AUSTIN, Texas — Registration is now open for the fourth-annual national conference of the Credit Union Information Security Professionals Association set for Feb. 8-10 in San Antonio.
The 2009 CUISPA Technology Risk Management & Security Summit will include sessions on current technology-related risk and compliance issues, as well as the NCUA risk information security officer roundtable with the agency's compliance and security specialists from around the country.
The conference will be at the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio. Registration information is at www.cuispa.org.
Michigan League Is Relocating to Lansing
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Credit Union League is joining the trend by state leagues to improve rapport and stay close to lawmakers by relocating its headquarters and a key part of its operations here.
For years, the league has retained most of its operations in Plymouth, a Detroit suburb, but last week it said it had arranged a building swap with Detroit Edison CU to keep a portion of its personnel in the CU's Livonia property but that key league units are being moved to Lansing in January.
The league said it will occupy a downtown Lansing site at 101 S. Washington Square, allowing it naming rights to the building. Twenty of the league jobs will be in Lansing.
"The facility changes will save the MCUL and its subsidiaries about $250,000 per year," says MCUL President/CEO David Adams. "The new headquarters is part of a long-term plan to enhance our presence in Lansing that will add to the grassroots lobbying the MCUL has already established in the state's capital. The moves will also ensure long-term operating cost control."
The new 8,700-square-foot Lansing headquarters will house the league's legislative and regulatory affairs, public affairs, education and CU relations.
A league press release said two of its subsidiaries, CUcorp and CU Village, will be housed in Livonia and that the Plymouth facility is being downsized in the sale to Detroit Edison CU, which bought the 52,000-square-foot building. The two subsidiaries and select administrative staffers from the league began occupying the Livonia property Nov. 21.
Mica Issues GAC Appeal
WASHINGTON — Bent on delivering a vigorous industry message before the new Congress, CUNA is "pulling out all the stops" to get a big turnout for its Government Affairs Conference Feb. 22-26.
"I can't imagine more credit union CEOs, volunteers and staff wanting to be in Washington for this extraordinary CUNA gathering that has taken on tremendous importance for every credit union in the U.S.," declared Dan Mica, CUNA's president/CEO.
Mica said the February conference has assumed heightened gravity for the industry considering the high stakes CUs can play in an altered financial landscape. In addition, the CUNA meeting comes as a significant shift has occurred in the makeup of the new Congress with a 10% increase in new senators and a 12% to 15% increase in freshman House members, said Mica.
"There are tremendous opportunities to network and educate lawmakers who we are, what we can do to help the economy and what are our priorities," said Mica, suggesting that a large attendance will reinforce the CU message.
Mica said he was unsure but hopeful that despite belt tightening and travel costs, the GAC conference would top the 5,000 from 2007. He noted that the trade group is running a heavy ad schedule "doing mailings, videos, using league publications-everything we can" to ensure a strong industry presence in February. "This is too important," he said of the event slated for the Washington Convention Center.
He pointed out that the GAC has plenty on the political and entertainment side, as well, including talks by former Democratic consultant Paul Bagala, Forbes Editor Steve Forbes, MSNBC Senior Correspondent Tucker Carlson and Hollywood actor Gary Sinise.
Enterprise Car Sales Revs Up Green Search Engine
ST. LOUIS — Enterprise Car Sales recently launched a new Web-based service that allows members to search the database for the most fuel efficient and green used vehicles available.
Through the online search engine members can search hybrid, FlexFuel and diesel vehicles locally and nationally. Through Enterprises transfer program, members can choose to have a vehicle they select transferred to their closest Enterprise location.
Anheuser-Busch Employees' Credit Union the new service allows the credit union to promote its special green loan, which offers a discounted annual percentage rate.
"The program is good for business and good for the environment. The major automakers have made a commitment to provide more fuel efficient vehicles in the next model year. ABECU offers rate discounts for the purchase of fuel efficient autos to encourage members to purchase green," said Emerson Smith, vice president of branch operations for ABECU.
Enterprise Car Sales has more than 150 locations across the country and ensures every vehicle with a 109-point inspection by an ASE-certified technician.
Kan. CUs' Merger Final
LENEXA, Kan. — With the merger between Free State Credit Union and Credit Union of Johnson County now complete, Credit Union of Johnson County has gained 4,500 members and two additional branch locations in Lawrence, Kan.
"The proximity of Free State to Credit Union of Johnson County and our overlapping communities made this merger a natural fit," said John Beverlin, president/CEO of CUJC. "Expanding to the Lawrence community brings additional convenience to our members, many of whom commute regularly between Lawrence and Johnson County."
The merger was approved by members of both credit unions in mid-September and brings CUJC's membership to more than 52,000. The two additional Lawrence locations also brings members two locations near the University of Kansas.
CUJC also has branches in Lenexa, Mission, Downtown Olathe, Olathe East and two satellite locations at Johnson County Community College and Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
Conn. CUs and State Join
To Provide Student Loans
GROTON, Conn. — Credit unions in Connecticut started offering student loans on Dec. 8 to members through a collaborative effort with the state league and Gov. Jodi Rell.
Credit unions across the state that have the resources to allocate their own funds for student loans have signed up to participate in the program, offering student loans at an interest rate no higher than 6% to those who might not qualify for traditional loans or those having a hard time funding tuition.
Kelly Fuhlbrigge, vice president and chief lobbyist for the Credit Union League of Connecticut, said she has been inundated with calls from the public ever since her name was listed by the governor's office as a contact on student loans.
According to Fuhlbrigge, the governor's office approached the league with the idea for the package after first reaching out to banks to come up with small business loans as a result of the state economic crisis and budget tightening.
In order to participate, credit unions had to be able to set aside at least $100,000 of their funds for student loans. For taking on the risk of offering the loans, 20% of the loan is guaranteed through the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority for the total loan up front and then on the balance going forward.
Each participating credit union has determined loan underwriting and loan terms and an appropriate policy was approved by the board of directors based on capital and portfolios.
The loan program will be offered for one year and will be evaluated at year-end to determine future need.
"I view the new credit union student loan program as another tool, a bridge loan if you will, to help families and students through the next few years of a weakened economy and very difficult strains on household budgets," said Tony Emerson, president/CEO of the Credit Union League of Connecticut. "All of us know we will come out of this current fiscal downturn, but there will be some hard times before we do. The best way our state can position itself for this economic future is to continue to invest in an educated and diverse workforce. Our credit unions understand this and have stepped forward, in partnership with the state, to help us accomplish this goal."
The loan program is open to all students that live or go to school in Connecticut. Participating credit unions listed on the league's Web site include 360 FCU, Achieve Financial CU, American Eagle FCU, Capitol Region FCU, Charter Oak FCU, Connecticut State Employees CU, Dutch Point CU, General Electric CU, Ledge Light FCU, Members CU, Nutmeg State FCU, and Sikorsky Financial CU.
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