News for our profession
November 2025
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The President's Corner
December 2025
Laura McMillan, President
It’s the gift-giving time of year! I love to give gifts. It truly is more fun to give than receive if gift-giving is one of your love-languages as it is mine. Of course, most of us have far more stuff than we need, and are on the verge of being taken over by clutter. So, these days I try to give more experiences and consumables. No one needs another candle (sorry candle-lovers).
| | | | | The NACMBCS team decided that this holiday season we wanted to help out families who might not be quite as fortunate as we are. We participated in Family Works’ Winter Wishes program and were very happy to contribute games, movie tickets and groceries in order to help some local kids have a happy holiday. It felt great to do this! And we have a different sort of gift for our NACM Community. | | |
First a little background…I have been occasionally using this column to share with you about the strategic plan that the NACM BCS board approved in May. If you want to read the prior columns on this topic, check out the August and October editions. This month, I am excited to share a bit about work we’ve been doing on the second strategy, which is related to Member Engagement.
Member Engagement covers a lot of exciting initiatives, and the first one is related to how we communicate with you on-line. Here’s the gift: We have a new home page! Check it out at nacmbcs.org and tell me what you think! (lauram@nacmbcs.org) As you scroll down, you’ll see that we’ve brought more relevant topics to the homepage so you don’t have to go searching for them. The News Hub tab at the top makes it easy to get past newsletters, and we are doing a better job of highlighting our vendor partners. (More to come on that when we get to the fifth strategy!) We are also excited that when we put out a call for member testimonies to share, we got some great responses!
Our website is hard working. Not only is it a place that members go to register for webinars, check on collections or maybe read past copies of the eNews, but it is also our front door for anyone wanting to learn about NACM BCS. Over the coming months you’ll see more of the members-only content move to the member portal, and the information about NACM will remain at the front door, where others can come discover us. In last month’s eNews there was also information about the project to assign new access codes to everyone. That’s important for accessing the members-only content in the new year. We’ll share more about this in the coming months.
Work will continue to update the rest of the site to align with the new home page, but it’s a good start towards our goal of sharing more, relevant content with you, so that we are your go-to place for credit education and resources.
All of us at NACM BCS, wish you Happy Holidays and a bright 2026! We look forward to supporting you in even more ways in the new year.
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CREDIT CONGRESS 2026 Registration Early Bird Registration Ends December 5th
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Our biggest professional event of the year is happening June 7-10, 2026 at the America’s Center Convention Complex in the heart of downtown St. Louis!
Take advantage of Early Bird pricing (through December 5) and other special opportunities. This is the place to improve your professional skills and build your network. If your company is currently budgeting for 2026, put Credit Congress in the mix.
Click the button to sign up you and your team!
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Unwrap the final credit trends of the year with NACM’s December CMI! ✨🎁
📈 As 2025 comes to a close, this month’s data highlights how credit departments are managing risk, extending credit, and preparing for what’s ahead.
🎄 End the year informed and ready for a strong start to 2026.
Participate today; December 2-9
NACM's CMI Survey - NACM's CMI Survey
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GET HELP WITH YEAR END COLLECTIONS
The end of the year is coming and, with it, a list of overdue accounts that need your attention. End 2025 on a high note by calling NACM Collections for help in reducing your A/R. Competitive rates, successful collections. All designed to get your company paid before 2026 rolls into town. Click below for help:
Contact NACM Collections
Or call 206-728-6333
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December Webinars
Future-Proof Your Finances for Retirement Success
December 4 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Planning for the future doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Join trusted financial advisors Paul Viren and Cassie Frederiksen of Viren & Associates for an insightful webinar designed to help you take control of your financial future. Whether you’re just beginning to think about retirement or looking to refine your current strategy, this session will offer practical guidance to help you move forward with confidence.
From understanding your retirement savings options—including 401(k) plans—to making informed financial decisions, Paul and Cassie will share their expertise and answer your questions live. With decades of experience helping individuals and businesses prepare for the future, they’ll provide the clarity you need to feel empowered in your planning journey.
About the presenters: Paul and Cassie have served NACM Business Credit Services since 2014. They have done a stellar job of managing our investments, 401K retirement program and employee benefits. Over the last decade, they have learned a great deal about our members and are looking forward to helping you through this free webinar.
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Experian’s New Fraud Investigation Report (Live Demo)
December 10 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Join us for a live demo of Experian’s latest innovation in fraud and credit risk assessment: the Fraud Investigation Report, available exclusively through BizIQ 2.0.
This integrated report brings together fraud signals and credit insights in one streamlined experience—helping you detect fraud faster, reduce manual review time, and make more confident decisions.
What You’ll See:
- A firsthand look at the Fraud Investigation Report in action within BizIQ 2.0
- How unified fraud and credit data can simplify your workflow
- Live Q&A with Experian product experts
Presenter: Li Mao, Senior Product Manager, Fraud / Experian Business Information Services
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Trade Credit & Liquidity Management
The new Trade Credit & Liquidity Management (TCLM) provides a wide range of resources, best practices, and community features, as well as economic and technology trends for the benefit of credit, treasury, and finance professionals. The articles, webinars, and podcasts are designed to help our NACM BCS members and customers meet their company’s trade credit and liquidity challenges and uncover opportunities as forward-thinking, value-added advisors.
This new benefit for NACM BCS members gives you one more opportunity to grow your skills. A special subscription price is available to you, too! Take it for a spin by clicking on this article.
Trade Credit Fallacies: How to Avoid Costly Mistakes and Build a Resilient Credit Policy
| | The Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management (GSCFM) | | |
The National Association of Credit Management (NACM) has been the leader in executive education for the credit and financial management community for more than 80 years. Today, NACM continues its dedication to the global promotion and enhancement of the business credit professional through its many educational programs, led by the GSCFM. Enrolling in NACM’s prestigious GSCFM program is one of the best investments you can make in your professional future. Credit veterans who have attended GSCFM speak highly of the educational and networking experience. Consider enrolling today.
For more information: Graduate School
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Young Credit Professional Focus Group
In February 2026, we will be hosting a Seattle-area, in-person focus group of young professionals so that they can inform the future of NACM BCS. If you work in a credit role, and are between the ages of 23-43, please register to attend this event by going to this link on the NACM Events page. If you are a manager outside of this age-band, but have someone on your team who meets the criteria, please encourage them to attend! Refreshments will be provided, it’s a great chance to network with other young professionals, and a great chance to influence the future of your professional association!
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Western governors meet with Trump officials on water, energy, Medicaid cuts
The governors of multiple western states touted their willingness to work across the aisle as they met with members of the Trump administration in a wealthy Phoenix suburb Thursday to discuss issues ranging from powering data centers to Congress’s Farm Bill.
“We work together in service of the region and the nation as a whole,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters Thursday morning at a press conference prior to the start of the Western Governors Association’s winter meeting.
For More: Washington State Standard
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WA Gov. Bob Ferguson says his budget will rely on cuts, not taxes
Gov. Bob Ferguson warned Tuesday that the budget proposal he’ll release this month will rely solely on spending cuts and not higher taxes to overcome what he says is a multibillion-dollar shortfall.
“That’s the plan,” Ferguson told reporters at the state Capitol. “I don’t plan on balancing the budget with revenue.”
For more: Seattle Times
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Hawaiian trust sells land under famed Waikiki hotel for $510 million
It was one of the last remaining pieces of beachfront land in Waikiki that was still owned by a Hawaiian trust. Now, though, the land under the iconic Royal Hawaiian Hotel, also known as the "Pink Palace of the Pacific," has been sold.
Landowner Kamehameha Schools announced earlier this month that it had sold the 10.3-acre parcel for $510 million to Daisho Co. Ltd., a Japan-based real estate company.
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel will continue to be operated by NACM member Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts, which has a long history in Waikiki; the company also owns the Moana Surfrider and the Sheraton Waikiki.
For More: MSN
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$17.5M from State North Slope Lease Sale
Companies new to the Alaska oil patch participated in the state’s annual North Slope lease sale, resulting in the most tracts leased since 2014. The Alaska Division of Oil & Gas calls the outcome the most successful in more than a decade in terms of acreage leased and cash bonus earned, as well.
For more: Alaska Business News
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Get Connected with the Oahu Business Connector
Check out the latest newsletter from the Oʻahu Business Connector (OBC), an Office of Economic Revitalization program designed to help Oʻahu small businesses.
Connect Here
| | | CMI Shows Growth; Business Reality Tells Different Story | |
Key Takeaway
The economy shows mixed signals - numerical data suggests continued growth, but credit managers are reporting significant stress and increasingly negative business conditions.
Major Concerns
Payment Problems Intensifying: Accounts placed for collection have been in contraction for 38 of the past 39 months, meaning more businesses are struggling to pay their bills.
Economic Uncertainty
Fed Chair Powell and economists are puzzled by the combination of high inflation (typically signals strength) and rising unemployment (signals weakness), raising concerns about potential stagflation.
Government Shutdown Impact
The October-November federal shutdown—the longest in history—likely reduced Q4 GDP growth by 0.6-0.8%.
Sector Differences
Manufacturing improved significantly (up 1.6 points to 56.5), while Services weakened slightly (down 0.6 points to 53.5). Both remain in expansion territory, but the services sector shows particular stress with 36 of the past 42 months showing contraction in unfavorable factors.
Bottom Line
While the index suggests economic expansion continues, credit managers are seeing customers increasingly unable to pay, avoiding collection efforts, and experiencing financial distress—particularly in restaurants and hospitality.
For a complete breakdown of manufacturing and service sector data and graphics, view the report at www.nacm.org/cmi
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Webinars
Experian’s New Fraud Investigation Report (Live Demo)
Wed., December 10, 1:00-2:00 PT
Plan Ahead
NACM National Credit Congress
June 7-10, 2026
America's Center
St. Louis, MO
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