Credit Union Times Magazine July 25, 2012

Auto Lending Opportunities Abound With Market Rebirth

By Michelle A. Samaad

Some are calling it the strongest comeback to emerge from the dregs of the Great Recession. From the last year's drop in gasoline prices to a bevy of lures rolled out by manufacturers to woo shoppers, the auto industry is on track to post its highest volume since the year before...

Mergers are the Talk of the Town in the Northwest

By Jim Rubenstein

Three Northwest states–Washington, Oregon and Montana–have become the nation’s epicenter of merging activity among credit unions, with supporters claiming the trend underscores a higher level of member service.

Technology CU Conversion Opposition Gets Organized

By David Morrison

Two Technology Credit Union members have joined forces to fight the potential coversion to a bank charter. Carlos Rodriguez and Robert Marinace announced July 18 the creation of “Save TCU,” a group to organize other members opposed to the move.

Card Settlement Brings Peace to Payments

By David Morrison

The longstanding dispute over credit card fees and payment practices appeared to come to a close last week when the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York announced a preliminary settlement in a dispute between retailers, the major card brands and at least nine major card issuers.

Social Media Connects INVEST Advisers and Members

By Michelle A. Samaad

After hearing a growing chorus of requests from its financial advisers, INVEST Financial Corp., has moved forward with its initiative to build a bigger social media presence.

CEO Larry Hayes Hits the Ground Running

By Michelle A. Samaad

When it comes to putting a plan in place and then bringing it to life, Larry Hayes doesn’t like to waste time pontificating on minutiae.

Student Loan Relief via Refinancing

By Natasha Chilingerian

One of the toughest parts of borrowing money for education is paying off the loans, especially if high interest rates are in the picture. That’s where credit unions can come in and offer relief with student loan refinance programs, several experts say.

Faith Community United CUSO Eyes Cash Flow Gap

By Michelle A. Samaad

For some small businesses, waiting the 30 to 60 days for a vendor to process an invoice and cut the check can quickly dry up cash flow.

Grow? It’s Part of Fla. CU’s Name, History and Future

By Eileen Courter

As far as Bob Fisher, president/CEO of Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, is concerned, joining the Billionaires Club doesn’t mean you don’t need to stop growing. In fact, he believes growth is essential.

Editor's Column: It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World

By Sarah Snell Cooke

I was galled at the childishness of bankers in Vermont putting the regulator up to blocking a credit union from using the term “banking” in its marketing materials, and the state regulator for his, at best, naiveté. Readers had the same reaction as you can see from the comments posted...

Marketer Vance Dreams Up Ways for CUs to Stand Out

By Myriam DiGiovanni

"The harder I work, the luckier I get,” said Matt Vance, marketing and community manager at Bellingham, Wash.-based Industrial Credit Union. He has lived by those words since hearing them during an open session at a Crash event he helped coordinate for Mountain West Credit Union Association.

Guest Opinion: The Real Benefits of CUSOs

CUSOs are the secret weapon of the credit union industry. That was a phrase that we used with our board of directors when we last updated them on the eight CUSOs that we own.

Guest Opinion: Dodd-Frank: Two Years and Counting

Four years ago, our nation was thrown into the deepest economic morass since the Great Depression. No question, the situation was dire. People lost their jobs and their homes. Banks and companies closed. Government officials scrambled to help bolster our fragile economy.

Guest Opinion: Let’s Help 50,000 Families

As the presidential campaign intensifies, I am struck by the common sense opportunity for all of us in the credit union world to come together and start to turn this country around. There is a practical way that we, as mission-driven people, can assert leadership and re-infuse energy into our...

MECU Pays Out $2 Million to Members

The 99,500 members of the $1.2 billion MECU of Baltimore have received bonus dividends and loan interest rebates totaling more than $2 million.

Dow Chemical CU Celebrates 75 Years

In a weeklong anniversary celebration, Dow Chemical Employees’ Credit Union will commemorate 75 years of service.

Bankers Cite CU Execs In Anti-MBL Letter

In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and copied to all members of the Senate, the American Bankers Association and Independent Community Bankers of America said current member business lending limits “are entirely appropriate given the significant risk and potential losses that would be...

CommonWealth One Names Cash New CEO

The CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union board of directors announced last week that Charlotte H. Cash has been appointed President/CEO.

Stolen ID Sales Surge in Britain

CreditExpert, Experian’sweb monitoring service, has reported “a massive surge” in the selling of stolen online log-in credentials involving British Internet users.

Foley to Retire From Delta Community

The $4.3 billion Delta Community Credit Union in Atlanta said Rick Foley, its president/CEO, has announced his intent to retire later this year.

Mirachi Named CEO of Kennedy Space Center FCU

The $598 million Kennedy Space Center Federal Credit Union in Merritt Island, Fla., has tapped Joe Mirachi as its new CEO.

Promotions and New Hires from CUs

New staffing positions for CU employees.

Hires and Promotions from CUs

CUs announce staff changes.

CU Community Events

CUs host community events.