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User Tips - Getting Started

Febuary 2012

How to Download 4Q11 Data in Peer-to-Peer

Anxiously awaited year-end data numbers are now available in your Peer-to-Peer software.

Follow these instructions to download the data:

When you open Peer-to-Peer a pop-up window will appear on the lower right-hand corner of the program. Click Install Now to install the updates.

Don't have auto-updates yet? Set them up today!

Having auto-updates is the easiest way to make sure your Peer-to-Peer Software is up-to-date as soon as the newest data is released. View this PDF of FAQ regarding Auto-Updates to learn more about why you should take advantage of this feature and how to get it setup in your Peer software.

How to Check for Software Updates Manually

If you do not use Auto-Updates or would like to download an upgrade manually at any time while using Auto-
Updates, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Tools menu in the top menu bar.
  2. Select Check for Software Updates.
  3. Peer to Peer will then check for any available upgrades. If there are upgrades available, the system will
    notify you with a pop-up window in the lower-right-hand corner of Peer to Peer. Click Install Now
    to install the updates. Click Install Later if you do not want to install the new upgrades. If there
    are no updates available, you will see a pop-up window that says, “No update(s) found.”
Have more questions on our Live Data process? Refer to our Live Data FAQ here and learn more.

Archived "User Tips" Articles

January 2012- Download FirstLook Data & Compare With FirstLook Participants
FirstLook data is available so don't miss out on this opportunity for preliminary 4Q 2011 analysis! Simply having the latest version of Peer-to-Peer does not mean that FirstLook data is automatically available, you must proactively download the FirstLook data set.

Follow these instructions to download the data:

  1. Click on the File menu in the top menu bar. Scroll to Import and click FirstLook Data. Note: You will only be able to select FirstLook Data if FirstLook is available. If you cannot click FirstLook Data, then the figures are either not available yet or the final release of quarterly data has already come out.
  2. A FirstLook window will appear. Click Download FirstLook.
  3. Peer-to-Peer will automatically search for the latest FirstLook data.
  4. A pop-up window will appear when the download is complete. Click OK. Note: If your primary credit union does not participate in FirstLook, you will need to reselect your primary.

Remember, Peer-to-Peer automatically creates a peer group consisting of all credit unions participating in FirstLook, so access this group the same way you would any other standard or custom peer group and begin your analysis!


December 2011 - Dig Deeper With New Data
All econometric data has been updated with the latest available from the government and a new Delinquency & Charge-Off category has been added. Pull econometric data to gain a clearer big picture view of the US economy based on economic, credit, census, GDP, Money Supply and Interest Rates, and Stock Market data. Use this updated information on the general state of the economy to put your own financial position in better context, enhancing your overall Peer analysis.

November 2011 - Take Advantage of Universal Search
The universal search box is one of the most simple but helpful capabilities in Peer-to-Peer. After opening peer, begin typing in the lower left hand corner box next to "Search" - Enter key words to identify what you are looking for and you will be able to find and select all relevant built-in Peer displays, ratios, formulas, account codes, and more! Take advantage of this capability to find what you are looking for fast, further reducing the time you spend getting set up and increasing the time you spend analyzing your data!

October 2011 - Branch Analyzer Updates

Data in Branch Analyzer is updated and ready for your analysis. Benchmark your individual branch locations with institutions within your geographical area to identify market leaders and examine their successful strategies.

Go check out the new mapping feature to visually see and understand how your branch fits into the local market. Hover over branches to see their deposit market share.

Log into Peer-to-Peer and click on Branch Analyzer or Mortgage Analyzer in the top navigation to begin your analysis.


September 2011 - Use Branch Analyzer To Examine Your Market

Begin an in-depth analysis of your defined market area including a recap of your defined market, a defined market deposit report, a market share perspective report, and more.

Log in to Peer-to-Peer then select Branch Analyzer from the tool bar. Select a state and a credit union as a primary point of comparison, then submit and review your reports.


August 2011 - Start Using Bank Data In Your Peer Group

Are you using bank data in your peer group? To compare your financials add the bank data with your asset base to your peer group.

Instructions on how to add bank data:

  1. Open Peer-to-Peer.
  2. Select the "Comparison" drop-down and choose "Change Comparison".
  3. Select the bank peer group with your asset base and click the down arrow to add it to the comparison list.
  4. Click "Go to Analysis" and you can view your financials in relation to your newly created peer group.

July 2011 - Share A Graph

Share a Graph

We've made it super easy for you to share important graphs and charts with your managers, colleagues and board. Gain access to this time saving feature by downloading the latest updates. Download your updates and start sharing!


May 2011 - Download Trendwatch Files

To quickly recreate the graphs and charts used during Trendwatch files, download the CRC file now.

Instructions on how to download:

  1. Right click the .CRC file and paste the file into the folder of your choice. Remember where you saved the file, as you will need to access the file again in later steps.
  2. Open Peer to Peer. Click on File in the top menu bar. Scroll to Import and then select Custom Displays.
  3. In the Import window, select Browse...
  4. In the Open window, access your saved .CRC file. Select it, and click Open.
  5. Click Import once the appropriate .CRC file is open in the Import window.
  6. When the file has finished loading correctly, you will see a pop-up saying, "Custom display(s) imported successfully." Click OK.
  7. Close the Import window or repeat these steps to import another file.

Peer to Peer saves your custom displays under My Displays. My Displays is located in the drop-down menu on the upper-left-hand side of your screen under Select Your Report or Graph. The custom displays are located in the My Displays folder. Double-click on the My Displays folder to expand it. You should see all of your imported custom displays saved in this folder.


April 2011 - FirstLook Data Now Available

Get ahead of the curve and access FirstLook data now a full 2-3 weeks before the official NCUA release. Each quarter, FirstLook includes about 99% of industry assets, so Peer users can start their analyses early.

Look for the release of 1Q11 data in late May.

Important: Simply being on the latest version of Peer to Peer does not mean that you have FirstLook data available. Peer to Peer treats it differently than regular quarterly data, so you must proactively download the FirstLook data set in order to use it.

  1. Follow these steps to download FirstLook data: Click on the File menu in the top menu bar. Scroll to Import and click FirstLook Data.
  2. A FirstLook window will appear. Click Download FirstLook
  3. Peer to Peer will automatically search for the latest FirstLook data.
  4. A pop-up window will appear when the download is complete. Click OK.

Note: If your primary credit union does not participate in FirstLook, you will need to reselect your primary.

Peer to Peer automatically creates a peer group consisting of all credit unions participating in FirstLook. Access and use this peer group the same way you would any other standard or custom peer group.

Note: Peer to Peer will automatically remove FirstLook from the Cycle menu after you update to final quarterly data. There is no other way to remove it prior to the final release (but you can always choose to analyze another quarter's data with the Cycle drop-down menu).


November 2010 - How to Understand and Access FirstLook Data

Each quarter Peer to Peer subscribers get access to FirstLook, which allows them access to quarterly data 2-3 weeks before the official NCUA release. Each quarter, FirstLook includes about 99% of industry assets, so Peer users can start their analyses early.

3Q 2010 final data isn't out yet (we expect it around Thanksgiving), but you can get ahead of the curve by starting your analysis today with FirstLook!

Important: Simply being on the latest version of Peer to Peer does not mean that you have FirstLook data available. Peer to Peer treats it differently than regular quarterly data, so you must proactively download the FirstLook data set in order to use it.

Follow these steps to download FirstLook data:

  1. Click on the File menu in the top menu bar. Scroll to Import and click FirstLook Data.
  2. A FirstLook window will appear. Click Download FirstLook.
  3. Peer to Peer will automatically search for the latest FirstLook data.
  4. A pop-up window will appear when the download is complete. Click OK.
    Note: If your primary credit union does not participate in FirstLook, you will need to reselect your primary.

Peer to Peer automatically creates a peer group consisting of all credit unions participating in FirstLook. Access
and use this peer group the same way you would any other standard or custom peer group.

Note: Peer to Peer will automatically remove FirstLook from the Cycle menu after you update to final quarterly data. There is no other way to remove it prior to the final release (but you can always choose to analyze another quarter's data with the Cycle drop-down menu).

Early access to the data helps you:

  • Promptly identify strategic industry trends, so you can react to them before your peers
  • Pinpoint leaders in the industry that have been successful during these times
  • Communicate with your Board and management team to chart a new path for growth and success

Download FirstLook data today and start your 3Q analysis!


October 2010 - How to Import the Custom Mortgage Modifications Packet

Importing custom displays allows you to load 1) your own custom reports or 2) reports created by Callahan & Associates, like the mortgage modification packet. There is currently only one supported file type for custom displays: .CRC files. Only .CRC files will load into Peer to Peer correctly.

To import custom displays, follow these steps:

1.) Open the .zip file that you downloaded from the Custom Reports page of p2psoftware.com.

2.) Copy the .CRC file and paste the file into your computer. You can save the file anywhere you like, but be
sure to remember where you saved it, as you will need to access the file again in later steps.

3.) Open Peer to Peer. Click on File in the top menu bar. Scroll to Import and then select Custom
Displays
.

4.) In the Import window, select Browse...

5.) In the Open window, access your saved .CRC file. Select it, and click Open.

6.) Click Import once the appropriate .CRC file is open in the Import window.

7.) When the file has finished loading correctly, you will see a pop-up saying, "Custom display(s) imported
successfully." Click OK.

8.) Close the Import window or repeat these steps to import another file.

Peer to Peer saves your custom displays under My Displays. My Displays is located in the drop-down
menu on the upper-left-hand side of your screen under Select Your Report or Graph. The custom
displays are located in the My Displays folder. Double-click on the My Displays folder to expand it. You
should see all of your imported custom displays saved in this folder.


September 2010 - How to Determine if Your Data is Up-to-Date

To check to see if your data is fully up-to-date, you will need to check the version number of your software.

To check your software's version number follow these steps:

1.) Open Peer to Peer. Click on the Help menu in the top menu bar. Select About Peer to Peer.

2.) The version number displays in the third row of the About Peer to Peer window.

3.) To determine if your software is completely up-to-date, visit the Upgrade Schedule page and compare your version number with the current version number listed. The current version of Peer to peer is 2.0.10. June 2010 data was released with that update.

You can also check what data cycle you are analyzing. Use the Cycle drop-down menu (to the right of the Primary and Comparisons drop-down menus above the Display window) to see which cycle you are currently using. The drop-down menu will first list the year and then the quarter of whichever cycle you are analyzing. The current cycle is 2010/2Q.


August 2010 - How to Look at Industry Totals (Not Averages)

If you are interested in analyzing industry or state totals (not averages) there is a way to do this in Peer to Peer. Peer groups (naturally) take the average of the credit unions within the group as data points. However, you can merge credit unions together to view their totals.

For example, if you would like to analyze the state totals for Ohio, follow the PDF "Employ Merger Analysis" instructions in the user manual. During step two, when you are selecting the credit unions you would like to merge, select the state of Ohio from the drop-down menu. Then select all of the credit unions in Ohio (you can do this easily by clicking the first credit union in the list, and then Shift+clicking the last one in the list). Add them to your list of selected credit unions by clicking the > (right arrow) button. Continue following the rest of the manual's instructions to finalize the merge.

Once you are finished creating your "merged" credit union for the state of Ohio, set it as your primary. You can then run reports as normal, and the results will be for the totals - not averages - for the state of Ohio. For example, you can now run a report showing the total number of full and part-time credit union employees in the state of Ohio. With this report, you can see whether Ohio's employment trends mirror the rest of the country's. You could also run a report showing Ohio's employee salary and benefit contribution to the U.S. economy.

Knowing how to run reports for industry and state totals opens up a whole new level of functionality in Peer to Peer. You can now show your managers, staff, auditors, and Board how you compare on a holistic level.


July 2010 - Create a Custom Peer Group for Your Expense Analysis

Peer to Peer has limitless potential combinations of custom peer groups. While there is no one "right" peer group for any credit union, it is essential that you benchmark against the best set of peer groups for your credit union. The peer groups you use should reflect the overall goals of both your credit union and your analysis.

The goal of these peer group options is to let you analyze your performance in a variety of contexts or "lenses" so that you can get a complete understanding of your credit union's performance. The more relevant lenses you use, the better your understanding will be of your credit union's relative performance. By using less common (but still relevant) peer group combinations, you could even discover strategic opportunities not readily apparent with your more "standard" peer groups.

There are many configuration options for peer groups in Peer to Peer. You can customize your peer groups based on financials, geography, charter/FOM, ranking, and service provider. You can also automatically exclude certain credit unions.

To get started, review the PDF "Create Custom Peer Groups" section of the user manual. If you are familiar with the process of creating peer groups, we also encourage you to take this opportunity to analyze your performance against a peer group that focuses on different aspects of your credit union - it might just lead to interesting insights about your performance that you wouldn't have noticed otherwise.

Additionally, in light of the NCUSIF expense, consider peer groups with similar branch networks, staffing levels, and locations when creating a peer group for you expense analysis.


June 2010 - Estimate Your Assessment with a Custom Display
Create Your Own Custom Display

You can use Peer to Peer to determine an estimate of what your Corporate Stabilization Fund assessment will be. Create a Standing report that uses the following formula: (a069a)*.00134. Account code a069a is Total Insured Shares and Deposits.

If you have questions about how to create a custom display, review the PDF "Create Custom Displays" section of the manual.

Download Our Custom Display

You can also import the custom display that we have already created to help you determine the assessment and how changes in your share portfolio would affect future assessments.

Download the .zip file named "Summer 2010 Assessment." Then import the file in Peer to Peer. Remember: Peer will save the newly imported file under the My Displays tab of Select Your Report or Graph.

If you need to review how to import custom displays, review the "Import Custom Display" section of the User Manual.

Important

You must be at least on version 2.0.91, DB: 9.6 in order to run these custom displays.


May 2010 - New Delinquency and Charge-Off Account Codes

TDRs. MBL. IOs & Pos, Average Delinquent Balance. Construction & Development, Indirect, and Modified.

Concerns surrounding asset quality, the allowance for loan losses, and the impact on earnings and capital have increased significantly in the past two years. But did you know that there are now over 230 account codes available to scrutinize delinquency and charge-offs on the 5300 Call Report?

Turn to pages 7 - 9 of your 1Q 2010 call report (or go to Help and select 5300 Call Report in Peer to Peer) to review the newest account codes. Use them to enhance your analysis in Peer to Peer.

Not sure you want to dive into 230 account codes? Start the process by downloading this custom .CRC file from Callahan & Associates that covers key asset quality ratios.

ZIP Asset Quality

TIP: To view the data in a vertical format (rather than horizontal), right-click on the data and select Transpose


March 2010 - Learn How to Access Custom Displays Built By Callahan Analytics.

Did you know Peer to Peer's website is actually a great resource for custom displays that will enhance the capabilities of your subscription at no additional cost? For example, you can download the non-interest income custom display mentioned above or custom displays focusing on mortgage and deposit analyses, to name a few.

Callahan & Associates hosts Power of Data webinars each quarter, and when we use custom displays during the webinars to supplement our analysis, we put them on the website for you to access.

View the Custom Reports page to access custom displays that you can import into Peer to Peer and to see which reports are included in each custom display. Importing them is easy, but if you have any trouble, just reference the PDF "Import Custom Displays" section of the manual.


April 2010 - Build a Peer Group of FirstLook Participants

FirstLook is coming. At Callahan & Associates, we are currently compiling the FirstLook data so that we can make it available for your analysis. Did you know that after you import the FirstLook data set, you could create a peer group of just the FirstLook participants?

Simply, follow the instructions in this PDF FirstLook PDF to get started.