Callahan's CU Search Engine Fully Operational

WASHINGTON – Callahan & Associates has completed the beta test of its credit union search engine – CU Info Search – and is now experiencing an average of 1,500 to 2,000 searches a week. The search engine can be found at www.cuinfosearch.com or through Callahan’s Web site, www.creditunions.com. Callahan Vice-President for e-Commerce Scott Patterson said the advantage of this site is it gives credit unions a more targeted search. He said if a credit union executive Googled “branching” for example, they’re faced with three million total results. “Our search engine returns only credit union-relevant information that helps mangers more easily find desired information in one place that they likely wouldn’t have found otherwise,” said Patterson. Patterson said the search engine, which uses the same search technology that eBay does, searches 130,000 unique Web pages, ranging from NCUA, CUNA and NAFCU, to vendors and research groups like Tower. Interestingly, in February the top 20 search topics were the following: switch kit, knowledge management, indirect lending, credit card, auto repossession/recovery, intranet/corporate portal, subchapter S, loan participation, identity theft/phishing, merger, business lending, membership growth, ROA, A2A, return to member score, asset liability management, corporate credit union, land loans, share draft checklist, and courtesy pay. Switch kit may seem like a strange No. 1 search topic, but Patterson said it’s related to some research and other information Callahan released about switch kits on its site. Callahan also announced a credit union vendor is now sponsoring the site. “Our sponsor, PSCU Financial Services of St. Petersburg, FL, is now helping make it possible for us to continue offering this unique resource to the industry at no charge,” said Patterson.