Payments/Credit/Debit

Consumers are still reluctant to take on credit but credit unions saw a slight increase in outstanding consumer credit, according to data released by the Federal Reserve.

CO-OP Financial Services, the parent CUSO of the popular CO-OP Network of fee-free ATMs, is working with a Seattle-based credit union to bring fee-free ATM services to largely unbanked populations.

TMG, a card processing CUSO affiliated with the Iowa Credit Union League, announced that it is making anti-skimming technology available to its member CUs that seek additional protection for their ATMs.

Consumer and retail groups are praising the U.S. Department of Justice's actions against major credit card brands, but analysts are split about whether the moves will result in real lower prices for consumers.

In 2005, the $5.2 billion American Airlines Federal Credit Union was one of the last large-asset credit unions to start a card program. Now the five year old program has topped $100 million in assets.

Midwest credit unions might celebrate while Southern ones rue the news that seven of the ten U.S. cities whose populations have the best credit scores are in the Midwest, according to Experian.