SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio Federal Credit Union has signed a multiyear deal for online account opening services from Online Resources Corp....

DEERFIELD, Ill. -- San Francisco-based Patelco Credit Union is writing the book this year on the nurturing of SEGs considering its stellar record for the giant Walgreens drug chain as measured in member growth and loan volume....

ATLANTA -- Forget about it being a fad, going green seems to be the future for financial institutions....

WASHINGTON --A fund to help victims of the subprime mortgage crisis and a reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are key components of a bill passed by the Senate Banking Committee last week....

ELMSFORD, N.Y. -- Emigrant Mortgage Co. here believes it has found a like-minded approach between itself and credit unions in how mortgage operations are conducted. Realizing that affinity, Emigrant is now reaching out to introduce itself as another option available for specialized mortgage products for credit union members....

HONOLULU -- Members of Aloha Airlines Federal Credit Union are proving to be a resilient lot even after nearly 1,000 of them lost their jobs when Aloha Airlines closed its doors for good on March 31....

WALLINGFORD, Conn. -- With the cost of college tuition rising at a 7.5% clip annually, credit union member-parents with college bound kids are looking for some help and a bit of relief. A new program rolled out here by Constitution Corporate FCU and other corporates to their own CU members is timed to do just that....

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- NCUA Director David Marquis didn't have much good news for WesCorp Future Forum attendees during his presentation on the event's first day. Not only has the agency charged $215 million to NCUSIF reserves so far in 2008, but last year's NCUA employee collective bargaining agreement and Capitol Hill's increased interest in financial institutions will result in higher audit and compliance costs industry-wide....

WASHINGTON -- Now that the Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted an amendment to increase the availability of capital to certain smaller companies, credit unions and other lenders may be able to help more small businesses....

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In early May, Fannie Mae announced several key changes to its residential mortgage guidelines that will have a major impact on helping homebuyers and may assist lenders in easing the mortgage crisis, said Gibran Nicholas, chairman of the CMPS Institute (www.cmpsinstitute.org), an organization that certifies mortgage bankers and brokers....

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Two top economists launched WesCorp's Future Forum with the same good news, bad news scenario many industry economists have already predicted: The forces driving the current economic downturn are severe and unique. However, thanks to a lack of traditional recession indicators, it shouldn't be terribly severe....

LENEXA, Kan. -- For the first time ever, TruHome Solutions LLC, a mortgage credit union service organization, has hit the $1 billion mark in mortgage servicing....

WASHINGTON -- To make it accessible to even more credit unions and community banks, the Small Business Administration has extended its Small/Rural Lender Advantage program to Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri....

SAN DIMAS, Calif. -- When new WesCorp Chief Financial Officer Jim Hayes was named Todd Lane's replacement after just five years of heading the corporate's marketing and business development department, those unfamiliar with Hayes and his background might have questioned the choice....

NEW YORK CITY -- Attendees at CUNA's annual conference will be able to eat, drink and dance on a revolving floor high atop Manhattan....

WASHNGTON -- Like so many warranty disclaimers, NCUA has said credit unions can use CUSO loan experts but certain restrictions apply....

MADISON, Wis. -- A Madison Equal Opportunity Commission hearing examiner has found that CUNA fired a former top executive for complaining about his boss's racist and sexist comments. If upheld, the ruling could force CUNA to pay a substantial amount in back pay and damages....

SAN DIEGO -- Ask any of the principals affiliated with XCU Capital Corp., a credit union homegrown broker-dealer and investment advisory firm, for the...

WesCorp President/CEO Bob Siravo teams up with the Friar Mascot of the National League San Diego Padres during WesCorp's Future Forum in La Jolla, Calif., last week. Conference attendees were treated to a Padres-Mariners game at Petco Park in San Diego....

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Federal credit unions will have to submit additional data about the financial characteristics of their members and the services they provide to them as a result of policies approved Thursday by the NCUA Board....

MADISON, Wis. -- For the first time ever credit union membership has topped the 90 million mark, according to industry estimates....

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. -- Bethpage Federal Credit Union partnered with Book Revue, an independent bookstore in Huntington, N.Y., to sponsor author events throughout the year. This months author event featured actor, producer and author Henry Winkler. ...

BOISE, Idaho -- The time for risk-based capital "is well overdue" for credit unions and conditions are improving for passage perhaps in a year, according to former NCUA aide Kirk Cuevas....

WASHINGTON -- CUNA Chief Economist Bill Hampel, appearing on Bloomberg TV, expressed an overall positive view of the future for the economy, saying that next year will be a very important year for growth....

MINNEAPOLIS -- It was a big night for marketers as 2008 CUES Golden Mirror Award winners were announced during the recent CUES Experience: Immersion Learning for Marketing, Technology & Operations Leaders conference....

DALLAS -- For its plethora of programs courting the 50 and older crowd, Neighborhood Credit Union was recently featured on NBC's "Today" show as one of the top five financial institutions in the country for targeting the baby boomer generation....

VERNON HILLS, Ill. -- For their performance and service to members, several of Baxter Credit Union's investment adviser representatives have been named to CUNA Mutual Group's President's Council....

ROCKLIN, Calif. -- Spotting where the revenue growth is in credit union investment programs, the fee-based advisory channel has seen the largest increase year over year compared to the revenue of other products and services within the retail investment services channel, according to the 2007 Callahan/SCS Credit Union Retail Investment Services Bench-mark program....

BRAINTREE, Mass. -- The type of member seeking trust services at Tremont Credit Union ranges from older couples with concerns about their estates should they have to face Alzheimer's disease to parents ensuring that spendthrift children won't abuse their inheritances....

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Over lunch or coffee, outside of the office, colleagues are more apt to talk candidly about the pressing issues of the day....

PASADENA, Calif. -- Dubbed the sandwich generation for their position between working full time, raising children and taking care of an elderly parent or relative, credit unions are discovering this growing baby boomer segment has unique financial needs....

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of gasoline has increased by 26% in the last year and oil increases show no sign of slowing down. Similarly, the bureau notes that grain and dairy-based products have increased by double digits in the last year. And, we are all aware of the weakening dollar and its effect on the cost of goods coupled with less available credit. Further, as noted on the Bloomberg newswire, Fannie Mae forecasts a drop of 7% to 8% in home prices nationally in 2008. None of this is good news. In short, all our members are feeling the pain of this seemingly perfect storm of economic poor tidings....

I thought CUVA CEO Laura Enock's opinion piece (CU Times, April 23, 2008, page 16) was very provocative. While I don't agree 100% with what she said or how she said it, I do agree that it takes more than education. It takes personal responsibility and motivation and self discipline, which should be addressed in our educational programs....

It was with great interest that I read Laura Enock's op-ed regarding our country not needing financial education--only financial responsibility. Not only was your piece misguided and the tone condescending, it is also offensive to anyone who teaches financial education or has ever had a financial problem. In my 11 years of teaching and counseling thousands of families and individuals, I have met many hard-working, well-intentioned, responsible, intelligent families with financial problems. The vast majority of them want to live up to their financial responsibilities; they just need some help knowing exactly how to do that....

As thoroughly reported in Credit Union Times, the financial condition of the California-based and recently conserved Cal State 9 Credit Union continues to deteriorate. The National Credit Union Administration's handling of this state-chartered, federally insured institution raises an important public policy question. Is the NCUSIF purposely or inadvertently using conservatorships to make uninsured depositors whole?...

At the risk of exposing myself as a scatterbrain, I couldn't settle on just one topic for this week's column, so I'm going to hit you with a throng of subjects....

"Everybody's writing off a few more loans, spreads are thinner and ROAs aren't looking good."...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Building on steadily improving CU card portfolio performance, Card Services for Credit Unions unveiled a sharply expanded consulting and education effort for member credit unions at its annual meeting....

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Fidelity National Information Services (FIS), the card processor for most card issuing credit unions, used Card Services for Credit Unions annual meeting to introduce several upgraded products and services....

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Protecting card interchange income made center stage at Card Services for Credit Unions annual meeting here this year....

EASTEight Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union, Broomall, Pa., announced that its employees were acknowledge for participating in a successful 2008 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in the City of Chester. The VITA program provides free income tax preparation to low income taxpayers. Eight Franklin Mint volunteers were recognized along with other VITA volunteers at a ceremony held on Widener University's campus. In addition to tax returns, volunteers also helped with economic stimulus payments. Employees there were thanked included: Tonia Covington, Gloria Mann, Cecily Venkatesh, Quynh Nguyen, Tyra Taylor, Laverne King-Stover, Carmen Freeman and Richard B. Elam. Sara Starr and Nurel Story were also recognized at the ceremony for being tax preparers at Eight Franklin Min's Chester branch and Sharon Fluellen-Flynn was recognized for coordinating the site at North Chester Baptist Church.Tricorp Federal Credit Union, Westbrook, Maine, announced that Ralph Ferland and Vicki Stuart were elected to its board of directors. Ferland is the president/CEO of Eastern Maine Medical Center Federal Credit Union and Stuart is the president/CEO of Central Maine Credit Union.SOUTHSecurity Service Federal Credit Union, San Antonio, announced the promotion of Christina Castellanos to manger of the Nacogdoches Service Center. Castellanos has worked at Security Service for seven years and most recently served as the assistant manager for the Isom Service Center.Beacon Federal Credit Union, La Porte, Texas, announced that its board of directors has recently appointed Jack V. McAdoo as its new president/CEO. McAdoo has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and previously served as the president/CEO of StarTrust Federal Credit Union.Alabama Credit Union, Tuscaloosa, Ala., announced that President Steve Swofford and Supervisory Committee Chairman Dot Martin were recognized at the 75th annual meeting of the Alabama Credit Union League. Swofford was re-elected to his second term on the league board of directs. Martin was honored as the volunteer of the year. Also, Benson Bolling was promoted to vice president, lending. Bolling has been an employee at Alabama CU since 1997.FedChoice Federal Credit Union, Washington, announced that Marketing Manager Deborah Wright is a recent graduate of the NAFCU Management Development Institute. Wright oversees campaign development and implementation, Web site management, the publication of FedChoice Financial Concierge Magazine, branch merchandising, direct mail campaigns and new product development at FedChoice.A+ Federal Credit Union, Austin, Texas, announced the promotion of Dennis Loftis to its newly created executive vice president position. Loftis has been at A + for 15 years and was the vice president, finance for seven years.MID WESTTowpath Credit Union, Akron, Ohio, announced that its CEO Alan McArthur celebrated his 10 year anniversary with the credit union. During his tenure Towpath grew to 13,000 members, constructed a 10,000 square foot branch on Smith Road in Fairlawn, and had asset growth in excess of 50%.Community Business Lenders, Des Moines, Iowa, announced the hiring of Troy Thompson as vice president of member business lending. Jenni Danley was also hired as an accounting specialist. Community Business Lenders is a CUSO of the Iowa Credit Union League.South Division Credit Union, Evergreen Park, Ill., announced that Vanessa Bohanon celebrated her 10 year anniversary at South Division. Bohanon is South Division's accounting department supervisor. Bohanon was honored with a certificate of appreciation.WESTWauna Federal Credit Union, Clatskanie, Ore., announced that Danea Passmore was voted by her peers as the employee of the quarter. Passmore is the Clatskanie operations manager. The employee of the quarter is recognized at an all team meeting and receives a gift basket of their personal favorite things and chooses between an extra paid day off or $100. Also, both Randy Brackman and Debi Smiley will celebrate 20 years of service at Wauna. Brackman is chief compliance officer and Smiley is chief operations officer....