Credit Union Times Magazine February 29, 2012

Crime: Brute Force Is Latest Modus Operandi

By Robert McGarvey

The $41 million Kentucky Employees Credit Union in Frankfort, Ky., found out the hard way that ATMs continue to attract criminals. And thefts can go way beyond simple attachment of skimmers.

Fraud Claim Against NCUA in St. Paul Croatian Fallout

By David Morrison

An Ohio church has alleged the NCUA staff committed fraud when they did not allow it to withdraw its funds from the failing St. Paul Croatian Federal Credit Union before the credit union was placed into conservatorship.

Loan Participation Cap Reg Is Roundly Decried

By David Morrison

Credit unions, credit union trade associations and CUSOs have weighed in against the NCUA's December 2011 proposal to cap and limit credit unions’ use of loan participations in an attempt to protect them from concentration risk.

Investment Revamp at Coastal FCU Aligns With Membership Needs

By Michelle A. Samaad

Nearly seven years ago, changes to Coastal Federal Credit Union’s investment program were put in place to help build a stronger presence with members, many of whom had long-time ties to IBM, the cooperative’s original sponsor.

Conversion Considered, Apple FCU to Leave CUNA

By David Morrison

The 144,000-member, $1.6 billion Apple Federal Credit Union, Fairfax, Va., has become the first large credit union to leave CUNA this year. Three other large CUs, two from New Mexico and one from Texas, left the trade group last year.

CAMEL Fracas in N.C. Has Legs

By Jim Rubenstein

Now in its sixth month, the CAMEL rating stalemate in North Carolina between the NCUA and the North Carolina Credit Union Division morphed into new territory last week with Jim Blaine, the president/CEO of State Employees’ Credit Union, again attacking the NCUA’s credibility.

Mobile Banking: CUs Challenged to Aid On-the-Go Members

By David Morrison

While Hartford Federal Credit Union’s 14,000 members are a diverse group when it comes to age, most of the initial interest in mobile banking came from the younger set.

Wis. Bill Would Allow Increased Donations

By Michelle A. Samaad

Credit unions in Wisconsin may soon be able to double their financial support for charitable and community organizations.

Iowa CU Loses Two Campus Branches

By Jim Rubenstein

Calling its move discouraging but necessary, the $1.4 billion University of Iowa Community Credit Union has undergone a pullback from its campus operations by closing two branches, ATMs and student ID services in a give-up to a local bank.

ATM Disclosure Lawsuits Mount

By David Morrison

The issue of lawyers filing a growing number of lawsuits over ATMs missing disclosure signs has moved from being a mere nuisance to credit unions to meetings with federal lawmakers and President Obama’s administration seeking relief.

Editor’s Column: Just Give ’Em What They Want

By Sarah Snell Cooke

Two billion-dollar credit unions are currently seeking to convert to a bank charter. Another, HAR-CO Maryland FCU with a not-insignificant $193 million in assets, is also seeking a conversion. These credit unions, if successful, will necessarily leave the credit union trade associations and the NCUSIF.

Women to Watch: XCEL COO Fueled by Tenacity and Technology

By Myriam DiGiovanni

Rather than seeing challenges as stumbling blocks, Marianne Pulice, vice president/chief operating officer at XCEL Federal Credit Union, believes they represent opportunity.

Vox Populi: Should Credit Union Release Their CAMEL Codes?

First, Bauer Financial already risk rates credit unions for free. Any member can check it out. Second, slippery slope. Once people start releasing this information, those that don't will be suspect of hiding something.

Guest Opinion: Marketing to Women Requires Cultural Change

Why aren’t more credit unions developing marketing programs directly speaking to women? Why don’t they get it? I know the answer.

Guest Opinion: In Mobile, Winner Takes All

A revolution is brewing in the payments industry. The future of payments technology is now in the hands of consumers in the form of their mobile devices and smart phones.

EasCorp Signs Five CUs for Mobile Banking

EasCorp said five more credit unions have committed to using mobile remote-deposit capture from its Vertifi Software LLC subsidiary.

Mobile Apple App at Municipal Credit Union

The 327,000 members of the $1.7 billion Municipal Credit Union can bank on their Apples.

UT FCU Hikes for Fin Lit

Football season may have wrapped up, but for the second year UT Federal Credit Union has partnered with Visa and the NFL to help University of Tennessee Upward Bound students score a touchdown for their financial future.

Card Offer Warms Alaskans’ Hearts

The 11,000 members of the True North Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Juneau, Alaska, have responded strongly to a targeted offer centered on the credit union's Platinum Visa card.

LA Financial FCU Celebrates Its 75th Anniversary

LA Financial Federal Credit Union turned 75 on Feb. 11, and the celebration will continue all year.

Tech FCU Expands Investment Options

Members of First Tech Federal Credit Union will have access to an extended lineup of investment and wealth management services thanks to a new partnership.

Randolph-Brooks Passes Out Millions in Debit Rewards

Running counter to the trend that finds debit card and debit rewards programs at major banks under significant pressure, the 375,000-member Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union passed back $6.6 million to its members who used its debit card in 2011.

P.J. Walker, Bridgeway FCU CEO, to Retire

After over 14 years of service, P.J. Walker has announced he’ll retire as president/CEO of Bridgeway Federal Credit Union.

Jack Henry Offers Web-Based Security Training

Web-based security awareness training for credit unions to offer their commercial members is now being offered by Jack Henry & Associates’ ProfitStars division.

People in the News

By Staff Writer

Hirings, promotions and retirements.