Credit Union Times Magazine February-20, 2008
In Other News
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In Other News - Donations
Donations
News
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Four-Prong Approach Crowns Maine's Membership-Building Quest
Maine is on a mission to help credit unions boost the state's membership numbers.
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CUDL Exhibit at NADA Attracts Big Dealers to CU Option
The National Automobile Dealers Association is the largest gathering of auto dealers in the country and CUDL, which administers the nation's largest point-of-sale and indirect auto lending network for credit unions, was there for the fifth year in a row.
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CUs, Lauded for Public Goodwill, Fail to Communicate Their Story, Advocate Says
Credit unions remain "unsung corporate heroes," unable to effectively broadcast their story of pubic goodwill, the head of the country's oldest advocacy group for the homeless said last week.
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Little Guy Appears Again On Capitol Hill
Credit unions took the Little Guy, CUNA's cartoon character meant to represent credit union's service to its members, to make another visit to federal lawmakers recently.
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Kirkwood CU Mourns Shooting Victims
The $3.3 million Kirkwood Municipal Credit Union was attempting last week to resume a semblance of normal operations following the death of three of its members in the horrific Feb. 7 shooting rampage at the Kirkwood City Hall.
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Connecticut League Hires Maine Executive as New CEO
Capping a search that began last October, the Credit Union League of Connecticut has hired Anthony Emerson, chief financial officer of the $175 million Maine Savings FCU, Hampden, as its new president/CEO effective March 17.
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NCUF Elects First CU Volunteer Board Member
JSC Federal Credit Union Vice Chairman/Membership Officer Curtis Collins is making history as the first credit union volunteer ever elected to the National Credit Union Foundation board.
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First Edition CCU Taps Workway For Staffing Needs
Who says a small credit union can't outsource for talent?
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New CEO Named at Member Business Services
Members Business Services, LLC has hired W.E. Scott Burger as its new president/CEO.
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Eastern Financial Florida CU President/CEO Stephen McGill Resigns
Eastern Financial Florida Credit Union's Stephen C. McGill has stepped down as President/CEO.
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$1 Billion Ascend Will Convert Lending to FSB's CrediSphere
Full-Service Banking Solutions has announced that $1 billion Ascend Federal Credit Union will convert its loan systems to the FSB CrediSphere Universal Lending Platform.
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Vision for Housing - Wegner Award Winner Has Mortgages On Her Mind; Helping Members Buy Homes A Key CU Difference, She Says
When Harriet May, now CEO of the $1.3 billion GECU first walked into the institution in early 1974, she planned to stay only about five years.
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Suncoast Schools Card Helps School
A new debit card offering from Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union is helping to raise money for schools in the 15 counties that the CU serves.
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Navy Federal Wins Navy Award
Navy Federal Credit Union has received the Department of the Navy 2007 Combined Federal Campaign President's Award. The award was presented at a CFC Awards ceremony held at the Pentagon Jan. 30, according to the CU.
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PEFCU Goes First with Mobile Banking
Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union has launched a mobile banking service it says is the first among Indiana CUs.
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American Airlines FCU Holds "A Night With the CEO"
American Airlines Federal Credit Union held "A Night with the CEO" on Feb. 12 that featured American Airlines FCU CEO John M. Tippets.
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Regulator's Report Underscores Low Unbanked Service of N.Y. Banks
The results are in: New York state banks do promote their money order, bill payment, and bilingual services to the underserved and new immigrants.
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Credit Union Investment Expert Answers Questions
Michael Prior recently got the opportunity to offer some guidance to Phoenix residents calling into a local television station with questions on pressing financial matters.
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CU Wireless Launches Firefly
Oregon-based CUSO CU Wireless is making it easier for parents and kids to stay in touch.
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CO-OP Launches Reloadable Debit Card
In a move that could provide credit unions with a significant new option for helping lower income and underbanked communities, CO-OP Financial Services has announced the release of a reloadable debit card, which will also allow access to the CO-OP's nationwide network of surcharge-free ATMs.
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NJCUL Strengthens Partnership With Polish & Slavic FCU
New Jersey Credit Union League President/CEO Paul Gentile recently visited the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union's operations center here in an effort to strengthen the credit union movement throughout the Garden State and increase cooperation between local members.
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Indiana Foundation Gets Blanket Coverage for BizKid$
The Indiana Credit Union League said last week its foundation has now secured blanket TV coverage for the BizKid$ financial literacy show on all eight public broadcasting stations in the state, with most stations starting to broadcast the show in January.
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ABNB FCU Donates $18,000 to Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters
ABNB Federal Credit Union recently donated $18,000 to the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters.
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WesCorp's Burrell Predicts Return to Steep Yield Curve
WesCorp Executive Vice President/Chief Investment Officer Bob Burrell drew cheers from CUES conference-goers on Feb. 7, when he predicted a return to the days of steep yield curves, with spreads as high 200 basis points.
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Institute Occasionally Critical of CUs Changes Leadership
The Woodstock Institute, a research organization specializing in housing and community reinvestment issues that has occasionally criticized what it called 'mainstream credit unions,' has lost its long-time executive director.
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Open Solutions Partners with DR Specialist
The thousands of credit unions and community banks that rely on Open Solutions Inc. for their core technology are now being offered the services of a company-picked disaster recovery specialist.
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Rep. Maloney Introduces Credit Cardholders Bill Of Rights Act of 2008
House Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) introduced the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2008 (H.R. 5244), on Feb. 7, 2008.
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VyStar Goes With Laserfiche, MVi
VyStar Credit Union will be using technology from Laserfiche and the services of Millennial Vision in the $3.3 billion CU's new enterprise content management solution.
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CheckFree's Adjustments/Express Upgrade Automates ACH Disputes
Fiserv has announced the release of a new version of its CheckFree Adjustments/Express system, which promises to automate ACH disputes the way it electronically processes check adjustments.
Front Page News
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Crapo Regulatory Relief Amendment Benefiting Banks--Not CUs--is Withdrawn
A legislative move to offer regulatory relief to banks with less meat for credit unions drew frenetic credit union lobbying and then opposition before it was finally withdrawn this week.
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Back On The Radar - Commemorative CRA Hearing Fixes on Lack of CU Regulation
A Feb. 13 House Financial Services Committee hearing signaled that the question of whether credit unions should be covered by the Community Reinvestment Act has moved back onto the legislative radar.
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Mortgage Crisis Aside, VyStar CU Moves Forward with Real Estate CUSO
On the surface, it would appear that opening a real estate CUSO--in Florida of all places--might not be the best move now given the current mortgage market upheaval.
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Look Before You Leap - Survey Finds Many CU Card Portfolio Sellers Considering A Return to Issuing
Back-to-back surveys of card portfolio sellers have continued to find a surprisingly high degree of dissatisfaction among credit unions that sold their card portfolios--leading one top card brokerage firm to recommend that CUs proceed with caution when considering such a move.
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Campaigning for the "Little Guy"
Credit union representatives hold signs for Capitol Hill pedestrians to see as they participate in the "stand out" Feb. 7 in Washington. While holding the signs--and balloons--the CU representatives chanted slogans, including "Look Out for the Little Guy in '08," "There's no debate -- Little Guy in '08," and "Don't...
News Briefs
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Record Investments in CDCUs, Federation Reports
Investments in community development credit unions hit record levels in 2007, according to the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions.
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Pelican State CU Goes Virtual
Using the latest in mirroring technology has helped Pelican State Credit Union "virtually" lower loan rates and pay higher dividends.
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WSECU Leverages Google For Real-Time Info
Washington State Employees Credit Union is using the power of Google and the CU's knowledge management system to provide timely information to members on the home page of their choosing.
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Bush Administration Lowballs CDFI Fund Once Again
In what has become an annual ritual, the Bush Administration has cut the amount of money it wants allotted to the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
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Tech CU Named Official Facebook CU
Popular social networking firm Facebook has tapped Technology Credit Union as the official credit union for its expanding workforce.
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Navy Federal Talks Up Credit Union Difference
Navy Federal Credit Union is reminding members there is an alternative to payday lenders--credit unions.
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Greylock Insurance Expands Footprint in Berkshire County
Greylock Insurance Agency is touting greater convenience with the opening of its sixth insurance office.
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Affinity FCU Unveils Green Rewards Checking
Affinity Federal Credit Union is rewarding its eco-conscious members for going "green" and reducing paper waste.
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FCUL Service Group, Inc., Experian Team Up to Offer ScoreRight
In an effort to educate Florida credit union members on what their credit score means and how it affects the probability of securing their next loan, the FCUL Service Group has partnered with the credit bureau Experian to offer its ScoreRight product.
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Hood Encourages Largest Student Run CU
NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood helped the $10.5 million Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union celebrate its 25th anniversary and recognition as the largest student run CU in the country.
Facilities
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Alabama Telco Branches Out
Alabama Telco Credit Union has broken ground on its new Chelsea location.
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LA DOTD Opens Third In-School Branch
For students at Capitol Middle School, it's hands-on learning with a real-life twist.
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Erie General Electric FCU Unveils Retail Experience Branch
Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union has taken the "stuffiness" out of banking with its innovative new branch.
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New Staffers at HTG Architects
HTG Architects, an architectural firm with offices in Minneapolis, Minn. and Mesa, Ariz., has recently hired some new employees.
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BestSource CU Gets Beautification Award Nod
BestSource Credit Union has recently been awarded the 2007 Waterford Chamber of Commerce Beautification Award.
Regulatory/Compliance
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Five Years In, CUNA, SBA Mark Lending Strides, Ways to Increase CU Participation in Programs
Marking the five-year anniversary of when the Small Business Administration first expanded its loan programs to credit unions regardless of their charter, CUNA President/CEO Dan Mica and SBA Administrator Steve Preston recently met to discuss strides made and where improvements might be made.
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NCUA Released Revolving Loan Fund Guide
NCUA has released guidelines for credit unions seeking to access funds through the agency's Community Development Revolving Loan Fund's Technical Assistance Grant program.
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NASCUS Regulator Meeting Hits New England
NASCUS management and Chairman George Reynolds (Ga.) joined state regulators from the Northeast Feb. 8 to discuss current economic challenges, effects of the subprime lending market, credit quality, member business lending, and unrelated business income tax.
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Hood Addressed CU Abilities
NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney E. Hood urged credit unions to continue employing good risk management strategies to prevent losses in a downward-trending economy.
Tech Bytes
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Parascript Upgrade Includes Keyword, Mismatch Search
Parascript LLC has released a new version of its flagship check recognition and verification product.
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fiVISION, Members Health Network Join on HSA Platform
Albany-based Members Health Network, a subsidiary of Illinois-based Members United Corporate FCU, is using an online account opening solution from fiVISION of Indianapolis as a key part of its entry into the health savings account market.
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Fiserv, CheckFree Launch RDC Solution
Fiserv Inc. is jumping into the remote deposit capture market with its own offering, via the company's latest acquisition.
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Parascript Upgrade Includes Keyword, Mismatch Search
Parascript LLC has released a new version of its flagship check recognition and verification product.
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Fiserv Completes ISS Sale to TD AMERITRADE
Fiserv Inc. continued to narrow its focus on its core technology business, completing the sale of its investment support services business to TD AMERITRADE Holding Corp. of Omaha, Neb.
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Credit Crunch or Not, Cypress Software Reports Robust Year
Cypress Software Systems said the credit crunch hasn't hurt its business.
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Wescom Resources Group Completes eCU Technologies Purchase
Wescom Resources Group said it has completed its acquisition of eCU Technologies.
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COCC Signs Boston CU, Touts 2007 Results
COCC said it has signed City of Boston Credit Union to a long-term technology partnership.
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Bethpage FCU First with Mobile on Long Island
Bethpage Federal Credit Union said it is now the first CU on Long Island to offer mobile banking.
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Synergent adds PowerPay Processing to Product Lineup
Synergent, a provider of item processing and other technology and creative services to credit unions, is joining forces with another Maine-based firm to add payment processing to its lineup.
Special Report
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Credit Card, Shared Branching CUSOs Command Top Spots
Looking at the top 10 CUSOs across a number of categories, those that offer credit card and shared branching services top the list.
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Indiana University CU Reduces Business Loan Processing by 50%
Through the use of its Rembrandt Lending System, Wolters Kluwer Financial Services said Indiana University Credit Union has reduced time spent documenting business loans by 50%.
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CUES Adds Investment Management Session to Lineup
The Credit Union Executives Society has added a pre-convention workshop on investment management to its annual meeting, scheduled for June 22-25 at the Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in Cancun, Mexico.
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OMNI Community Partners with Benefits CUSO
OMNI Community Credit Union has become an owner and partner of Salus Group Benefits, an insurance, administration, and billing services CUSO.
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Deposit Reclassification Backbone of fi-linx CUSO, Helping Small CUs Fight Fraud Also Part of Plan
Laborious and not the best use of employees' time. That's how Robbie Wright describes the deposit reclassification software options in the industry three years ago when $282 million MaPS Credit Union set out on a quest to find a compatible solution.
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NACUSO Accepting Collaboration, Innovation Award Nominations
NACUSO is seeking nominees for its 2008 CUSO Collaboration and Innovation Award.
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Small Credit Unions Can Use 'Blitz' to Create Buzz and Drive New Members In
Ask the CEO of a small credit union where marketing efforts fall on the priority list and some might say toward the bottom.
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CUSOs Can Step Out of Traditional Mold to Meet Members' Retirement Needs
According to a recent report from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Systems and the Financial Service Fact Book, credit unions' share of individual retirement accounts has been steadily declining, falling from 2.1% in 2002 to 1.3% in 2006.
Letters to the editor
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Discrimination Does Not Exist at Credit Unions
In her column of Feb. 13 on CRA, Sarah Cooke made an assertion that I think many in our industry would find troubling. In discussing the industry's Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data and addressing the disparity between white and minority loan approval rates, she noted that the data show...
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The Latest Outrage
After 30 years of working with credit unions that are on the front lines of serving low-income people, you'd think no financial horror stories about the victimization of the vulnerable would surprise or shake me. Been there, done that?
Looking Back
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Looking Back
Lake Michigan Credit Union grabbed headlines four years ago, in the Feb. 18, 2004 issue of the CU Times, with the beginning of its attempted mutual savings bank conversion.
Publisher's Column
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Shout CUs' Good Works From the Rooftops
I didn't watch the proceedings of the 30-year anniversary hearing of the Community Reinvestment Act, but stories recounted to me were mixed with regard to credit unions' treatment. With no credit union witnesses on any of the panels, the banking trades and even the Connecticut regulator were free to suggest...
People
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People
East, South, Midwest, West
In Memoriam
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Clearstar Financial CU Says Goodbye to Longtime Board Member
Clearstar Financial Credit Union is mourning the loss of longtime board member Stephan Kaylor, who lost his battle with cancer.
From the Board Room
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America First CU Volunteer Retires
After some 46 years of volunteer service at America First Credit Union, Janice Burk has retired.
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Minnesota FIC Treasurer Says Financial Education Opportunities Knock, CUs Should Answer
Minnesota Credit Union Foundation Family Involvement Council Treasurer Angie Pidde said her service on the Comfrey School District Board has helped provide insight into how credit unions can help schools fit financial education into their curriculum.
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NJCUL Elects New Board Officers
The New Jersey Credit Union League has elected new board officers.
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CUAO Taps Pelham at Board Vice Chairman
Rogue Federal Credit Union President/CEO Gene Pelham has been elected vice chairman of the Credit Union Association of Oregon board of directors.
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AmeriChoice FCU Community Relations Coordinator Elected to Chamber of Commerce Board
AmeriChoice Federal Credit Union Community Relations Coordinator Toni Montgomery is the latest member of the Mechanicsburg Chamber of Commerce board.
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