Credit Union Times Magazine April-12, 2006
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ACUMA Comments on NCUA's Proposed Guidance on Nontraditional Mortgages
LAS VEGAS - The American Credit Union Mortgage Association has sent its comment letter to NCUA concerning the agency's proposed guidance on nontraditional mortgage products and offered several suggestions the agency should consider. First concerning the wording "Nontraditional Mortgages," ACUMA wrote, "While the proposed guidelines speak to interest-only mortgages, option-ARM,...
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ACUMA Comments on NCUA's Proposed Guidance on Nontraditional Mortgages
LAS VEGAS - The American Credit Union Mortgage Association has sent its comment letter to NCUA concerning the agency's proposed guidance on nontraditional mortgage products and offered several suggestions the agency should consider. First concerning the wording "Nontraditional Mortgages," ACUMA wrote, "While the proposed guidelines speak to interest-only mortgages, option-ARM,...
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Banking Panel Struggles to Understand Why CU Charter Change Is a Big Deal; Dorety Argues Insider Enrichment
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A panel made up of banking executives, attorneys, regulators and one credit union CEO struggled recently to better understand the issue of credit union-to-bank charter conversions but, at the end of 90 minutes of discussion, likely left the room with no more answers than they had in...
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Pacific NW FCU Exceeds Expectations with Mortgage Program
PORTLAND, Ore. - One year after partnering with Fannie Mae to offer a Community Mortgage Program that provides first time borrowers and underserved communities with flexible and affordable housing opportunities, Pacific NW FCU has exceeded its original commitment by $200,000. During their first year with the program, PNWFCU funded $700,000...
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CommunityAmerica CU Reps Lauded for Investment Service
LENEXA, Kan. - Two of CommunityAmerica Credit Union investment representatives will receive Pacesetter awards from CUSO Financial Services, LP. Jerry Israel and Timothy Blake, registered representatives affiliated with CUSO Financial, a broker-dealer and registered investment advisor are recent recipients of the firm's 2005 Gold and Silver Pacesetter Awards respectively. The...
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Mountain America CU Promotes Youth Saving
WEST JORDAN, Utah -Mountain America Credit Union is hoping iPods will give teens an added incentive to save. Teens that open a new Mountain Adventurer youth account get their names submitted into quarterly drawings for a chance to win an iPod. The account is designed for teenagers who are learning...
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Small Businesses May Get LIFT From Iowa Credit Unions
DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa credit unions may be able to play a part in helping small businesses go to another level. During the week of March 13, the Iowa House passed a resolution that provides enhancements to a current program. The Linked Investment for Tomorrow or LIFT program uses...
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Michigan CUL, State Lawmakers Team Up for Financial Literacy
NORTHVILLE TOWNSHIP, Mich. - The Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) and state lawmakers are joining forces to educate youth and young adults about money management in honor of Youth Financial Literacy Month. The 4th Annual "Financial Literacy Legislative Challenge" has garnered bipartisan support from the Michigan Legislature. State Reps. Brian...
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The Construction Loan Company Joins Prime Alliance Solutions
TUKWILA, Wash. - The Construction Loan Company, an approved Fannie Mae seller, servicer and provider of construction and other lending services to credit unions, has joined Prime Alliance Solutions. As the newest member of the CUSO, The Construction Loan Company will implement the full suite of Prime Alliance Technologies including...
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Congressional Research Service Weighs Pros And Cons of Taxing CUs for Congress
WASHINGTON-The latest update to the Congressional Research Service's look at the credit union tax-exemption states the obvious: it will continue to be a matter of debate. Credit union entities did find a silver lining to the report, Should Credit Unions be Taxed?, that was last updated in August 2005. The...
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Thomas Adds State-Chartered CUs to Data Collection Efforts, NASCUS Intends To Cooperate
ARLINGTON, Va. - The House Ways and Means Committee has broadened its efforts to measure how credit unions are serving their membership and people of modest means to include state chartered credit unions as well as federal credit unions. NASCUS received a letter from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman...
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Wescom Financial Services' 401(k) Check-Up Program off to Strong Start, Launch Prompted by Lack of Plans' Understanding
PASADENA, Calif. - After meeting with members during financial planning sessions, one of Wescom Financial Services' advisors consistently noticed that many of them really didn't understand how their 401(k) plans worked. So the division, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of $3.3 billion Wescom Credit Union, set out to put together...
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Role of CUs in Financial Education Played Up in National Strategy; More Financial Options Lead to Greater Need
WASHINGTON-Treasury, NCUA and other federal agencies participated last week in the unveiling of the national strategy for financial literacy. Taking Ownership of the Future: The National Strategy for Financial Literacy was released during a press event at the Treasury Department, which was attended by Secretary John Snow and Deputy Assistant...
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Johnston Family Steers Artesia CU for Past 51 Years, CU Values a Way of Life for Them
ARTESIA, N.M. -Everyone has vivid memories of their childhood they pull out every so often and reminisce about. But how many of us recollect credit union statements being strewn over the livingroom floor, alphabetizing them and stuffing them in envelopes? In fact, that's one of Ronnie Johnston's sharpest and fondest...
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DFCU Members Group Petitions to Remove Board; 200 CU Members Sign Ad Against Conversion
DEARBORN, Mich. - Like a volcano which only slowly builds toward eruption, the sentiment among members of the $1.8 billion DFCU Financial against the credit union's proposed conversion to a mutual bank appears to be building steadily and may, eventually, explode all over the current board. The credit union, largest...
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CUNA's Marketing Professional of the Year Uses Bob the Builder and Other Creative Tactics to Brand Credit Union
DALLAS - Credit union marketers are often called upon to don many hats to perform their jobs - journalism, sales, training, research, business development - but how many can say they have worn Bob the Builder's hard hat as has Mark Arnold, Neighborhood Credit Union's Senior Vice President of Marketing?...
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Largest Corporate CU Merger Ever: Southwest and Southeast to Tie Knot
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. and PLANO, Texas - There have been more corporate credit union mergers announced in the past six months than there have been in the past few years - merger mania is back in the corporate network. The latest to announce are the $10 billion Southwest Corporate, Plano, Texas,...
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Massachusetts to Hold Public Hearing in April on State CU Parity Legislation
BOSTON - For the fourth time in eight years, the Massachusetts Division of Banks is looking at making changes to the state's parity with Federal Credit Union regulation that would give state-chartered credit unions greater parity with federal credit unions. The state agency will hold a public hearing April 18...
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Michigan SECU Becomes NuUnion CU
LANSING, Mich.- Effective April 3, State Employees Credit Union is springing forward with a new name - NuUnion CU. With state employees making up less than 20% of its current members a name change was needed says President/CEO Stephan L. Winninger. To kickoff the name change, Winninger unveiled new signage...
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National Buzz Spreads on Credit Union CD Deals, Paragon FCU Spotlighted in Wall Street Journal
MONTVALE, N.J. - It's not every day that credit unions get press in the Wall Street Journal - let alone positive press - but Paragon Federal Credit Union has certainly received its share. The $400 million credit union was touted by the publication as having one of the country's better...
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Tatman Named New Oregon CU Regulator
SALEM, Ore. - David Tatman, deputy administrator of the Oregon Division of Finance and Corporate Securities, has been promoted to the top job as the chief regulator of credit unions in the state. Tatman, 52 and a lawyer, has been deputy administrator since 2004, and has been with the division...
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Georgia FCU, University Employees FCU Merge
DULUTH, Ga. - A recent merger between Georgia Federal Credit Union and University Employees Federal Credit Union aims to double the locations and resources currently available to the University of Georgia community in Athens. The merger became effective March 31 and joins $7 million University Employees and its 3,000 members...
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South Division CU uses St. Patrick's Day to Encourage "Financial Fitness"
EVERGREEN PARK, Ill. - South Division Credit Union participated in the Southside Irish Parade by creating a float that promoted financial education for children and teens. Images of lucky shamrocks blended with messages about South Division Credit Union's WannaBee Kid's Club and its "Neo Generation" Student's First program, which was...
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Rogue FCU Gets into Youth Week
MEDFORD, Ore. - Rogue Federal Credit Union is extending its Youth Week celebration to the entire month of April. From April 3rd to April 28th, 2006, RFCU will offer coloring and penny pig contests, deposit contests, book drives and a skate party for Kitty Clubbers. CU Succeed seminars will also...
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NYSCUL Continues Phase Three of CU Awareness Campaign, Makes Plans for Next Phase
LATHAM, N.Y. - One year after it began its campaign to raise members' and consumers' awareness of credit unions and their unique role in the financial services marketplace, the New York State Credit Union League has launched the third phase of the education campaign. During the first quarter 2006, printed...
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Pacific Service Exhibits Child Safety of the 21st Century
FRESNO, Calif. - Pacific Service Credit Union welcomed more than 500 children and parents to Spring into Safety Day on Saturday, March 25. The event was held in the Community Room at the CU's Fresno branch and featured free DNA LifePrint kits and Child Safety Journals for every child. The...
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NAFCU Retains Services of Former Thomas Chief of Staff
ARLINGTON, Va.-Shortly before the House Ways & Means Committee hearing last November, NAFCU retained outside lobbying expertise that would provide a very inside look into Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) and his line of thinking. NAFCU President and CEO Fred Becker confirmed that the trade group has retained the services of...
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Credit Union Weighs in on SEC Exec Comp Disclosure Proposal
WASHINGTON - A steady stream of comments are coming in on a proposal from the Securities and Exchange Commission on its proposal to amend disclosure requirements for executive and director compensation. At issue, the agency has called for providing clearer disclosures written "in plain English" on compensation earned by a...
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Credit Unions and Others Build Together For Habitat
SANDTOWN-WINCHESTER, Md. - On March 4, a group of approximately 75 friends, neighbors and well-wishers gathered here for the dedication of the most recent house completed for Habitat for Humanity. For the past six months, the new homeowners worked along side volunteers from MDDCCUA, MECU of Baltimore Inc., SECU Credit...
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The Modesto Bee Reports on Phishing of NCUA
MODESTO, Calif.-Credit union members within the readership of The Modesto Bee learned of yet another phishing scam last week. The paper reported that credit union members have been receiving an e-mail that appears to come from the NCUA stating that it is creating a member database but actually it is...
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San Jose Credit Union President Judy Nissila Says Goodbye After 25 Years
SAN JOSE, Calif. - When Judy Nissila began her career at San Jose Credit Union in 1981, there were just 5,000 members, $5 million in assets, and there were no checking accounts, Visa debit or credit cards, IRAs, or mortgage loans available. Things have definitely changed in the 25 years...
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Arrowhead Credit Union Aids in Teaching Practical Life Skills
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Arrowhead Credit Union hosted a "Job Seekers" workshop aimed at helping teens develop the interview skills necessary to obtain a job. The interactive workshop was led by Rachel Kokosenski, a former career counselor, and was open to the public and attended by 45 teens and even...
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Nevada FCU Donates $10,000 to Nevada Jump$tart Coalition
LAS VEGAS - What better way to celebrate Youth Week than to donate to an organization that promotes financial literacy? Nevada Federal Credit Union has donated $10,000 to the Nevada Jump$tart Coalition, which will be applied towards educational workshops for teachers, promoting financial resource materials, and spreading the word on...
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Credit Union of Ohio Teams up to Offer Financial Education
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Credit Union of Ohio has joined forces with other credit unions and the Ohio Credit Union League to develop a six-week financial education program at Columbus State Community College this spring quarter. "With all credit unions having the same philosophy of `People Helping People,' we feel this...
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State Chartered CUs Anxious to Discuss Service Documentation with NASCUS Council
ARLINGTON, Va.-The NASCUS Credit Union Advisory Council traveled to Phoenix to meet with leaders from the state's credit unions and leagues March 29 as part of its series of member meetings. U.S. House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas' (R-Calif.) interest in having state chartered credit unions document their...
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New Web site Hopes to Educate Public About Electronic Payments
HERNDON, Va. - A new Web site designed to help consumers understand, appreciate and use more electronic payments has been launched by NACHA, the electronic payments association. The site, www.electronicpayments.org will explain the benefits of direct deposit, direct payment and check conversion. The site also defines check conversion and discusses...
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Thomas Expands Collection Scope to State Charters
House Ways and Means Committee Chairmab Bill Thomas requested state regulators provide the following information: Membership: * the number of state chartered credit unions, total assets and members by charter type in each state; * on a state-by-state basis, the extent to which providing services to low- and modest-income individuals...
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Coalition for Credit Union Charter Options, Adams, Trade Insults
WASHINGTON - Tempers have been running high among both the opponents and proponents of credit union-to-bank charter conversions as the DFCU struggle has heated up. A flurry of letters from the Coalition for Credit Union Charter Options and David Adams, CEO of the Michigan Credit Union League, illustrate the point....
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Bethpage FCU, NYS Parks Department Unveil New Web Site
BETHPAGE, N.Y. - This year, for the first time, the public will be in the know about the 2006 Bethpage Federal Credit Union Air Show events before the May 27 kick-off. Bethpage Federal Credit Union and New York State Parks Department have teamed up to launch an official air show...
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GAC Pays Off For Tower FCU Member Service Rep
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HarborOne CU Aims to Bring `Breath of Fresh Air' To Small Biz
BROCKTON, Mass. - Local small and medium-size businesses will be courted by HarborOne Credit Union through its new line of services. On April 3, the $1.3 billion credit union began offering a number of services including business deposit accounts, business loans and lines of credit, online banking services, business debit...
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GCS Cub Club Reaches Out To Kids
GRANITE CITY, Ill. - With April dubbed Youth Financial Literacy month, GCS Federal Credit Union has launched its new kids club. Designed to help kids ages 12 and under develop money management skills, the GCS Cub Club will offer new members a mix of fun and educational materials. Members who...
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Synergy One FCU, Chamber Join Hands for Biz Development Boost
MANASSAS, Va. - To help promote business development in one of the county's fastest growing areas here, Synergy One Federal Credit Union and the local chamber have teamed up. The Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce said it has partnered with the $198 million credit union to promote services...
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President Possibly Considering Replacement for Snow
WASHINGTON-President George W. Bush is reportedly looking to former lawmakers and Wall Street executives to replace Treasury Secretary John Snow and further shake up his closest advisors. According to a report by Reuters, the administration "wants a more compelling figure than Snow" to push economic strength. One source said Goldman...
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NJFCU Unveils Kids Kash Club
TOTOWA, N.J.- During National Credit Union Youth Week area kids will be introduced to North Jersey Federal Credit Union's new Kids Kash Club. For the first time children under the age of 18 can open their own custodial account and enjoy benefits ranging from free New Jersey Jackals Kids Club...
News
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ACUMA Conference Targets Elevating Awareness Of Credit Union Real Estate Lending
SAN ANTONIO - Nearly 200 attendees descended upon the city's Riverwalk area for the American Credit Union Mortgage Association's 2006 Annual Conference March 26-28. ACUMA brings together the shared real estate lending and financing interests of credit unions and credit union service organizations. Member organizations include federal and state chartered...
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Jones Departs Association Of Corporate CUs; Joins CUNA in New Role
WASHINGTON - Association of Corporate Credit Unions Program Coordinator Josh Jones has left the ACCU and joined CUNA. Jones spent three years as program coordinator. "He embarked on three pretty significant efforts. He redesigned the Web site, revamped our monthly newsletter and also worked with the corporate marketing forum to...
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Ten Corporate CUs Partner For Competition Conference
ST. LOUIS - Ten small to mid-sized corporate credit unions will sponsor a conference, entitled Dare to Compete, in St. Louis this November. The conference will focus on how credit unions can become more competitive, how they can compete with larger institutions, and secrets to successful operations. It will also...
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Biz Lending Can be "California Gold Rush" But Due Diligence Still a Must
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Executives from two California credit unions shared their experiences as new entrants into the business lending arena with both sharing many commonalities as well as differences. The $737 million Altura Credit Union, which recently became an SBA-approved lender, started its program a few years ago, did $9...
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EasCorp Conference Focuses on Baby Boomers' Financial Needs
BURLINGTON, Mass. - EasCorp's 2006 Partnership Conference and Annual Meeting will focus on the baby-boomer effect, and how credit unions can best prepare to meet the changing financial needs of the largest generation in U.S. history. Headlining the conference is Robert Litan, Ph.D., vice president for research and policy at...
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Hood Favors Criteria to Allow Credit Unions "Fast Track" to MBL Cap Waiver Request, Mayo Says
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - For federal credit unions approaching their 12.25% member business lending cap, at least one NCUA Board member is empathetic to those that have been waiting for a long time on whether their waiver request will be granted. Grace Mayo, president/CEO of Telesis Community Credit Union, told symposium...
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CMN Receives $515M Check from CU Miracle Day, Inc.
WASHINGTON-Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc. `got `r' done' for the Children's Miracle Network. Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc., chaired by Northwest Federal Credit Union CEO Juri Valdov, presented Children's Miracle Network with a giant check for $515 million in a ceremony March 30, exceeding their half-a-million-dollar goal; that figure was...
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Corporates Ranked by Assets, Net Income, RUDE, Operating Expenses
SHREWSBURY, N.J. - WesCorp and VaCorp may be worlds apart in terms of size, $26 billion in assets and $900 million in assets respectively, but they are very similar when it comes to monthly operating expenses/daily average net assets, with each corporate at 0.26% These are the kinds of interesting...
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Silos or Networks? Industry Grapples with Another New Challenge in a New Era for Credit Unions
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Chip Filson was taken aback one day last April during a planning session with a credit union. One of the directors asked "if credit unions did not exist today, would we create them" and "what need would they serve." Filson, president of Callahan & Associates, Inc. and...
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New Loan Participation "Pioneers," Credit Unions Poised to Take Entry to New Heights
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The number of loan participations bought and sold last year by credit unions were in the billions and industry experts predict those figures will continue to soar. Jean Faenza, president/CEO of Business Partner, LLC, told attendees at this year's symposium that loan participations not only allow a...
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Portal Concept Takes Off at WesCorp - WesPort Now Driving Applications
SAN DIMAS, Calif. - The IT team at WesCorp wasn't really sure how its portal idea was going to go over with employees. "We implemented an employee portal to enhance our ability to communicate within the company. A portal allowed us to have a single access point," said Chris Barber,...
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Cherry Blossom Tradition Builds
Credit unions picked a winner when they started sponsoring the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run in Washington D.C. On-site coverage is featured on pages 18-19.
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MEGA-MERGER: Southwest and Southeast Merger Would Create Nearly a $15 Billion Corporate
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. and PLANO, Texas - There have been more corporate credit union mergers announced in the past six months than there have been in the past few years - merger mania is back in the corporate network. The latest to announce are the $10 billion Southwest Corporate, Plano, Texas,...
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Special Report: Corporates
The corporate credit union scene was turned on its head last week with the announcement of yet another merger. Turn to the special report on pages 22-26 for that story and other corporate news.
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Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run Another Success for Children's Miracle Network
WASHINGTON-On Sunday, April 2-for the first time in credit unions' five years as title sponsors of the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run, which benefits the Children's Miracle Network-runners had excellent weather to compete in. Gilbert Okari of Kenya won the men's race with a time of 47:25, while Lydia Grygoryeva of...
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Southwest Corporate Surpasses $10 Billion
PLANO, Texas - Southwest Corporate Federal Credit Union has topped $10 billion in assets, a new record. The record was spurred in part by the success of its certificate specials. In the first quarter alone the corporate offered special certificates that attracted $286 million. Last year, it structured more than...
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VolCorp CEO Bruce Fahnestock Announces Retirement; Merger Still Going Forward
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - VolCorp CEO Bruce Fahnestock will retire effective April 28. Fahnestock, 59, said he has been talking about retirement with his board for at least the last year. "I love credit unions and have enjoyed the last 15 years," said Fahnestock. "All I want to think about now...
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Hampel Offers More Proof Bankers' Cries on Biz Lending Encroachment May be Unwarranted
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Of the litany of statistics bandied about in the area of business lending comparisons between banks and credit unions, at least one really hammers home a point. While credit unions continue to make strides in business lending, they continue to remain nowhere near the amount of revenue...
Credit/Debit/ATM
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Shared Branching Advertisement Wins Award
HARRISBURG, Pa. - A television commercial designed to educate Pennsylvania credit union members and the public at large about the benefits of shared branching has won an award. The Telly Awards are meant to "honor outstanding local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs," according to The Creative Group, a...
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CO-OP Network Staying With TRM After All
ONTARIO, Calif. - As reported previously, CO-OP Network has decided to continue its relationship with TRM and to continue offering surcharge-free access to TRM's 5.500 Access Cash machines. Now the nation's largest credit union-owned surcharge-free network has inked the agreement that finalizes the deal. After an analysis in the wake...
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Shula Addresses Credit Union 24 Meeting
ORLANDO, Fla. - Famous football coach Don Shula, former head coach of the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts and now a successful restaurateur, addressed the attendees of Credit Union 24's Inaugural Executive Summit. The credit union-owned ATM and EFT network held the summit Mar. 23 at a Disney Grand Floridian...
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Elan Picks Up Michigan CU Card Portfolio
PONTIAC, Mich. - Jim Henmueller, CEO of the $97 million Chief Pontiac FCU is citing members' desires for more credit card rewards and lower rates as reasons for the CU to have sold its credit card portfolio to Elan Financial Services, a subsidiary of US Bancorp. "We realized that in...
Marketing
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AAFCU Member Relations Specialist Makes Rising Stars Cut
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Air Academy Federal Credit Union Member Relations Specialist Marlena Whitt has been singled out by the Colorado Springs Business Journal as one of Colorado Springs' Rising Stars. Whitt is one of 21 Colorado Springs business professionals under the age of 40 being recognized for their professional...
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Unity One Federal Credit Union Rewards Perfect Attendance
FORT WORTH, Texas - Unity One Federal Credit Union has shown eight lucky Fossil Ridge High School students that it literally pays to go to school-consistently. Students were awarded $50 each for having perfect attendance. Every nine-weeks, students with perfect attendance have their names entered into a drawing for the...
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Kent CU Sponsors Broadway Event
KENT, Ohio - Kent Credit Union is helping to bring a touch of Broadway to Theodore Roosevelt High School. Teaming up with the Rough Rider Association, which raises funds to purchase sports equipment for the high school, the credit union is sponsoring the national touring company performance of Late Nite...
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Teen Arts Festival Gets Support from United Teletech Financial
TINTON FALLS, N.J. - Teens here got a chance to showcase their creativity during the 2006 Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival thanks to sponsors United Teletech Financial Federal Credit Union and Gannett Co. In addition to sponsoring the event presented by the Monmouth County Arts Council, the credit union also...
Regulatory/Compliance
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NCUA Alerts CUs to IT Security Compliance Guide
ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA issued a Letter to Credit Unions (06-CU-07) last week to offer credit unions help with their compliance regarding data security. Each section of the guidance refers to particular parts of the agency's rules and regulations; it includes information on safeguarding member information and response to unauthorized access. The...
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Updated Deposit Insurance Materials Becoming Available
ALEXANDRIA, Va.-As retirement account protection increased, NCUA issued a statement announcing that new signage would be available shortly. Federal deposit insurance retirement account coverage increased on April 1 to $250,000 and other coverage will potentially be increasing five years from now due to the new deposit insurance reform law. Though...
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NCUA Closes St. Charles Borromeo Church FCU After Operations Abandoned; Checks Issued
ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA has closed the doors of another tiny credit union and is in the process of issuing checks to accountholders. On April 4, NCUA liquidated $130,000 St. Charles Borromeo Church Federal Credit Union of New York City. The credit union had been serving 200 members of the church since...
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Hood: Increasing Underserved Homeownership is a Top Priority
DES MOINES, Iowa-During remarks at the Iowa Credit Union Foundation Summit, NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood laid out the importance of homeownership, particularly among the underserved, for wealth building. "Owning a home is the foundation of wealth for low-income families and is their quickest path to self-sufficiency," Hood said. Serving...
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Financial Regulators Announce Updated HMDA Price Data FAQ
WASHINGTON-The federal financial regulators and the Department of Housing and Urban Development last week issued updated answers to the frequently asked questions on Home Mortgage Disclosure Act price data. HMDA data will include pricing information for the second year in a row for loans above reporting thresholds set by the...
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Eight Barred from Credit Union Operations
ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA has issued prohibition orders against eight individuals, banning them from further involvement in the operations of federally insured financial institutions. *Lisa Ann Bramble, former bookkeeper of Sierra Central Credit Union, Yuba City, Calif., pleaded guilty to embezzlement and was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment followed by five years...
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NCUA Liquidates FCU for Insolvency
ALEXANDRIA, Va.-St. John Baptist Federal Credit Union member accounts were transferred after NCUA liquidated the credit union late last month. United Financial Services Federal Credit Union will take over accounts from $68,000 St. John Baptist Credit Union after NCUA liquidated the credit union for insolvency. NCUA worked with $21 million...
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Feds Work Toward Simpler Privacy Notices
WASHINGTON-NCUA, in conjunction with the other federal financial regulators, shared findings recently from a report on how to make privacy notices more understandable for consumers. Evolution of a Prototype Financial Privacy Notice summarizes a year's worth of consumer research to improve financial privacy notices. The report, conducted by Kleimann Communication...
News Briefs
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Bankers Appeal Pa. FOM Decision Favoring CUs
HARRISBURG, Pa.-The Pennsylvania Bankers Association and other banks have filed an appeal on a decision by the Commonwealth Court to uphold the community charters of two state-chartered credit unions. The bankers filed a notice of appeal in the state Supreme Court on March 28 concerning the March 1 decision upholding...
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Minnesota CUs Launch Cooperative Newsletter for Legislators
CAMBRIDGE, CIRCLE PINES, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS and COON RAPIDS, Minn. - Four Minnesota credit unions are pooling their resources to publish a quarterly newsletter for 75 area legislators, specific committee members and the Governor, with articles about the credit union difference and what credit unions are doing to make their communities...
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Texas Dow Employees CU Reaches 50-Year Milestone: Joins Billion-Dollar Club
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - Texas Dow Employees Credit Union has joined the growing list of credit unions with assets of $1 billion or more. Chartered in 1955, TDECU has more than 93,000 members and 306 employees, making it the largest CU along the Texas Gulf Coast. TDECU Vice President Retail...
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Decker to Run Development Education Program
MADISON, Wis. - The Credit Union Development Education Program will be managed by Tom Decker, a former director of executive development for CUNA and director of the CUNA management school, according to the National Credit Union Foundation. Decker began his job as program manager for the well-known education program after...
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House Judiciary Looks at ID Theft, Internet Gambling Legislation
WASHINGTON-The House Judiciary subcommittees kicked off their effort to look into data security issues, an expected hot topic of legislation this year, and Internet gambling legislation prior to its two-week spring recess. The subcommittees on Commercial and Administrative Law, and the Constitution held a joint hearing entitled, Personal Information Acquired...
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State Farm CUs Wait Patiently for NCUA Decision On Merger App
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - There is still no word from NCUA on the status of an application it received March 1 from the 12 credit unions that serve State Farm Insurance on its intention to merge into one. Combined, the credit unions, which are located in 20 states, have assets of...
Tech Bytes
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American Heritage FCU Commits to APPRO Platform
PHILADELPHIA - American Heritage Federal Credit Union says it will deploy automated-decisioning software from APPRO for its consumer lending business. The $513 million CU will use the LoanCenter Consumer platform from APPRO to streamline its processes, the CU says. "APPRO LoanCenter Consumer was easily integrated with our Symitar core system...
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Two Maine CUs Ink New 10-Year Agreement with Synergent
WESTBROOK, Me. - Great Falls Regional FCU, Lewiston, and Portland ME Police Department FCU have each signed 10-year agreements to use Synergent for data processing services. In 2004, Synergent, a subsidiary of the Maine Credit Union League, began implementation of the new Episys platform for Technology Services and so far...
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The Big Time: Fiserv Makes Fortune 500 List for 2006
BROOKFIELD, Wis. - Fiserv Inc. has made the big leagues. The heavyweight of IT processing for credit unions can now say it's a Fortune 500 company. Based on its $4.1 billion in total revenue for the past year, the provider of financial and health benefits technology is now 488th on...
Letters to the editor
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Member-Ownership Pitch Good, But Is it Too Late?
I just read editor-in-chief Paul Gentile's column, "Making the Case for Members" in the March 29 issue, and I hope that Credit Union Times' readers cut this one out, frame it, and hang it above their desks where they can see it every day. The column is a concise articulation...
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Bettis Doesn't Get It; Conversion Fight About Much More Than Just DFCU Financial
I was compelled to respond to a letter Coalition for Credit Union Charter Options Executive Director Lee Bettis wrote to Michigan CU League CEO Dave Adams, where Bettis criticizes Adams for himself personally and the league getting involved in the DFCU Financial conversion issue. Here is what I sent to...
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Membership is Indeed Our Differentiator
I couldn't agree more with editor-in-chief Paul Gentile's comments this past week in his column entitled, "Making the Case for Members." The credit union movement is facing an identity crisis: What are we? Who are we? We keep defining ourselves using the banking system as our gold standard: better interest...
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From the Editor: Keep Those Letters Coming!
Credit Union Times is proud to report that so far in 2006 every issue has contained letters to the editor. We're proud of this for two reasons. First, it's an indication that Credit Union Times is providing thought-provoking editorial coverage that is inspiring more readers than ever to write letters....
Opinions
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Breaking Old Habits That Are Unrewarding: Five Big Reasons to Say Bye-Bye to Agencies
Old habits can be hard to break. But some are worth breaking-especially if they are costing your credit union money. One, in particular, needs some attention. I like to call it the "tradition of making less." There are many credit unions that continue to place investments with agencies despite the...
Publisher's Column
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Consolidation Is Picking Up Steam
Everyone talks about it: The credit union industry is consolidating on all fronts. If you stop and take a careful look around, you find consolidation is happening at breakneck speed - maybe faster than most of us realize. Corporate credit unions sometimes get lost in the shuffle, but the corporate...
Staking Out the Stats
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Staking Out the Stats
WASHINGTON - Just in time for financial literacy month a Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy survey reveals that the financial IQ of high school students has stayed steady. The survey of 5,775 high school students in 37 states measured 12th graders' level of knowledge of personal finance basics and...
People
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MIDWEST
Kemba Credit Union, Indianapolis, named Zach Miller, sales and marketing manager. Five individuals have been elected by credit unions in their respective areas to represent them on the board of directors for The Wisconsin Credit Union League, Pewaukee, Wis. They are newly elected Rob Kublank and Kevin Hauser, and re-elected...
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EAST
St. Mary's Bank, Manchester, N.H., has promoted Kerri Sarette to branch manager of the CU's newest branch in Milford. HarborOne Credit Union, Brockton, Mass., has promoted John Goodwin to business development officer, indirect lending.
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VENDOR
Alaska USA Mortgage Company, Anchorage, Alaska, hired Jean Brown as senior mortgage loan originator. Ceto and Associates, a national consulting firm providing revenue enhancement solutions for the financial industry, has named Steven Do and Pritesh Patel financial consultants. CU Business Group, LLC, Portland, Ore., announced that Daniel Hutchison has joined...
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WEST
Mountain America Credit Union, West Jordan, Utah, has promoted Suzanne Oliver to senior vice president of educational services; Marshall Paepke to senior vice president of human resources; Tony Rasmussen to senior vice president of electronic services; Michael Turner to senior vice president of commercial lending; and Annette Zimmerman to senior...
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SOUTH
Charlotte French and Bill McLemore were re-elected to serve three-year terms on the TruService Community Federal Credit Union board, Little Rock, Ark.
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SOUTHWEST
U.S. New Mexico Federal Credit Union, Albuquerque, N.M., promoted Marsha Majors to vice president of branch administration.
Billlionaires Club
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Baxter CU Keeps on Growth Path Through Adoption Of Large Sponsors
VERNON HILLS, Ill. - Baxter Credit Union was only founded in 1981 and has already joined the Billionaires Club. It's sort of like learning that your nephew, who graduated from college just a few years ago, is now a billionaire. What's going on here? "For us, I really think it...
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