Credit Union Times Magazine October 3, 2012

Departures Ripen NCUA for Change

By Heather Anderson

Change is inevitable at the NCUA following the announcements by Board Member Gigi Hyland and Executive Director David Marquis that they’re leaving the agency.

Bank Transfer Day: Year Later, Relationships Blossom

By Michelle A. Samaad

For many credit unions, the first 90 days after a new member signs on can be a critical gauge on whether a relationship can be nurtured and sustained for the long term.

Vigilance Urged on Scams

By Michelle A. Samaad

From rings of alleged thieves working together with an auto dealership and a police officer to get loans to buy cars to an equity skimming scheme used to buy luxury items, over the past few months, credit unions have been bilked in cases that end up costing millions of dollars...

Salary Survey Foresees Small Raises, But More Bonuses

By Peter Strozniak

The salary outlook for credit union executives and rank and file employees reflects what’s been happening during the U.S. economic recovery. It’s still stuck in the slow lane, and no one really knows when it will change into the fast lane.

Forces at Work to Lift Veil of Secrecy Around CEO Pay

By Robert McGarvey

The email from a usually voluble credit union executive who had been asked to comment on the secrecy that surrounds compensation of top managers at federally chartered credit unions said, “Too touchy of a subject for me. Sorry.”

Unitus Advises Japanese Expert

By Candice Reed

Banks in Japan are becoming both fewer in number and larger in size, sparking concern that financial institutions are increasingly less personal and accountable to those they serve.

Behind Great Women and Great Men

By Sarah Snell Cooke

The saying goes, “Behind every great man is a great good woman.” Undoubtedly true our female readers will agree and most of the men when they receive the head-cocked, one eyebrow arched, steely-eyed glare from their female colleagues, mothers, sisters or significant others. You know the one.

Adapting to a Digital Self-Service Model

Credit union members are increasingly demanding more online interaction from their institutions. The request is forcing credit unions to adjust websites and self-service portals to accommodate members.

CFO Melanie Vest Thrives on Her Competitive Spirit: Women to Watch

By Myrian DiGiovanni

It isn’t often you get to wake up doing exactly what you dreamed since you were 12, so for Melanie Vest, chief financial officer at Denton, Texas-based DATCU Credit Union, her journey so far has simply been blessed.

Optimism on Mortgages Competes With Caution

By David Morrison

LAS VEGAS — Credit union executives attending the annual meeting of the American Credit Union Mortgage Association received a mixture of optimism from credit union CEOs about the future of credit union housing finance and caution from a leading economist about the overall economy and the housing market.

Consumer Bureau, Secondary Market Overshadow Meeting

By David Morrison

LAS VEGAS — While the first day of the American Credit Union Mortgage Association’s 16th annual conference featured optimism about credit union housing finance amid an uncertain economy, the second day was overshadowed by concerns about regulatory changes and secondary-market uncertainty.

Harland Add Ons

Harland Financial Solutions is continuing to add to its payments services, this time adding cards and a new bill presentment and pay offering.

VSoft in Viewpointe Net

VSoft Corp. has joined the Viewpointe network, offering hundreds of credit unions more options exchanging and settling payment items, the companies said.

CUtopia’s Core List

Five more small credit unions have committed to the cloud-based OASys core processing system from CUtopia, according to the division of Worldwide Interactive Services LLC in Orlando, Fla.

MIDFLORIDA Commits

Fiserv Inc. said the $1.7 billion MIDFLORIDA Credit Union plans to convert to Fiserv Inc.’s flagship Acumen account processing platform.

ECM at Mich. First

Millennial Vision Inc. of Salt Lake City has won a commitment from the $624 million Michigan First Credit Union in the Detroit suburb of Lathrup Village for a new electronic document management software system.

MeridianLink Picked

A new integrated account opening and loan origination solution will be deployed by the $5.5 billion American Airlines Federal Credit Union in Fort Worth, Texas.

Insight Adds RDC

The 55,000 members of the $454 million Insight Credit Union in Orlando, Fla., are now being offered remote deposit capture for their smartphones.

Calif. CU Taps Jwaala

Jwaala said the $1.4 billion 111,400-member Schools Financial Credit Union in Sacramento, Calif., plans to convert to a new online banking platform from the Austin, Texas-based technology firm.

Sharetec Conversion

Bradford-Scott Data Corp. said it will be converting the $46 million Mid-Illini Credit Union in Bloomington, Ill., to the Sharetec core processing system.

Much Work Remains to Be Done for Underserved

The recently released report on unbanked and underbanked households by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation should be yet another wake-up call for financial institutions across this country and especially credit unions.

Supporting Small Businesses

By Karen Mills

Over the last two decades, small and new businesses have been responsible for creating two out of every three net new jobs in the U.S., and the country’s 28 million small firms today employ 60 million Americans–half of the private-sector workforce.

Marketing Awards

NAFCU has expanded its 2013 marketing awards program to include three asset size groups, giving NAFCU-member credit unions a greater chance to be recognized.

CUES Names Top Finalists

By Marc Rapport

Credit union executives from three countries and three states comprise the five finalists for the Next Top Credit Union Exec award from CUES.

First City CU Questions Fraud Charges on Loss

If former California State Assemblyman Carl Washington defrauded the $492 million First City Credit Union, President/CEO Terry O’Steen isn’t aware of it.

NAFCU Urges Exam Manual Release

NAFCU last week released a letter that President/CEO Fred Becker sent to NCUA Board members, supporting recommendations the agency’s Office of Inspector General made in an Aug. 31 report to improve the examination and complaint processes for small credit unions.

EMV Resource

Card Services for Credit Unions recently announced the launch of its EMV Essentials website, an educational resource for credit unions to learn more about the transition to EMV in the United States.

LANCO Names New CEO

By Staff Writer

LANCO Federal Credit Union’s board of directors has announced the promotion of Stacey Remick to president/CEO. Remick has been with the Lancaster, Pa.-based LANCO for nine years, most recently serving as the vice president of member services.

Retired CEO Fred Kent: In Memoriam

By Staff Writer

First Credit Union, Chandler, Ariz., last week announces the death of Fred L. Kent, former president/CEO of the credit union.

Industry Awards

By Staff Writer

Industry awards, honors.

Women to Watch 2012: The Industry Supporters

By Myridam DiGiovanni

Now we shine the spotlight on those women who have been tirelessly dedicated to providing support to credit unions.