RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Indiana Credit Union League has partnered with Innovative Card Services to provide prepaid cards for its card center.

ICS, a CUSO of the $265 million Inova Credit Union, headquartered in Elkhart, Ind., will offer the Visa branded Payroll Card, called the PayCard, to CUs participating in the ICUL card center. ICS is marketing the PayCard as a means of helping members who might not qualify for checking accounts to still participate in the credit union.

"The PayCard is a solution that allows cardholders to have their payroll directly deposited to the card and to access their funds by ATM, at retailers or through online merchants similar to using a debit card, thus saving those individuals hundreds of dollars in check-cashing fees," ICUL said.

"We view this as a great opportunity to assist credit unions in serving member needs with a product that can also generate income for credit unions," said Servicecorp Chief Operating Officer Diana Arnold. "We are excited about working with Innovative Card Services to make the PayCard available to as many Indiana credit unions as possible."

"We are thrilled to partner with CUCC which has done an outstanding job of providing plastic programs to Indiana credit unions" said Rebecca Kochvar, Managing Director of Innovative Card Services. "To add our product to CUCC's member-focused menu of services adds value for their client credit unions and the members they serve."

CUC Mortgage Adds Sacco

ALBANY, N.Y. -- CUC Mortgage has hired a new mortgage counsel, Joseph Sacco Jr.

"Joseph is a great addition to CUC Mortgage's growing business," said Richard Maxstadt, senior vice president/chief operations officer of CUC Mortgage. "The impact of his hiring will be apparent through our enhanced effectiveness at closing transactions."

Sacco most recently had a private practice based in Saratoga Spring, N.Y., where he focused on real estate, business and litigation law for a number of real estate related businesses. Overall, Sacco has more than 10 years of experience with residential and commercial mortgages.

CUC Mortgage has been offering mortgage lending programs to credit unions and their members since 1987.

CU Student Choice Adds
VP of Operations

WASHINGTON -- Credit Union Student Choice CUSO announced that it has hired Michelle Pezzulli as vice president of operations.

Pezzulli was formerly director of repayment solutions for Sallie Mae and has 20 years of experience in student lending.

"I am very excited to join Credit Union Student Choice, and I look forward to utilizing my experience to help credit unions build meaningful relationships with local colleges and universities in their communities," Pezzulli said. "As a veteran of the student lending industry, I am confident credit unions can deliver tremendous value to consumers and to themselves by entering the private student lending market. The window of opportunity for credit unions to enter this field has never been greater, and by working within the collaborative environment developed by Student Choice, it's never been easier."

As director of repayment solutions, Pezzulli was responsible for the development and implementation of school loan repayment solution services for students and financial aid professionals. This included outreach efforts to school administrators, student groups, consumer education and school relations.

"We're absolutely thrilled to bring someone of Michelle's talent, knowledge and experience to the Student Choice team," said Jon Jeffreys, president of Credit Union Student Choice. "Her skills will not only provide immediate benefits to credit unions working with Student Choice, they will also be the perfect complement to the leadership team we already have in place."

Credit Union Student Choice CUSO was started in May by a group of credit unions to help members secure funds to meet the rising cost of higher education fees.

NACUSO Changes
2009 Conference Dates

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- The NACUSO annual conference for 2009 has changed its date to May 3-6.

The conference was previously scheduled for April 26-29, 2009. The conference will be held at Encore at the Wynn Las Vegas. Encore will be opening in December 2008.

NACUSO's 2008 annual conference was held at the Wynn Las Vegas April 27-30 and featured keynote speakers Chicken Soup for the Soul co-author Dan Clark, NCUA Board Member Gigi Hyland, NCUA Senior Policy Advisor Gary J. Kohn, CU consultant Dennis Dollar of Dollar Associates, Peter F. Duffy of Sandler O'Neill, NACUSO General Counsel Guy Messick, CO-OP Financial Services President/CEO Stan Hollen and PSCU Financial Services President/CEO Dave Serlo.