CUNA Mutual Investment Advisory Services Latest NAFCU Preferred Partner

WASHINGTON — The newest addition to NAFCU's Preferred Partners listing is Investment Advisory Services from CUNA Mutual Group.

Delivered through its registered investment advisor affiliate, MEMBERS Capital Advisors, the solution provides advice and institutional trade execution from investment professionals for investment portfolio performance. Services include asset liability management, investment portfolio accounting and reporting and performance benchmarking.

“Practically every credit union can benefit from having a truly independent and objective advisor assist them in the process of allocating assets among competing investment alternatives,” said David Frankil, president of NAFCU Services Corp.

Bob Lindner, director of asset management for CUNA Mutual, said the new alliance is “a partnership focused on optimizing our clients' investment

portfolios and helping them achieve their financial objectives.”

MEMBERS Capital has more than $15 billion in assets under management.

American Eagle FCU Joins CU Business Capital

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — American Eagle Federal Credit Union has partnered with CU Business Capital, LLC to bring business services to its members.

The lineup will include business loans and leases, business accounts, remote deposit capture, merchant services and other services. The $991 million American Eagle FCU has also become a Tier II equity

partner of Miramar, Fla.-based CUBC, entitling it to pricing discounts.

American Eagle President/CEO William Dokas said the partnership was the ideal match because in addition to offering an array of products and services, “CUBC's values aligned well with ours.”

New CEO for Charter Oak

GROTON, Conn. — Charter Oak Federal Credit Union looked within for its new CEO and has

promoted Executive Vice President Brian A. Orenstein to the position.

He succeeds L.K. Hertell who has been with Charter Oak for 15 years. Hertell will continue in the position of president, focusing on land acquisition and development.

Orenstein joined the credit union as the chief financial officer in October of 2004 and was promoted to executive vice president last August. He earned

his B.S. and M.B.A.

from SUNY at Buffalo, is a Certified Public Accountant and has over 21 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Orenstein is also a Director and Treasurer of the SBM Charitable Foundation.

CO-OP Financial Services To Launch Prepaid Card

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Credit unions will soon have another option for offering their members a prepaid card. CO-OP Financial Services, the parent CUSO of the CO-OP Network has announced it will have a prepaid card ready for participating credit unions to issue by the beginning of the fourth quarter of this year.

The prepaid options will include in-branch loading and reloading, a capability to accept direct deposit, the ability to personalize cards and track card use,

the CUSO said.

“The prevailing trend among people 30 and under is to carry less cash in their wallet and to rely on plastic for even the smallest purchases,” said Stan Hollen, CEO of CO-OP Financial Services. “The features that will be offered on the CO-OP Reloadable Prepaid Card will allow younger consumers–as well as anybody who prefers to carry little or no cash–to experience a higher level of security, convenience and financial control.”

Once available, the CO-OP reloadable Prepaid Card can be used to make purchases everywhere MasterCard or Visa debit cards are accepted, at the point of sale, online or by phone. The card can also be used to obtain cash at all of CO-OP Network's 25,000 surcharge-free ATMs around the country, the CUSO said.

Ryan Taylor Named New NASCUS Education Manager

ARLINGTON, Va. — Ryan Taylor has joined the NASCUS staff as manager of education, the organization's 10th staffer.

Taylor, who started Oct. 1, is responsible for the marketing, planning and execution of NASCUS' onsite and online educational programs. He will also assist NASCUS with membership development and outreach. He joins NASCUS with a background in marketing, events and education. Taylor will work closely with NASCUS Vice President of Regulatory Development and Education Jenny Champagne on educational programs.

“NASCUS is excited to welcome Ryan to our team. He will make a great addition to our staff,” NASCUS President/CEO Mary Martha Fortney said. “When I started with NASCUS 14 years ago, we had two and one-half employees. It's incredible to welcome our 10th full-time employee. The NASCUS staff has grown and strengthened over the years into a dynamic and diversified group of dedicated individuals working diligently to promote NASCUS' mission.”

NAFCU Promotes Hosmer, Adds Kolat

ARLINGTON, Va. — NAFCU President/CEO Fred Becker recently announced the promotion of Alicia Hosmer to director of marketing and Alyssa Kolat has joined the staff as director of events and education.

Hosmer, who previously served as associate director of marketing, will oversee the full spectrum of NAFCU's marketing activities, including research and development of NAFCU's marketing campaigns, collateral materials, advertising, direct mail and e-mail campaigns, the association's awards program and in-house design services.

“Alicia has distinguished herself in every project she has undertaken. With her keen insight, outstanding marketing expertise, and creative perspective, we are looking forward to new achievements in marketing,” Becker said.

He added that NAFCU stands to benefit from Kolat's background and experience as well. “Alyssa brings a unique combination of event planning experience as well as innovative thinking that will take NAFCU's already top-notch events to an even higher level,” Becker said.

Kolat will oversee NAFCU's major educational events, including the Annual Conference, and the delivery of monthly Webcasts.

Prior to joining NAFCU, Kolat was training and development manager at Falmouth Institute, a for-profit training, consulting and publishing firm based in Fairfax, Va. Before that, she spent several years in IT consultant training and management and has worked in training operations for Pepsi and McKesson.

Credit Union-Consumer Match Site Gets Face Lift

RANCHO CUCAMONGA — The California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues' credit union match-up Web site–findacreditunion.com–has been updated with a new name, design and increased functionality.

“Consumers will find the new site has improved search functions to help better link them to a credit union they might be eligible to join,” League Information Technology Director John Drago said.

New features of the site include search results that can be displayed by search type, alphabetically, or randomly; narrower search capabilities; detailed maps and directions in partnership with MapQuest; and a frequently asked questions section. Users can find a list of credit unions they may be eligible to join by completing a series of simple fields, such as city, state, zip code, occupation, religious affiliation, and employer information, as well as learn how to apply. Searches are available in English and Spanish.

The site now covers credit unions from 28 states and Washington, D.C. with three more in the next month.

“The new site and its features help to ensure the program continues to meet the needs of our

members, their member credit unions, as well as consumers,” Findacreditunion.com Project Manager Catherine Arra explained.

Personal finance expert Liz Pulliam Weston recently touted the Web site in a column entitled “Ditch Your Bank for a CU,” which appeared on MSNMoney.com. The acknowledgement drew so much attention, more than 89,000 hits by over 8,000 visitors to what was then called CU Match Up, that it became overwhelmed.