Credit Union Times Magazine November 9, 2011

Featured Story

Bank Transfer Day: BofA Blinks, but CUs Remain Grateful

By Myriam DiGiovanni

Is Bank Transfer Day more hype than consumer revolution?

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Featured Story

Occupy Protesters Reach Out to CUs

By Michelle A. Samaad

Occupy Wall Street demonstrations in New York City and across the country continue to grow as organizers seek to keep the momentum going by connecting with credit unions.

Front Page News

Arizona CU Sees a Go-Local Shift

By Michelle A. Samaad

For many credit unions, Bank of America’s failed attempt to charge a $5 monthly debit card usage fee sent their membership numbers up the charts.
GOP Blasts Consumer Bureau Again

By Claude R. Marx

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is just beginning its work, but that hasn’t stopped its critics from aiming their rhetorical fire at it.
Reg Moratorium Called by CUNA

By Claude R. Marx

No more. That’s CUNA’s message to the NCUA when it comes to regulations. In a 15-page letter to NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz, the trade association said it wants the regulator not to issue any new regulations during the next six months, and after that to do a better job of justifying the...
CUSO Reg Revise Gains Cheers

By Claude R. Marx

The NCUA is going back to the drawing board on its CUSO rule and the industry is happy.

News

Recoup Fees the Easy Way With Interest Rate Cuts, Expert Says

By Michelle A. Samaad

Consumers are clearly in the driver’s seat these days as they account for nearly the bulk of all bank deposit dollars.
Trademark Quarrel Over Longstanding CU Network Name

By David Morrison

A dispute over who owns the rights to the name of a long-standing credit union real estate institution appears to pit a mortgage consultant within one of the institution's chapters against the leading provider of private mortgage insurance for credit unions.
J.P. Morgan Asks Court to Dismiss NCUA Suit

By Claude R. Marx

The NCUA has failed to prove that J.P. Morgan Securities the firm made “material misrepresentations” to the corporate credit unions when selling them residential mortgage-backed securities, according the firm’s court filing. And with that J.P. Morgan asked a federal judge to dismiss the agency’s June lawsuit against it.
Former WesCorp CFO Mounts Vigorous Defense in NCUA Suit

By Robert McGarvey

Former WesCorp Chief Financial Officer Todd Lane, in a point-by-point rebuttal submitted to presiding Judge George H. Wu as part of the ongoing litigation that pits NCUA against the former officers of WesCorp, has taken on every charge leveled against him by the NCUA. And, in the bargain, Lane has...
Entrepreneurs Are Welcomed at Affinity FCU

By Michelle A. Samaad

For at least the past four years, small business owners have gotten to know just how resourceful Affinity Federal Credit Union is when it comes to meeting their unique financial needs.
CU Business Group Says Staff Knowledge Holds Back Business Deposits

By Michelle A. Samaad

When it comes to the barriers that tend to prevent a credit union’s business services program from thriving, a lack of knowledge from staff appears to be ranked the highest.

Editor-in-Chief's Column

Bank Transfer Day: Soak Up the Attention, Then Build Momentum

By Sarah Snell Cooke

Bank Transfer Day was lauded for helping to nudge consumers toward credit unions. It was belittled as mere media hype. It was feared it would only bring in deposits and not loans, which would tip delicately balanced capital ratios.

People Feature

Trailblazers 40 Below: VP Scott Assembles the Risk Management Puzzle

By Myriam DiGiovanni

Believe it or not, risk management is fun for Kristen Scott, vice president of enterprise risk management at Telhio Credit Union.

Letters to the editor

Letter: Conversion Can Dash CU’s Inherent Good

By Robert J. Larison Jr.

I have opted to offer an opinion on the recent announcement of impending conversion of First Technology from a credit union into a mutual. I offer the unique perspective of having gone through such a conversion in 2000.
Letter: Transfer Day Presents Enormous Opportunity

By Cliff Rosenthal

Amid the general excitement about Bank Transfer Day, some commentators have urged caution upon credit unions. They have pointed out that small-dollar, single-product new members may not be profitable; that a large influx of deposits may dilute net worth ratios; and that promises that “we’ll never charge you fees” may...
Letter: Is Bank Transfer Day Just About Fees?

By Jim Johnson

BofA announced that it will not begin charging the $5 per month fee for using debit cards. I heard on the news this morning that the consumer won a big battle. Good for us! But good the credit union movement?

Opinion

Gen Y Back Talk: To Switch or Not to Switch?

By Natasha Chilingerian

When Bank of America announced a monthly $5 debit card fee would take effect in 2012, questions about the potential backlash ran through my head. Would consumers put up with this? Would the bank cancel the fee to combat lost business? How angry would the fee make Gen Y?
Guest Opinion: Mission-Driven Comunication

By Stuart R. Levine

Successful leaders live by fundamental leadership principles with discipline and focus. They commit to continuous learning and strive to have their behaviors serve as a reflection of their values–setting the standard and expectations for others in your credit union.
Guest Opinion: Tough Times Are Fertile for CU Business Growth

By Juli Anne Callis

While unemployment is rising to ever higher levels, many displaced by this trend are heeding the the call of the entrepreneurial spirit.

News Briefs

Mid-Atlantic Merger With VACORP Gets Approval

By Robert McGarvey

Mid-Atlantic Corporate Federal Credit Union and VACORP Federal Credit Union have announced that the NCUA unanimously approved their merger plan at the closed NCUA Board meeting in late October.
Northwest Foundation Merger on Track

By Marc Rapport

A year after their leagues merged, the Oregon and Washington credit union foundations will become the Northwest Credit Union Foundation as of Jan. 1.

Tech Bytes

Indiana CU Scrubs Addresses With Experian QAS Tool

By Marc Rapport

Experian QAS said the $426 million Notre Dame Federal Credit Union in South Bend, Ind., has begun using the company’s address verification software in its branches and mortgage operation.
Alaska USA Offers Free Mobile Apps

By Marc Rapport

The $4.4 billion Alaska USA FCU has released free mobile banking apps for iPhone and Android users have been rolled out by the $4.4 billion Alaska USA Federal Credit Union.
Illinois CU Adds RDC From VSoft

By Marc Rapport

The 55,000 members of the $551 million Consumers Credit Union in Waukegan, Ill., will soon be offered merchant, home and mobile remote deposit capture from their credit union.
Michigan Credit Union Taps Sharetec

By Marc Rapport

Bradford-Scott Data Corp. said the $75 million Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union in Iron Mountain, Mich., will become its fifth core processing customer in the Upper Peninsula.
Mobile App Bows at Insight CU

By Marc Rapport

A free mobile app that can be used by any Internet-enabled mobile device has been rolled out by the $442 million Insight Credit Union in Orlando, Fla.