HousingWire Daily The challenges facing credit unions in this market
Dec 12, 2025
Peter Benjamin, President of ACUMA, discusses the pressing challenges facing credit unions, including liquidity issues and declining mortgage volumes. He highlights the need for credit unions to balance their mission-driven approach with financial realities. Benjamin also emphasizes the importance of technology in meeting member expectations and the potential impact of the Road to Housing Act on affordable lending. With a cautious yet optimistic outlook, he believes education can help credit unions regain market share by 2026.
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Credit Unions At A Strategic Crossroads
- Many credit unions face a liquidity and strategic crossroads over whether mortgage lending remains core to their mission.
- Peter Benjamin warns this tension will persist for several years as portfolioed low-rate loans constrain balance sheets.
Legacy Low-Rate Portfolios Are Restricting Growth
- Many credit unions hold 3%-era portfolio loans that now weigh down balance sheets and limit new originations.
- Benjamin says they must invest or find balance-sheet strategies to free capacity for current mortgages.
Free Up Balance Sheet To Keep Originating
- Invest in capacity and explore ways to free or leverage your balance sheet to continue originating mortgages.
- Don't let fear of the unknown prevent you from building or buying mortgage expertise and capabilities.