News and Updates for the credit professional

October 2026

Then I try to explain that most businesses extend credit to each other and that someone has to manage that. Of course, that doesn’t begin to explain the relationship with Sales, how terms are set, or how the cash actually comes in the door—or doesn’t.

To impress upon the listener the importance of the role, I usually go on to say that commercial credit managers are responsible for one of the largest assets of most companies: the money that is owed to them. And yet, they play a behind-the-scenes role that many people who have spent a lifetime in business don’t even know exists.

As you all know, credit isn’t just about collecting money—it’s about helping the company make good business decisions. This can involve evaluating new customers and setting credit limits, monitoring existing customers, resolving disputes, dealing with fraud, and making difficult judgment calls. And sometimes, that all happens before lunch!

The difficult judgment calls don’t show up on a spreadsheet. They come from experience: understanding credit reports, listening to your intuition when something is “off,” knowing when a past-due balance becomes a serious concern, and knowing when to say “yes,” “not yet,” or “no.” Experience, relationships, and professional judgment matter just as much as the numbers.

And, of course, like many professions, credit is changing all the time. There is far more technology and automation than there was 20 years ago. We are all watching to see how AI will impact our work. We are seeing increasing instances of fraud and cybercrime. And credit is increasingly involved in strategic business decisions.

Of course, I’m preaching to the choir. You live this every day. But I hope you know that you are doing so much more than managing receivables. You are helping your company decide where to take risk, where to grow, and where to protect itself.

And perhaps that is why having a professional community matters so much. When the work you do is largely behind the scenes—and when people outside of the profession may not even understand what you do—it is valuable to have a place where you don’t have to explain.

That is one of the things NACM Business Credit Services exists to provide. We bring you together with others who understand your role and are experiencing many of the same challenges. We provide access to the information, tools, education, and resources that help you do your job. And, perhaps most importantly, we provide a community of people who understand that what happens in the credit department has a very real impact on the success of the business.

So, the next time someone asks you what you do, you might have to explain it. But don’t downplay it. Help them understand how important it is.

P.S. If you’re in the Puget Sound area and haven’t yet registered for the Fall Credit Forum on November 5, please do it today! I’m confident that the day-long discussion about fraud will be very valuable. Ticket prices will allow you to bring your entire team! I hope to see you there. 

And… If you or someone on your team would like to know more about the benefits you receive from your NACM membership, sign-up for the next orientation on December 3.

Wednesday, 10/15/2026

12:00PM-1:00PM PT

Members – FREE / Non-Members – $25

Join us for an exclusive webinar presented by our in-house Collections team management where they’ll share proven strategies and best practices for managing B2B collections effectively. In today’s business environment, maintaining healthy cash flow and strong client relationships is critical.

Our experts will walk you through practical approaches to streamline collections, reduce outstanding balances, and handle challenging accounts with confidence—all while preserving positive business partnerships.

Wednesday 10/28/2026

12:00PM-1:00PM PT

Free -- Hosted by CFDD WAHIAK

This webinar focuses on how professionals can demonstrate leadership regardless of their job title.

The presenters will share personal experiences and practical insights from the credit and collections field to show how leadership can be practiced “up, across, and down” within organizations. This program highlights the difference between managing tasks and leading people. It emphasizes initiative, collaboration and influence.



Latest Developments on Credit Card Surcharging

Rules & New Savings Opportunities

Thursday, October 15

11:00 a.m. PT ·  Virtual ·  Complimentary

Considering the ever-changing surcharging regulations, UTA has partnered with Borges & Associates to bring you the latest guidelines and new savings opportunities to optimize your payment processes and strengthen cash flow.

Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in an information-packed webinar featuring insights from the industry’s most knowledgeable experts.

Sign up for this free educational webinar today — space is limited.

Presented by

Upcoming Conferences

Our upcoming forums are built entirely on presentations requested or suggested by you, our NACM BCS members and customers. You have asked for the subject matter and we have succeeded in finding great presenters to deliver it - all at affordable prices. Now, all you have to do is register and attend. We look forward to sharing this knowledge with you and invite you to bring colleagues and friends.

Hawaii Fall Credit Forum

Friday, October 16, 2026

Join us for the 2026 Hawaii Fall Credit Forum, a one-day conference designed to help credit and collections professionals prepare for what’s next. The day begins with dedicated meetings for the Hawaii Hospitality and Hawaii Building Industry groups, followed by a full program of expert-led education and networking.

Hear from industry experts on Hawaii’s economic outlook, strategies for maximizing technology investments, and the evolving cybersecurity threats associated with artificial intelligence. Connect with peers and leave with practical insights to help you make informed decisions and strengthen your organization.

Invite professional friends and colleagues, and help grow the profession and NACM. See you on October 16th!

Western Washington Fall Credit Forum

November 5, 2026

8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the Museum of Flight, Seattle

The Western Washington Fall Credit Forum is one of NACM BCS's premier educational and networking events—and registration is now open.

This year's program features an outstanding lineup of speakers covering topics that extend well beyond commercial credit, including fraud prevention, cybercrime, business strategy, leadership, and emerging trends affecting today's business environment. You'll leave with practical ideas and fresh perspectives you can put to work immediately.

If you have colleagues who would benefit from these conversations, invite them to join you. Whether they work in finance, accounting, operations, leadership, sales, risk management, or another business function, they'll find valuable insights throughout the day.

Register today—and encourage business associates and others in your organization who may be interested, to attend with you.

We look forward to seeing your team at one of the year's most valuable professional development events.

Register here



Featuring special guest, Frank Abagnale

Meet Frank Abagnal. Click here.

NACM BCS Member Orientation

Thursday, 12/3/2026 at 11:00AM PT

Whether you’re new to your company or just new to everything your NACM membership offers, this session is for you. While each member company has a primary contact, many team members don’t always get full visibility into the tools, resources, and opportunities available to them. 

Join us on Dec 4 at 11:00AM PT for a casual, one-hour walkthrough of the benefits included in your NACM Business Credit Services membership. We’ll introduce you to the programs, services, and connections that can support your day-to-day work and long-term professional growth.

In this session, you’ll learn about:

• Education and training opportunities
• Industry groups and networking events
• Credit tools, reports, and resources
• Ways to get more involved and maximize your membership

This is an informal, interactive session, so bring your questions, meet our team, and discover how to make the most of your membership!

Be ready for the unexpected

In the last year, many of our members have faced hurricanes, floods. wildfires, earthquakes and even an on-going volcanic eruption. Now, with forecasts suggesting weather challenges across the nation in the coming months, we are again providing emergency planning resources for you.

Prior to and during the COVID pandemic, NACM BCS presented conference speakers and webinars about planning for emergencies. Many people wondered why we were doing this until our presenters talked about assisting businesses that found their servers underwater after a flood, computers lost in a fire, and buildings damaged during earthquakes. They shared real experiences that proved that having a plan for business disruption and, in a parallel way, ensuring the safety of your families resonated with our members and customers.

To help you in your planning, the following links will take you to several local Emergency Preparation resources. Much of the information is similar because the Emergency Management personnel meet periodically to share ways of doing things.

We urge you to click on any or all of the following links as part of your business and personal planning efforts. With winter around corner, check your emergency supplies, make sure batteries are in good shape, and be ready.

Helpful Hint: Think about all those items you collect at conferences. Pens, flashlights, pads of paper. Put them in your emergency kits! Also, get to know your neighbors (business and home). You might all have to work together someday.

Seattle -- King County

City and County of Honolulu

Anchorage Office of Emergency Management

My Shake - Earthquake Early Warning App

Building an Emergency Kit

Stay safe and prepare!

News from Communities Dealing with Disasters

Complimentary Payment Processing Review

Want to learn whether you’re overpaying for payment processing?

Schedule a no-obligation consultation with Matthew Hacker from UTA to review your current payment infrastructure and receive a personalized analysis and cost comparison. Even if you decide not to make any changes, you’ll gain valuable information about your current processing costs and available options.

To schedule your consultation, email Matthew at: hacker@unitedtranzactions.com.

Serving Credit Professionals and their Companies since 1899

800-423-5710

www.nacmbcs.org