Marketing

Payments, cards services providers formed partnership earlier this year.

Effort to support local businesses includes buying lunch at locally owned restaurants.

Fans of professional hockey may be bemoaning the National Hockey Leagues lockout. But thats not the case in southwest Michigan where the Consumers Credit Union and its membersa good number of them big hockey fans are looking forward to another season of minor league hockey with the Kalamazoo Wings team.

Over the past couple of weeks, bits and pieces have leaked out about a new commercial loan pilot program from Amazon Inc. and how the online retail behemoths entry into the small business lending could put credit unions, banks and other lenders on high alert.

The Ledge Light Federal Credit Union announced its new name, Scient Federal Credit Union. Along with the new name, the $229 million credit union in Groton, Conn., also is introducing a new identity and a website.

The decline and demise of well-known retailers such as Blockbuster, Kodak and free-standing bookstores offers proof of just how rapidly industries are shifting to keep up with consumers needs and wants.