Credit Union Times Magazine January-30, 2008

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In Other News

In Other News

By Staff Writer

Donations, Awards

News

King Memorial Receives Funds from Service CU, First Community CU

By Michelle A. Samaad

Service Credit Union has donated $30,000 toward the building of a national memorial in Washington that will honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while First Community Credit Union dressed down to raise $2,400 for the effort.
WesCorp Releases Audited 2006 Financials

By Michelle A. Samaad

After ten months of discussions and review by KPMG, LLP, WesCorp recently reported that it has received approval from the auditing firm to release its 2006 audited financial statements.
HSAs -- A Long-Term Commitment, Ready for Remodel in 2008

By Myriam DiGiovanni

When it comes to Health Savings Accounts a new Celent report finds that slow and steady is still the best way to win the race. HSAs are tax-free, portable savings accounts that can be used to pay for medical expenses including prescription and over-the-counter drugs incurred by individuals, spouses or...
Merger of Meriwest, Golden Bay Yields 20% Growth

By Michelle A. Samaad

Despite the impact of the housing market decline on Golden Bay Federal Credit Union, Meriwest Credit Union said it has successfully completed a data conversion with the Tucson, Ariz.-based financial institution.
Debate Active At CUs Considering Conversion

By David Morrison

NCUA's policy of requiring credit unions considering conversions to facilitate communication among members about the conversion appears to have fostered strong debate about the topic at two CUs currently thinking about making the change.
Carolina Postal CU's Hoopty Campaign Generates Buzz, Delivers Big ROI

By Myriam DiGiovanni

Who knew that a call for "Hoopty" love would yield such huge results?
Recapturing Lost Auto Loans Isn't a Lost Cause, Says LSI

By Staff Writer

The numbers are intriguing, said Jeff Frantz, senior vice president of Lending Solutions, Inc. here. LSI is a leading provider of around-the-clock consumer lending programs to credit unions (http://www.lendingsolutions.com/) and the numbers have given him an idea.
Callahan Report Finds Function, Ease Main Drivers in Mobile Banking Future

By Marc Rapport

As credit unions decide whether to offer mobile banking, they might want to keep this in mind: More people own mobile phones than have banking accounts.
Delta Community CU Revamps Brand Amid Airline Merger Speculation

By Staff Writer

It's a road Delta Community Credit Union has been down before.
Credit Unions Move 'Ahead' in Eyes of Cyber-Crooks

By Marc Rapport

Credit unions again took the dubious honor of being the favorite target of phishers and pharmers attempting to gain access to member accounts through e-mails and Web sites.
Wisconsin Bankers Attack CU For UBIT Lawsuit

By David Morrison

The Wisconsin Bankers Association has attacked the $916 million Community First Credit Union for its decision to file a lawsuit against the IRS over its unrelated business income taxes.
Two Retired League CEOs Express Concern Over Structure Change

By Jim Rubenstein

Buffeted by consolidation, the structure and management of state leagues seem to be undergoing a significant metamorphosis, and if you ask two recently retired veterans of the trade groups, there's no exact telling of the outcome but their fervent hope is it benefits the industry.
Robins FCU Rewards American Little League World Series Champions

By Staff Writer

Robins Federal Credit Union showed its community spirit and support by honoring their local American Little League World Series Champions.
CUs Stand To Reap Windfall From Visa IPO Though Much Remains Uncertain

By David Morrison

Although much remains uncertain about the deal, which is subject to the vagaries of financial markets and legal settlements, credit unions that issue Visa cards stand to gain a possibly substantial financial windfall from Visa Inc's initial public offering of stock expected later this year.
California DFI Agrees to File Group 990 One More Year

By David Morrison

State chartered credit unions in California got a reprieve from the annual chore of filing individual IRS Form 990s when the state's Department of Financial Institutions announced that, for at least one more year, it would file a group 990 form with the Internal Revenue Service on behalf of participating...
Navy Federal Named One of '100 Best Companies to Work For'

By Staff Writer

Navy Federal Credit Union has been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by FORTUNE.
Members Health Network Kicks Off 2008 With First Client

By Myriam DiGiovanni

For Members Health Network, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Members United Corporate Federal Credit Union, the New Year has gotten off to a great start with the signing of its first HealthBanker client--E Federal Credit Union.
Wolters Kluwer Debuts HSA Offering

By Marc Rapport

Wolters Kluwer Financial Services is now offering a Health Savings Account management solution that financial institutions can offer their commercial and retail members and customers.
SW Corporate Term Certificates Reach Record Levels

By Michelle A. Samaad

Amid the market volatility of recent months, credit unions placed significant investments with Southwest Corporate Federal Credit Union during 2007. Last year, credit unions in-vested nearly $1.4 billion in "special certificates" and "reverse inquiries" alone. That figure marked a sharp increase over the $1 billion invested in these particular instruments...
Securian Offers Fox Communities Debt, Lending Solutions

By Michelle A. Samaad

Fox Communities Credit Union has signed on to use Securian Financial Group's debt cancellation products and open-end lending solutions.
Veridian CU CUSO Forms Alliance with Beyond Marketing

By Michelle A. Samaad

Looking to build new streams of business, Waterloo Community Financial Services, a CUSO holding company of $1.2 billion Veridian Credit Union, has partnered with Beyond Marketing, LLC, a strategic planning, market research and marketing CUSO.
Development Educators To Feed Hungry During GAC

By David Morrison

As Credit Union Development Educators and credit union supporters flow into Washington for CUNA's Government Affairs Conference this year, they will find an opportunity to help meet the practical needs of hungry people.
CUNA Mutual Schedules Risk Management Webinars

By Staff Writer

Credit union bond policyholders with CUNA Mutual Group are invited to sign up for the company's risk management Webinars.
Suffolk FCU Announces New President/CEO

By Lindsey Siegriest

Suffolk Federal Credit Union announced William J. O'Brien as its new president/CEO.
Univ. of Kentucky FCU Wants Viral Video to Spread

By Staff Writer

The University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union wants the viral video it made to be viewed by as many eyeballs as possible, particularly its target audience of college students, said Director of Marketing John Heimlich. The making of the video was a truly collaborative effort, he said, as it was...

Front Page News

Fed Makes Emergency Rate Cuts; CUs Advised to Review Rates

By Jim Rubenstein

The Federal Open Market Committee slashed the federal funds rate by 75 basis points on Jan. 22 well ahead of its scheduled meeting at month's end, making good on Chairman Ben Bernanke's promise to take swift action to defend against recession. Taking the funds rate to 3.5% is a "huge...
United Teletech Financial CU Retail Experience Makes Branch a Member Destination

By Myriam DiGiovanni

The hot spot that's got locals buzzing isn't a club but rather United Teletech Financial Federal Credit Union's latest branch.
Lower Profit Margins, Attracting New Members Two Greatest Challenges CUs Face

By Michelle A. Samaad

For many credit unions, lower profit margins followed by identifying ways to attract new members top the list of the most pressing industry challenges, according to a new report from Aite Group, LLC.
QwickRate Cuts Out the Middle Man Through CD 'Matchmaking' Service

By Staff Writer

Debbie Walker remembers the drudgery of endless paper, phone, and fax streams when connecting credit unions and banks to financial institutions looking for high-yield certificate of deposits.
New Report Finds 33% of CUs Surveyed Plan Change To Bank Charters

By David Morrison

Aite Group LLC, a well-known and well-regarded financial consultancy, has reported that 33% of credit unions it surveyed for a recent report on the credit union industry said they planned to convert to a mutual bank charter.

News Briefs

WOCCU Gears Up For 2008 World Conference Online Registrations

By Staff Writer

World Council of Credit Unions is now accepting online registrations for the 2008 World Credit Union Conference scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from July 13-16.
NJ Senate Judiciary Committee Nominates Gibardi to CU Advisory Council

By Staff Writer

The New Jersey State Legislature's Senate Judiciary Committee has nominated Entertainment Industries Federal Credit Union President/CEO John C. Gibardi to its Credit Union Advisory Council.
PSCU Appoints Debit Czar

By Staff Writer

PSCU Financial Services, the payments CUSO with over 500 member credit unions who process their card transactions on the First Data Corp. card platform, has created a new position to oversee its growing debit programs.
About 200 Dine At CUNA Power Lunch

By Staff Writer

Politics and the political fortunes of different presidential candidates filled the air at the most recent "Washington Power Lunch," an event CUNA sponsored and National Journal and MSNBC organized.
CU Times Names New Editor-In-Chief

By Staff Writer

Sarah Snell Cooke has been named the new editor-in-chief for Credit Union Times.

Tech Bytes

American Airlines FCU Goes with TotaleAtlas

By Staff Writer

American Airlines Federal Credit Union (AAFCU) has chosen a document preparation and management solution that will allow its 210,000 members to go into any of the credit union's 43 branches to sign documents, regardless of the branch where the documents originated.
Prime Alliance Debuts Timely Mortgage Marketing Suite

By Staff Writer

Prime Alliance Solutions has introduced a new mortgage marketing tool the company said will allow credit unions to increase market share while helping members whose financial welfare could be at risk.
Michigan CU Turns to Core Processor for Lending Software, Management

By Staff Writer

MANISTEE, Mich. -- Filer Credit Union has turned to its core processor to take on yet another role, its "vice president of lending," the company and credit union said.
Open Solutions Announces Mexico Signing

By Staff Writer

Open Solutions Inc. has announced its first major move into Mexico.
Denali Alaskan Takes ECM Tools to Branch Capture

By Staff Writer

Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union is putting a well-established enterprise content management solution to a new use--Check 21 functionality.
CUs Learn Challenges, Countermeasures for Identity Fraud Battles

By Myriam DiGiovanni

A new report shines a light on just why identity fraud is so pervasive.

Special Report

NuUnion CU, Capital Area District Library Launch Women-Focused Lifestyle Series

By Myriam DiGiovanni

NuUnion Credit Union has teamed up with the Capital Area District Library to help local women become more financially savvy and empowered.
Nevada Federal Names Royal Market Research AVP

By Staff Writer

Nevada Federal Credit Union has named Abby Royal assistant vice president of market research.
NY CU Foundation Names Financial Education Specialist

By Staff Writer

Tony Schilling has joined the New York Credit Union Foundation as financial education specialist.
New Name for Pittsburgh Teachers CU

By Staff Writer

Pittsburgh Teachers Credit Union is joining the growing list of credit unions opting for change in 2008.
CUES Experience Includes Off-Site Tours

By Staff Writer

CUES is having attendees hit the streets for the CUES Experience: Immersion Learning for Marketing, Technology & Operations Leaders, May 13-16, at the Hyatt Regency, Minneapolis.
CUVA Putting Financial Literacy Focus Back into Newsletters

By Staff Writer

Credit Union Virtual Assistant is helping credit unions make the most of their newsletters with a new resource--pay-per-download content from www.CreditUnionNewsletters.com.

Opinions

Who's in your Market?

By Staff Writer

Hispanics are the fastest growing segment in the U.S. population but are also among the most underserved minorities by financial institutions. The census estimated that the Hispanic population in the U.S. by 2006 was 44.3 million, about 15% of the total population.

Looking Back

Looking Back

By Staff Writer

Taking a look back at the CU Times, Jan. 29, 2003 issue the top news of the week was regulatory relief legislation, a tax bill fight in Utah, the January NCUA board meeting, and thrift charter conversions.

Publisher's Column

Bankers Win If One-Third of Largest CUs Plan Conversions

By Staff Writer

Maybe SECU CEO Jim Blaine and CU Financial Services CEO Alan Theriault were not surprised to learn that 33% of credit unions over $100 million in assets surveyed by Aite Group were planning a charter conversion to a mutual savings bank but I was floored. I understand times are tight...

On-Site Conference Coverage

On-Site Coverage: Veteran Journalist Outlines Historical Political Divisions

By Staff Writer

These may well be 'the worst of times' politically when a respected reporter like Ron Brownstein can tell an audience of CU league executives, "I've been covering politics since 1984 and I've never seen anything like this." The 'anything like this' he's referring to is the American presidential campaign and...
On-Site Coverage: AACUL Winter Meeting

By Staff Writer

On-Site Coverage: AACUL Winter Meeting photos
AACUL Panel Highlights Model CU Outreach Programs

By Staff Writer

Finding REAL Solutions that credit unions can adapt to better serve underserved and low-wealth members is a subject dear to Lois Kitch's heart. The national program manager for the National CU Foundation's Real Solutions program is a diehard credit unionist with a practical streak. But the two parts must exist...
AACUL Winter Meeting Measures CU Landscape

By Staff Writer

Southwest Florida contributed unseasonably cool weather in keeping with the Winter Meeting of the American Association of Credit Union Leagues here last week, but that was no impediment to AACUL attendees.