Management is thinking of cutting our department budget. What do you think is the biggest benefit of joining or, in our case remaining a member of an industry credit group?

Answer: I think the insight you gain about the risks associated with doing business with common customers more than offsets the costs associated with being in a local industry credit group. If you are referring to a national credit group in which you are required to travel around the country for industry group meetings, the benefits almost certainly outweigh the costs unless there is very little overlap between your active accounts and the customers being discussed at the group meetings.