Is an institution's staff expertise-combined with their ability to provide premium member service-important?

• Does the institution know, and more importantly understand, your credit union's financial goals/objectives and your long-term strategies and plans?

• Is it important to your credit union that an institution consistently pays competitive rates over the long term? Can that institution sustain offering a posted rate and not turn away deposits at some point due to capital level requirements?

• Does the institution offer the product and service depth your credit union needs to remain competitive in today's ever-changing financial marketplace?

• Does "rate shopping" consume quite a bit of valuable human resource time, and is the long-term pay back worth it to your credit union?

Our highly trained staff is always available to discuss these and other issues with you. Please contact your Members United Senior Business Consultant, or your Balance Sheet Solutions, LLC Account Executive, for more information, or just to talk over these questions-you'll be glad you did.