Press
CUES, Cornerstone partner to offer ERM services
MADISON, WI (December 3, 2013) — The Credit Union Executives Society has partnered with Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. to bring Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) planning services to the credit union industry.
Cornerstone’s approach includes carefully aligning a credit union’s ERM efforts with its strategic priorities, incorporating risk management across the organization’s execution, monitoring and accountability efforts.
“It’s time for credit unions to make risk management and risk appetite integral parts of their strategic planning processes,” said Vincent Hui, senior director, Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. “Our holistic approach provides management with a comprehensive analysis of the credit union’s current risk environment as well as actionable suggestions to improve the existing risk management program.”
Cornerstone’s approach, which goes beyond basic compliance and was developed independently of compliance tools vendors, is in alignment with the NCUA’s seven risk categories.
According to Hui, credit unions sometimes have a ‘risk elimination’ mindset versus a ‘risk management’ mindset. “In the financial services industry, you need to take a certain level of risk to perform well and effectively serve members. If your focus is on eliminating risk altogether, you end up jeopardizing performance along with it,” he said.
“By proactively defining, measuring and managing risk, credit unions can better deploy capital while building strong governance that benefits members and meets regulatory standards,” said Hui. “We can help credit unions understand the difference and identify ways to improve their performance in the process.”
“CUES has a long, successful history working with Cornerstone Advisors offering delivery channel planning, payment revenue management, and strategic, operational and technology planning initiatives to credit unions,” said Chuck Fagan, CUES’ president/CEO. “We have always admired Cornerstone’s deep, pragmatic understanding of the credit union market and risk space, and I’m excited to partner with them to provide another important service to the industry. I hope credit unions take advantage of this opportunity to uncover and prepare for the risk trends impacting their institution’s future operations, business growth, earnings and value.”
To find out more about CUES and Cornerstone’s partnership visit cues.org/cornerstone ( http://www.cues.org/cornerstone ).
The Credit Union Executives Society is a Madison, Wisconsin-based, independent, not-for-profit, international membership association for credit union executives. Its mission is to educate and develop credit union CEOs, directors and future leaders.