MADISON, Wis. — Under a deal brokered by the Wisconsin Credit Union League and an Illinois-based corporate, credit unions here can now bid on insured certificates of deposit offered under a state-backed 529 college savings plan. ...

WASHINGTON — NCUA Chairman Michael E. Fryzel reiterated his pledge to take an active role in preventing problems before they occur during a speech before the suburban chapter of the Maryland and D.C. Credit Union League. ...

WASHINGTON — The Department of Housing and Urban Development Nov. 13 issued long-awaited rules to reform the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act requirements. ...

AN DIEGO — Mitch Ronco, spokesman for consumer credit counselor InCharge Debt Solutions, said he’s been turning more and more struggling consumers away because they don’t qualify for InCharge’s full-repayment program. ...

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota CU recently decided to help its members into home purchases by encouraging them to use their writing skills. ...

WASHINGTON — In an attempt to stem foreclosures and set industry guidelines, federal officials have set up a mortgage modification program for the loans controlled by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. ...

SAN DIEGO — As members face a new era of unprecedented household debt and economic uncertainty, will the credit union marketing message change as a result? ...

SAN FRANCISCO — The first significant revision to the payment card industry data security standards (PCI DSS) since they’re implementation includes a deadline for the largest card processing merchants ...

NEW YORK — CardPartner.com, a card issuer that specializes in small affinity groups, reported that the recent economic downturn has been good for business as small organizations consider issuing as a way to boost income in a down economy....

BROCKTON, Mass. — A delegation of Kenyan credit union leaders found their U.S. visit uplifting on two fronts. ...

ATLANTA — The IRS’ volunteer income tax assistance program has grown to include 535 credit unions, more than double the 250 figure for 2007. ...

MADISON, Wis. — What was supposed to be a routine, annual financial adviser meeting in Florida a few weeks back turned into an impromptu collection of more than $4,100...

WARRENVILLE, Ill. — Members United Corporate Federal Credit Union is putting $250,000 toward a new foundation that will benefit members of the former Central Credit Union Fund. ...

PHOENIX — The $1.1 billion Arizona State Credit Union was still reaping a deposit windfall last week from a 4%, $25,000...

WASHINGTON — In his Veterans Day remarks, President Bush recalled the heroic actions of Alonzo A. Swann Jr. during World War II that resulted in him being awarded the Navy Cross. ...

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —Anne Knopp has been hired as a business development manager to help credit unions build an online financial planning presence through BrightLeaf Financial Network. ...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Even though NCUA allows federal credit unions to use federal and state banks and state trust companies to serve as safekeepers of their investments, the practice may not be a common practice....

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The net income of the NCUSIF fell $21.6 million in October, as the woes of the economy took their toll on credit unions. ...

WASHINGTON — There’s a reason the NCUA’s HARP initiative looks an awful lot like the member mortgage relief initiative the CU Housing Roundtable presented to Chairman Michael Fryzel on Oct. 21....

SAN FRANCISCO — The Federal Home Loan Bank here confirmed as many were whispering during breaks at the California Credit Union League annual meeting earlier this month: it has reduced some lines of credit. ...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The NCUA acknowledged that it is considering defining money placed on credit union-issued gift and other prepaid cards as deposited funds covered by share insurance....

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In the latest example of state league consolidation, the Florida and Alabama credit union leagues appeared ready this month to move forward with combining the trade groups. ...

OKLAHOMA CITY — It’s a thumbs up for Tinker Federal Credit Union’s bid to financially empower Gen Y by encouraging them to ‘Buck the Norm.’ ...

WASHINGTON — Credit unions could have access to $2 billion from the Central Liquidity Facility to help members who are having trouble with their mortgages. ...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Federal credit unions will pay the NCUA an average of 6.7% more next year in operating fees and possibly as much as 12% more, based on asset size, according to the rate structure approved by the agency at its Nov- ember meeting. ...

WASHINGTON — Frustrated by the inaction of the Treasury Department, NCUA Chairman Michael E. Fryzel asked Congress for money to help his agency set up a program for the agency to buy troubled assets from credit unions. ...

SAN DIEGO — It wasn’t just the Treasury’s TARP offer of cheap and abundant capital infusions that convinced the likes of Goldman Sachs, American Express, ...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Those wanting to learn the basics of the NCUSIF can consult the archived version of last month’s Webinar on the subject, moderated by NCUA Board Member Gigi Hyland. ...

WASHINGTON — Several of the Small Business Administration’s loan programs will undergo changes in an effort to help the agency’s lending partners increase access to capital for small businesses. ...

WASHINGTON — If a federal credit union gets back waived settlement costs and fees from member business loans it is not considered a prohibited prepayment penalty, the NCUA stated in a legal opinion....

MADISON, Wis. — The Filene Research Institute has released a report examining how cardholders make the decision to use their credit or debit card at point of sale. ...

OTTAWA, Canada — A major card brand and Canadian consumer regulator have collaborated to develop a credit card application aimed at cutting through the usual confusing language. ...

DALLAS — Speakers at TNB Card Services’ 2008 payments conference emphasized the strength and profitability of credit union card programs amid the economic turmoil. ...

NEW YORK — Longtime card issuer American Express has received federal approval to become a bank holding company and has reportedly sought $3.5 billion in bailout money from the U.S. Treasury Department, according to the company and press reports. ...

NEW YORK — No other statistic may be more important to credit union card issuers for the coming year than the measure of consumer confidence. With consumer spending accounting for more than 70% of U.S. economic growth ...

Visa recently reported that over 80% of U.S. level one merchants (those with more than six million transactions yearly) have achieved PCI DSS compliance. ...

The credit union industry is going through difficult times right now. True, not as bad as the rest of the financial services sector, but rough enough. Oddly enough–or perhaps appropriately enough–this is a time for giving thanks. ...

WASHINGTON — CUNA has asked the NCUA to allow it to have a role in the set up of the national licensing and registry that will include credit union loan origination staff. ...

ATLANTA — SecureWorks recently announced the availability of a tool designed to fight Torpig, one of the most widely used Trojans designed to steal financial information. ...

APPLETON, Wis. — The $146 million Prospera Credit Union is rolling out a program that promises to help credit unions all over the country offer their members an alternative to high-interest payday loans....

On Nov. 18 you published an article online (www.cutimes.com) by Heather Anderson ...

HOBOKEN, N.J. — With most Americans looking to save rather than spend this holiday season Credit Union Times looks back at last year’s expected consumer holiday spending. ...

Budgetary concerns plague us all in times of economic uncertainty. We focus on the essential and drop what we can live without....

It is crucial that a dynamic and strong American credit union system have a dynamic and strong corporate credit union network. It is equally crucial that credit unions and corporates support each other in challenging times. ...

GFA Federal Credit Union, Gardner, Mass. announced the hiring of Miguel A. Sensano as community education coordinator....

Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, St. Paul, Minn., was chosen as the winner of the 2008 Minnesota business ethics award. ...