Columbia Credit Union Selects New Broker-Dealer

Columbia Credit Union has abandoned its broker-dealer for CUSO Financial Services.

The large Northwest Pacific credit union selected CUSO from among 10 service providers for its technology capabilities and experience in helping credit unions grow their investment programs, CUSO said in an announcement last week.

"We knew about CFS's great industry reputation, but I also had previous relationships with several other broker-dealers," Bob Adams, Columbia CU's vice president of wealth management and the institution's program manager. "We conducted a comprehensive due diligence review of all the broker dealers under consideration, creating a matrix of current capabilities and future roadmaps."

Columbia CU's investment services program has approximately $170 million in assets under management and employs four registered investment advisors and two investment assistants, according to CUSO. It will continue to be a dual employee program with the financial advisors employed by Columbia CU but licensed and supervised by CUSO.

The program offers members advisory services, life and long-term care insurance, stocks, bonds, mutual funds as well as college, retirement and estate and inheritance planning.

The credit union has had an investment services program for about 20 years. It is looking to grow the program in alignment with member demand, CUSO said.

Columbia CU previously used Cetera Advisor Networks as its third-party broker-dealer, a relationship that dates back to 2012.

Columbia CU serves 82,000 members and has $1.1 billion in assets.

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