Credit Union Times Magazine May-06, 2009

Cram-Down Tie-In Is Not Expected To Hold Up NCUSIF Stabilization

By Claude R. Marx

Credit unions last week moved a step closer to stretching out the costs of replenishing the NCUSIF resulting from the corporate credit union bailout as the Senate was preparing to vote on a measure to create a temporary stabilization fund.

Space Coast CU Soars In to Rescue Grounded Eastern Financial Florida

By Michelle A. Samaad

Three days after the NCUA took control of Eastern Financial Florida Credit Union, Space Coast Credit Union, appointed by the regulator to temporarily manage the Miramar, Fla.-based financial institution, has proposed a merger of the two credit unions.

Loan-Loss Allowances and Corporate Stabilization Expenses Sink CU Capital

By Heather Anderson

At press time, the NCUA was still posting first-quarter financials to its Web site; however, red ink flows liberally through financial reports currently available to the public, suggesting that 2009 is already one for the record books.

REALTORS FCU Executes 'Quiet' Launch to Test Branchless Systems

By Michelle A. Samaad

After four months of setting up a litany of online systems and then running nonstop dry runs, REALTORS Federal Credit Union went live on May 1 as the country's first virtual credit union.

Obama Administration Continues Push for Credit Card Reform Measure

By Claude R. Marx

The Obama administration last week continued its high-profile support for changes to the laws regulating credit cards.

Congress and Administration Advocate Changes in Mortgage Rules

By Claude R. Marx

The Obama administration is giving financial institutions more incentives to modify second mortgages, while Congress is trying to make those institutions more accountable for home loans that they make.

Swine Flu Outbreak Rejuvenates Credit Union Disaster Plans

By Jim Rubenstein

The swine flu outbreak kicked disaster preparedness plans into high gear among credit unions last week. Regulators and trade groups sounded warnings about the need to have proper communications

Get On Your Way Program Seeks to Lure Gen Y to Credit Unions

By Lindsey Siegriest

Help is out there for credit unions that are baffled about what do to about attracting younger generations of members.

New Report Says PCI Not a Great Deterrent but Better Than the Rest

By David Morrison

A new report has documented that the Payment Card Industry data-security system that credit unions, banks,

United Federal Credit Union Taps Into Gen Y Anti-Bank 'Rants'

By Jim Rubenstein

United Federal Credit Union of St. Joseph, Mich. has come up with a novel way to reach the Gen Y college crowd: let them "rant, vent and complain" about their experience with banks and soon enough they'll switch to United Federal.

CUNA and NAFCU Increase Campaign Donations and Lobbying

By Claude R. Marx

CUNA and NAFCU are pumping up their lobbying expenditures but not giving as much as in previous cycles, according to recently filed reports.

Technology CU CEO Burns Makes the Move to Become Patelco CEO

By Claude R. Marx

The $4.1 billion San Francisco-based Patelco Credit Union has announced that Ken Burns was slated to take the helm after CEO Andy Hunter retired May 1.

Credit Unions Tap Into Viral Media in College Towns

By Jim Rubenstein

On college campuses there's new buzz late last month about social networking with the $1.6 billion Michigan State University FCU of East Lansing signing up with YouTube and establishing an e-commerce and marketing division.

Michigan Bills Allow Wider Acceptance of CUs in CD Swap Network

By Michelle A. Samaad

It looks very promising for two bills set to be signed by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm that would allow credit unions to become members

Alliance Credit Union Helps Struggling Silicon Valley Businesses Streamline

By Michelle A. Samaad

Fears of rising health care expenses, unemployment and business taxes are the greatest concerns this year for roughly 60% of CEOs of Silicon Valley-based businesses.

Credit Union 24 Trumpets First-Quarter Growth

By David Morrison

Credit Union 24 announced that four more CUs have joined its network, and credit unions worth more than $4.3 billion in assets have renewed their contracts.

Kan. Trade Cuts Dues

By Jim Rubenstein

The Kansas Credit Union Association is joining some of its peers this month on a dues reduction to aid members hit by the NCUA assessment.

Investment Joint Venture Aims to Bring More Choices to CU Market

By Michelle A. Samaad

A new joint venture between MEMBERS Capital Advisors and another Wisconsin-based investment firm is poised to not only offer more funds but also free up more time for asset managers to manage CUNA Mutual Group's general fund.

To Merge or Not Merge? Ponder the Financials

By Michelle A. Samaad

Given their respective financials, whether a merger of Space Coast Credit Union and Eastern Financial Florida Credit Union would be in the best interests of both fields of membership remains to be seen.

Bankers Slam Merger

By Michelle A. Samaad

The idea of a potential merger between two of Florida's largest credit unions has the Florida Bankers Association livid.

Demand Spurs Counseling Merger

By Heather Anderson

A 100% increase in demand, fueled by California's job losses and foreclosures, was enough to convince Los Angeles-based ByDesign Financial Solutions to merge with Richmond, Va.-based ClearPoint Counseling Solutions.

CUs Prepared for 2009 Foreclosures

By Heather Anderson

Are credit unions positioned to absorb another round of foreclosures? Industry experts say yes, despite real estate reporting services releasing all-time high monthly and quarterly default numbers.

Vermont CUs to Merge

The $43 million Members Advantage Community CU of Barre, Vt., and the $11 million Caswell CU, Burlington, Vt., are merging to form the sixth largest credit union in the state.

Knowing Member Needs Spurs CU Continuity

By Sarah Snell Cooke

The credit union community has dwindled from more than 22,000 institutions in the 1970s to roughly 8,000 today.

Communication Is Priceless

Recently, various media outlets reported for all to see the latest spat between the credit unions' two major trade associations,

Preliminary Steps for CUs on the New COBRA Subsidy Requirements

The HR news pipeline has been filled with information regarding the COBRA subsidy enacted in February as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Don't feel alone if you're still not sure what, exactly, to do about it.

The Time Is Now to Harness the Power of CU Philosophy

Once upon a time, groups of idealistic men and women formed credit unions based on financial need and the philosophic premise that,

QUOTES WORTH QUOTING

By Lindsey Siegriest

"A liquidation would be a real disservice. Even if they liquidate, they are going to have to clear up many commitments to members

Application Developers Seen Leading Charge in Mobile Banking Adoption

By Marc Rapport

Mobile banking is not only the wave of the future, it's a driver of economic recovery, according to a new report, which also predicts that mobile banking will nearly triple over the next five years worldwide.

Syracuse Credit Union Finds Knowledge Management System Empowering

By Marc Rapport

In the past two years, the staff at Empower Federal Credit Union has been able to compare and contrast the before and after experience

iPhone Love Helps AMOCO FCU Hit a Growing Mobile Banking Sweet Spot

By Marc Rapport

Tommy Green should have known he was underestimating the enthusiasm his "blue-collar credit union" would show for mobile banking.

Teres Solutions Reaches the 200th Customer Mark for Lending Software

Teres Solutions said it now has 200 customers using its automated direct, indirect and merchant lending software.

PEOPLE

Aberdeen Proving Ground Federal Credit Union, Aberdeen, Md., honored 26 employees of the credit union for their service to the credit union at the milestones of 10 through 25 years.

More Top Managers Are Suffering the Sharp Pain of Salary Cuts

By Jim Rubenstein

Even though some credit unions acted months ago, now the recession and the NCUA income adjustments at the corporates are forcing CEOs and

Southwest Corporate Survey Shows CEO Confidence at Five-Year Low

By Lindsey Siegriest

The latest results from the Southwest Corporate Federal Credit Union CEO Confidence Survey showed that CEO confidence is at its lowest level in five years.

Youth Week: More Than a Magician and Some Balloons

By Lindsey Siegriest

A week dedicated to youth by America's credit unions.

What Did Your Mother Instill in You That Has Helped You in Your Credit Union Career?

By Claude R. Marx

I feel that my love for credit unions and their 'not for profit, not for charity, but for service'

Managing Card Portfolio in Down Economy Is a Mixture of Art and Science

By David Morrison

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Managing a credit card portfolio during economic meltdown has become a key issue for many credit union card issuers.

Despite Economy, CUs Are Urged Not to Forsake Credit Card Issuing

By David Morrison

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Card Services for Credit Unions used much of its 20th annual meeting to reassure and encourage credit unions to manage their card portfolios through these troubled economic times.

Credit Unions Have Played Key Role in Protecting Interchange

By David Morrison

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A key lobbyist with Visa USA thanked credit union executives for CU help in defending card interchange and suggested that the interchange fight may be mostly over for this year.

EARTH DAY

Cyprus Credit Union, West Jordan, Utah, staff members planted a tree in honor of Earth Day.