TULSA, Okla. -- To hear Oklahoma credit union executives tell it, the proposed plan by the Texas Credit Union League to provide a host of services to its Oklahoma counterpart is either clever strategy--very good for the industry--or another example of a power grab by its big state neighbor with...

TULSA, Okla. -- As predicted, the nation's shrinking number of credit unions is forcing the hand of trade groups, resulting in consolidation and cutbacks. Now it's the Oklahoma and Texas Credit Union Leagues that are looking seriously at an outsourcing partnership.

DENVER -- Donna Duvall-Serrano, a math teacher and founder of Kent Denver Student Credit Union, the nation's largest and one of the first student-run operations of its kind, is retiring this Friday.

DENVER -- Westerra Credit Union, teamed up with a Denver consultant, Nice Enterprises Inc., said this week its "merger kit" providing strategy and consolidation planning tips to CUs across the country has won top marketing honors from the Credit Union Executives Society.

BILOXI, Miss. -- Climaxing a year of study, the Mississippi Credit Union League said this week it will be launching its first CU awareness blitz this fall using a broad mix of TV, radio, print and billboards.

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. -- CUNA's "tell your story" campaign on community outreach has taken on a new down-home flavor this month with Wisconsin credit union executives providing their stories in videos and film clip interviews posted on a new Web site www.cudifference.org.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- A popular 70-year-old football coach, fired from his college job last fall after some losing seasons is the new "Norlarco" face in Fort Collins at Public Service Credit Union.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Staking out new ground on aiding the underserved and financial literacy, the Colorado and Wyoming Credit Union Associations have recruited Robert Hoel, formerly of the Filene Research Institute, to its foundation board and also signed on to the REAL Solutions program.