Narrow Results

We evaluate the impact of strategic orientation on the failure probability of financial institutions. Using the US credit union industry as the empirical setting, we find that credit unions which exhibit preferential treatment to borrowers are more likely to fail, whereas those who set operational strategies towards balancing the benefits between savers and borrowers experience a lower failure probability. The impacts appear to be more pronounced in small credit unions and in credit unions which have a lower operating experience. We also find that borrower-oriented credit unions generate lower interest margins while neutral behavior credit unions generate higher margins.

About 48 credit unions received capital injections as part of the financial sector bailout. The predicted probability of receiving bailout funds jumps from 29% to 81% for the typical credit union, if the institution's headquarters was in the district of a member of the U. S. House Financial Services Committee (HFS). The credit unions receiving funds were significantly less likely to lend, contrary to the goals of the program. These results indicate that political influence may be an important determinant of which institutions receive taxpayer funds.