Bifurcated Performance

At the end of 2013, large federally insured credit unions are doing well financially, while small credit unions under $10 million in assets as a group are struggling.

The 426 credit unions with more than $500 million in assets held $716 billion in combined assets or 67 percent of industry's total assets at the end of 2013.

These large credit unions reported a higher return on average assets than credit unions as a whole. They also reported stronger growth in net worth, deposits (shares), loans, and membership.

On the other hand, the 2,181 credit unions with under $10 million in assets had less than one percent of the industry's assets. They posted a negative return on average assets for 2013. The growth rate of net worth for these credit unions fell during 2013, as did membership, assets, and deposits.