HARRISBURG, Pa. -- AmeriChoice Federal Credit Union turned to the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association in helping to train its new business loan processor.

Nicole Elicker will soon start her new role on the credit union's business services team. PCUA Director of Business Adviosry Services Molly Snody was a key resource, said Dallas Zulli, vice president of lending at AmeriChoice.

"Molly Snody is an excellent resource for information and training on member business loans," Zulli said. "Molly's professionalism and experience enable her to provide training and educational seminars to lending professionals of various backgrounds and experience levels. We knew Nicole was in good hands."

During Elicker's one-on-one training with Snody, the two explored the numerous processes in member business lending and best practices surrounding member business lending operations and administration.

"Molly explained everything clearly and gave me plenty of reference materials to use once I'm back in the office. I definitely feel better prepared to assume my new responsibilities," Elicker said.

Family First Federal Credit Union
Expands Its Business Services Team

OREM, Utah -- Family First Federal Credit Union has hired Cindy Kelly as assistant vice president of business development.

Kelly will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the credit union's business services department including working closely with fostering relationships with small businesses within Utah County. An employee with the $172 million Family First since 1986, Kelly previously worked with indirect lending and has held branch manager, loan officer and teller positions throughout her 20-year career.

Family First serves more than 25,000 members.

Member Business Solutions
Hosts Business Lending Summit

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A number of timely issues were on the table at Member Business Solutions' recent business lending summit.

The agenda included sessions on marketing to small businesses, deposit documentation, regulatory issues, and Small Business Administration 504 lending tactics and products. George Reynolds, senior deputy commissioner for the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, discussed regulatory issues. Held in Duluth, Ga., credit unions from Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi attended the conference.

Formed in 2003 by Southeast Corporate CU and Georgia Central CU, Member Business Solutions' credit union partners include those ranging in size from $5 million to more than $4 billion in assets, according to the CUSO.

Commercial Lending Activity
Mixed in the 12 Fed Districts

WASHINGTON -- Commercial real estate was slow in most of the 12 Federal Reserve districts during August, according to the agency's September Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions, commonly known as the Beige Book.

The Fed's districts are Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Va., Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas and San Francisco. Some districts reported further slackening in demand for office and retail space while others saw an increase in energy and mining activity. Districts reporting on the agricultural sector noted some relief from drought conditions.

Commercial and industrial lending was near steady in New York, Philadelphia, and Cleveland and slowed in Richmond, St. Louis, and Kansas City, according to the Beige Book. Demand for commercial and industrial loans rose in Chicago, mostly from small and mid-size firms, and was described as solid in Dallas.

San Francisco reported that overall loan demand had fallen since the Fed's previous report in July. All the districts reporting on loan standards noted tightening. New York, Cleveland, Richmond, and San Francisco reported deterioration in credit quality. Dallas indicated that credit quality was holding up, although bankers in that district expected it to decline.

SBA's Buffalo Center
To Handle Gustav Calls

WASHINGTON -- Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Jovita Carranza last week visited the agency's disaster assistance customer service center in Buffalo, N.Y., as it prepares to handle thousands of calls in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.

In the days following the storm's landfall, call activity has increased to upward of 1,000 calls per day, according to the agency.

Carranza toured the facility, reviewed workforce operations and discussed training programs with center managers in preparation for the potential increased disaster activity posed by tropical storms Hanna, Ike and Josephine brewing in the Atlantic, SBA said.

The Buffalo disaster customer service center is at the frontline of SBA's disaster recovery operations, according to SBA. After a presidential disaster declaration is made, the center handles telephone registration referrals from FEMA and provides customer support via telephone and e-mail to disaster survivors as they begin the disaster loan application process.

At the height of the Hurricane Katrina response in 2005, the center responded to more than 10,000 calls per day. As a result of the recent hiring and systems upgrades, the center now has the capacity to handle 20,000 phone calls per day, SBA said.