Two years ago management of the $600 million Kitsap Community Credit Union was both stunned and puzzled by members rejecting a long-sought bid to convert to a state charter so the CU could expand in several neighboring counties.

Despite perceptions that credit union mergers are on a major upswing, NCUA statistics show a significant decline from a year ago based on several factors, according to David Bartoo, head of a merger consulting firm here.

As they have done now for six years, Texas bankers and credit union executives will be rubbing shoulders and coursing the aisles for the annual TechMecca Conference Nov. 28-29 sponsored by the Texas Credit Union League and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas but there are two new wrinkles this...

In what it calls a "groundbreaking" gesture honoring the military, the $400 million First Citizens' Federal Credit Union announced this week it is offering a package of loan, checking and savings services linked to donations to military groups.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is delaying until next March hearing oral arguments in the three-year-old community chartering suit against Freedom Credit Union and TruMark Financial CU brought by the Pennsylvania Bankers Association.

Pointing to NCUA handicaps, the $565 million Indiana University Employees Federal Credit Union is about to switch to a state charter at yearend.

The $400 million Paragon Federal Credit Union is now a firm believer in employee incentives using the team approach combining cash and peer pressure and the proof is a $5.4 million gain in new business.

In what it describes as a "dramatic success story" of combating counterfeit check and plastic fraud, the North Carolina Credit Union League went public last week with formation of a new CUSO that reportedly is saving bundles for CUs in North and South Carolina.