Credit Union Times Magazine January-13, 2010

Rhamy Confident of Recovery

By Heather Anderson

Silver State Schools Credit Union President/CEO Dave Rhamy had a tough December.

Nevada Economic Woes Stoke a New ASI vs. NCUA Insurance Debate

By Jim Rubenstein

Las Vegas has become the industry hot spot this month for heated public dialogue about federal vs. private insurance with both NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz and American Share Insurance CEO Dennis Adams taking turns at media megaphones.

Billion Dollar Georgia CU Merger Seeks to Leverage Brand Loyalty

By Michelle A. Samaad

For more than 55 years, residents of Augusta, Ga., have built a loyal bond with CSRA Federal Credit Union, recognizing the cooperative's brand and knowing many of the employees by their first name.

Leggett, Fla. Regulator Settle

By Michelle A. Samaad

The Florida Office of Financial Regulation Division of Financial Institutions recently said Chris Leggett,

WesCorp CEO Criticizes Proposed Regs

By Heather Anderson

Western Corporate Federal Credit Union President/CEO Philip Perkins spoke out against some proposed NCUA corporate regulations in a letter to members that was obtained by Credit Union Times.

Sen. Dodd's Retirement Could Pave the Way For a Senate Deal on Financial Reg Restructuring

By Claude R. Marx

The impending retirement of Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) could make it easier for that panel to reach a consensus on regulatory restructuring, according to lobbyists for the credit union movement.

Carolina Postal Credit Union Swaps Fees for Food

This past December, Carolina Postal Credit Union helped fill local Food Banks while waiving member fees.

After Long Wait, Congress May Take Action to Raise MBL Cap

By Claude R. Marx

After a 12-year wait-not quite the 102 years that Chicago Cubs fans have endured but a frustrating time nonetheless-credit unions could get additional power to make business loans.

Members United Audit Finds No New Losses

By Heather Anderson

The $8.35 billion Members United Corporate Federal Credit Union released its 2008 audited financial statements Dec. 31, along with the good news that auditors McGladrey & Pullen LLP didn't turn up any new losses that had not been recorded in 2009.

More Retirees Taking Higher Levels of Income

By Michelle A. Samaad

Almost half of all financial assets held by households with people age 65 and older can now be considered in retirement income "draw-down" mode, according to a new research report from Hearts & Wallets.

CACU Adopts Local Families

By Lindsey Siegriest

Along with 10 other organizations in the Detroit area, Communicating Arts Credit Union adopted 24 families this past holiday season.

Service Credit Union Supports Air Force Memorial

Representatives of the United States Air Force Memorial Foundation, responsible for Air Force Memorial in Boscawen, N.H.,

Innovations Federal Credit Union Rocks the Web With Holiday Video

By Myriam DiGiovanni

Innovations Federal Credit rocked out the holidays with the jingle shared 'round the Web.

Visa-SHPS Renew Link

Visa Inc. and account-based, consumer-driven healthcare solutions provider SHPS Inc. have renewed their partnership.

Chartway FCU Expansion Quest Marches on With Completion of Utah Merger

By Jim Rubenstein

The $1.5 billion Chartway Federal Credit Union in Virginia has made good on a month-old NCUA pledge to merge with a troubled Utah credit union and thereby expand to a 10-state footprint.

El Paso CEO Retires

Another longtime credit union leader has decided the time is right to step down.

CU Offers 'Unemployment Protection' to Members

Local Government Federal Credit Union has come up with a creative way to help members who have lost their jobs.

Media Glare Continues

Credit unions wrapped up last year with a slew of mainstream media financial experts talking them up as an alternative to banks.

Another Symitar Vet Joins Startup Processor

The newest entry in the core processing space for credit unions has hired a longtime Symitar veteran to help lead the platform's development.

Roll Out E-Welcome Mat

Meriwest Credit Union has found a way to make new members feel at home with and e-welcome.

Ritz-Carlton Model Is Focus of Conference

A group of Mid-Atlantic credit union leagues are ramping up the industry search for the ideal "service culture" next year by using the Ritz-Carlton Hotel chain as the model at a special CEO Summit in Florida.

Bethpage FCU Donates iTunes to U.S. Troops

This past holiday season, Bethpage Federal Credit Union gave American troops the gift of music.

FoolProof Literacy Plan Adds Illinois League

The Illinois Credit Union League has been added to the list of trade groups buying into the Web-based FoolProof literacy package promoted by the Credit Union Associations of Colorado/Wyoming.

Compliance Provider Hires Former Open Solutions Marketer

Compliance solutions specialist Continuity Engine has added another former credit union industry veteran from Open Solutions Inc.

British Columbia CU Commits to Fiserv

By Marc Rapport

Westoba Credit Union has become the fourth top-30 Canadian credit union to commit to the Acumen core processing solution from Fiserv Inc., the company said.

CO-OP Partners with NCR to Launch ATM Outsourcing

CO-OP Financial Services has partnered with NCR Corp. to offer outsourced ATM services to credit unions.

FIS Releases New Look for Its Bill Pay Interface

By Marc Rapport

FIS has released a new bill pay interface for Metavante users that provides tools aimed at easing "new user" apprehension and increasing usage.

Online Auctions: A New Alternative for Auto Remarketing and Repossessions

Recently, an article in Credit Union Times discussed a survey conducted by CUNA that showed a large number of credit unions are dissatisfied with their current auto remarketing results.

Politics Does Indeed Make the CU World Go 'Round

By Sarah Snell Cooke

Early January is typically a slow news time for us as the credit union industry awakes from its holiday slumber, but that is certainly not the case this year.

Smaller, Forward-Thinking Credit Unions Continue to Innovate and Adapt

Can anyone really argue that 2009 will be remembered as the year of missed opportunities for the credit union marketplace?

LOOKING BACK

By Claude R. Marx

Wireless and online banking may seem like a top issue of the day, but six years ago the functionality of this new technology was just beginning to be debated.

Channeling Drucker: What Would Peter Say?

By Claude R. Marx

"I told you so." That's what Peter Drucker might say to corporate credit union managers in the wake of our recent financial collapse.

PEOPLE

Georgetown Kraft Credit Union, Georgetown, S.C., announced that Kevin K. Langford joined its staff as the new manager of data processing and information technology.