Credit Union Journal articles from November 2006

Credit Union Journal archives from November 2006

Member Rights & Credit Union Democracy.
November 6, 2006... This week Americans will head to the polls and cast their votes, exercising their most fundamental right in a democracy. Member ownership within credit unions is supposedly best exemplified in the concept of "one member, one vote" and...

Nationwide Now On Bank Side: Members Of Credit Union Vote In Favor of Acquisition By Bank, Are Paid Premium On Deposits.
November 6, 2006... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Members of the $567-million Nationwide Federal Credit Union have voted to merge their CU into the newly created Nationwide Bank. "The board and I are very pleased that our membership has voted and agreed to this proposed...

South Carolina CU Offers Loan Participations To Its Members.(financial cooperative to aid Jewish immigrants)
November 6, 2006... SAVANNAH, S.C. -- One credit union here has taken exactly what it was chartered to do-make business loans to its members-and then created a unique secondary market. While making business loans and engaging in loan participations is not at...

CURIA Sponsorship Is Litmus Test For CU Campaign Aid.(CU Regulatory Improvements Act)
November 6, 2006... WASHINGTON -- What do leadership PACs like TRUSTPAC, BRIDGEPAC and Citizens for Action have to do with credit unions? Answer: they're all conduits to credit union allies in the House; Michigan's Fred Upton and Bart Stupak and...

On Deadline.(State Employees Federal Credit Union)(State University of New York)(Centrix Financial)(Virginia Credit Union )
November 6, 2006... SEFCU Buys Naming Rights To Arena ALBANY, N.Y.-SEFCU, formerly State Employees FCU, has agreed to pay $2.75 million to the State University of New York at Albany in exchange for getting its name on the university's recreation center, in...

Need To Spark Membership Growth? Plan To Be In Boston In April.(select employee groups)(robust increases in membership and healthy bottom lines)
November 6, 2006... WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Membership growth was almost flat during the first half of 2006, and the squeeze on profitability has been well documented. Yet some credit unions have been experiencing robust increases in membership and healthy bottom...

First South Starts RE Brokerage.(starting a real estate brokerage service)(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... Memphis, Tenn. -- First South Credit Union announced that it is starting a real estate brokerage service, making it one of only four credit unions in the nation to do so. First South CU is a $300-million credit union with 13 locations...

Movie Offers Look At Americans' Super-Sized Debt.(Maxed Out has won a film festival award)
November 6, 2006... HOLLYWOOD -- A recently released documentary film about Americans and debt offers a blunt look at the national credit card industry and how it affects everyone. Maxed Out was produced and directed by James Scurlock, a Los Angeles-based...

Texas Twister Raises $35K For CMN, Draws Twice As Many Partnerships.(variety of activities for children)(Children's Miracle Network)(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... AUSTIN, Texas -- The 3rd Annual Credit Union Texas Twister 10K raised some $35,000 for the Children's Miracle Network. This year's pre-Halloween event attracted 435 runners and walkers between the 10K race, the Team Challenge and the Kids...

Worth Noting.(Credit Union Information Security Professionals Association)(AmeriCU Services LLC)(National Credit Union Administration)
November 6, 2006... NY Awards CUSO Workforce Grant UTICA, New York-AmeriCU Services LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of AmeriCU Credit Union was awarded a $7,000 grant from the New York State Workforce Investment Board for staff development and training in the...

How CUNA Mutual Took A Long, Hard Look At Itself.(Jeff Post )(Interview)
November 6, 2006... Since joining CUNA Mutual in 2005, President and CEO Jeff Post has been leading a review of the staid old insurance provider in ways that perhaps only an outsider to credit unions and the organization can. Recognizing that just because you...

Strategies For Winning The Card Battle In The Mailbox.(Letter to the editor)
November 6, 2006... When you open your mailbox each day, how many credit card solicitations do you find? Chances are most days you get at least one-and so do your members. That's why it's vitally important that your members also receive mailings from you,...

Product & Service.(Fidelity National Information Solutions Inc.)(CO-OP Financial Services)(EPI Inc.)(CUcorp )(Credit Union PR agency MJB Public Relations Group )(International Association of Business Communications)
November 6, 2006... Fidelity Signs Deal With CO-OP JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-Fidelity National information Services, Inc., which handles card processing for more than 5,000 credit unions, said it has entered into a partnership with CO-OP Financial Services that...

CO-OP Member Rewards Program Takes Cue From Cooperative History.(CO-OP Financial Services)
November 6, 2006... ONTARIO, Calif. -- CO-OP Financial Services has just rolled out a reward program for debit cards designed to allow credit unions to generate deposits and increase member services-and uses a cooperative approach to make it affordable for credit...

Verity CU Rewards Program Taps Into Area Restaurants, Merchants.
November 6, 2006... SEATTLE, Washington -- Verity Credit Union has teamed with a western network of merchants and restaurants to expand member service and its debit card service. Verity had already been using the Passport Unlimited restaurant program and...

NEFCU Puts Teens On The RightTrack.(New England Federal Credit Union )(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... In an effort to provide teens with the financial education tools they need and deserve, NEFCU has created a unique program for 15- to 18-year-olds called RightTrack. NEFCU's Shirley Polworth said the program is comprised of four 90-minute...

How CUs Can Turn Burden Of Required ATM Upgrades Into New Opportunities.(NCR Corp.- Andy Orent)
November 6, 2006... DAYTON, Ohio -- What do Triple DES (data encryption standards), Windows upgrades for ATMs, and Check 21 have in common? If all that comes to mind are pesky compliance dates and efforts, you're missing out on the opportunity to wow your...

Partisan Mudslinging Sinks To New Depths.(Republican and Democratic parties )
November 6, 2006... WASHINGTON -- As anyone with a TV, radio or local newspaper can tell you by now, negative advertising has risen to a new high-or sunk to new low-in this year's congressional elections. The Federal Election Commission reported last week that the...

Democrat Ascent Fed By Loads Of Campaign Funds.
November 6, 2006... WASHINGTON -- If the Democrats succeed this week in winning control of one or both chambers of Congress they will have some heavily-funded interest groups to thank for it. Ten of the 11 largest political action groups, which have raised...

Mortgage Lenders Balk At Fannie Mae's Latest Patent.
November 6, 2006... WASHINGTON -- A broad coalition of mortgage bankers called on secondary mortgage market giant Fannie Mae Friday to abandon a U.S. patent it recently acquired for custom-mortgages, saying the patent could prevent mainstream lenders from...

People.(new appointments)
November 6, 2006... The Credit Union Association of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M., gave John Thompson the Ron Moore Hall of Fame Award, Chris Fitzgerald the Mel Romero Outstanding Professional Award, and RoseMary Wickard the Ed Twibel Outstanding Volunteer Award....

I.D. Protection Is 'A Me Thing'.(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... RALEIGH, N.C. -- State Employees CU, one of the hardest-hit credit unions by the spread of card fraud, has provided 135,000 of its members with photo identification cards that are registered at all of the credit union's 202 branches. The...

Van Ouwerkerk Joins CO-OP Board.(Patsy Van Ouwerkerk was appointed to the board of CO-OP Financial Services)(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... ONTARIO, Calif. -- Patsy Van Ouwerkerk, the well-known CEO of Travis CU, was appointed to the board of CO-OP Financial Services, the company said. Van Oukwerk has been head of Travis CU, now a $1.3 billion credit union, since 2002. ...

TNB Adds Card Portfolios.(TNB Card Services )(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... DALLAS -- TNB Card Services announced the purchase of six credit-union card portfolios in Indiana, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Texas. The six include: Lynn Postal District Employees CU, Lynn, Mass.; T&B FCU, Nolan County, Texas; Corpus...

Wal-Mart Gets Into Check Cashing.(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... BOSTON -- State regulators have approved an application from Wal-Mart stores to enter banking in a big way by offering check-cashing services at 44 of its Bay-State stores. The initiative will expand the retail giant's footprint in the...

Getaway Car Stuck On Tracks.(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... MADISON, Wis. -- A local man whose hold-up at Superior Community CU last June was foiled when his getaway car got stuck on a railroad tracks pleaded guilty to armed robbery charges. Police said Timothy Gotelaere, 41, of Superior, burst into...

CUJ Q&A: The Credit Union Journal Catches Up With Bill Cheney As He Prepares To Preside Over His First League Annual Meeting As Its President And CEO.(interview with Bill Cheney )(Interview)
November 6, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Bill Cheney has traversed the Golden and Silver States numerous times during his first eight months as president and CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues. This week, he prepares to lead the two Leagues' annual...

Product & Service.(Coinstar, Inc.)(USERS Incorporated )(Premier Community Credit Union of Stockton)(Del-One Federal Credit Union )(CO-OP Financial Services ATM )
November 6, 2006... Coinstar Unveils Service At BAI BELLEVUE, Wash.-Coinstar, Inc. announced a new Coinstar Direct Coin Deposit service that will allow CU customers to electronically transfer coin into personal accounts, complemented with Coinstar's new...

Schillios Wegner Winner For Work Around The World.(Award for Individual Achievement upon Credit Union Development Educator Carol Schillios)(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) will bestow the Herb Wegner Award for Individual Achievement upon Credit Union Development Educator Carol Schillios, founder/executive director of the Fabric of Life Foundation and...

Seven Months After Taking Leave, Cavazos To Retire.(Armando Cavazos retired from Credit Unions)(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... FERNDALE, Mich. -- Nearly seven months after Credit Union One President/CEO Armando Cavazos took a leave of absence, the board has announced his retirement. "All the terms of Mr. Cavazos' retirement have been resolved amicably and to the...

Now That's Retirement: For Dave Chatfield, This Week Will Mean California, Nevada- After A Year Of Alaska, Hawaii.
November 6, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- After a long and winding road that included Hawaii, California and Alaska, Dave Chatfield will be here this week for the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues' annual convention-the first since he retired as the leagues'...

Member Rights & Credit Union Democracy: An Analysis of What Is Happening To Member Rights, And Who Enforces Them.
November 6, 2006... WASHINGTON -- It has been said that Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. -Winston Churchill The principles of credit union democracy and openness seem under...

The Michigan Case: DFCU Conversion Attempt Controversy Still Boiling.
November 6, 2006... DEARBORN, Mich. -- Nearly 11 months after DFCU Financial first announced plans to convert to a mutual savings bank and six months since it withdrew those plans, the $1.8-billion CU and its members are still embroiled in a legal battle over an...

The Washington Case: Lawsuits Continue To Haunt Columbia CU.(Columbia Credit Union)
November 6, 2006... VANCOUVER, Wash. -- During the three years that members of Columbia CU have been fighting management and directors of the $720-million credit union for a full accounting of the ill-fated conversion to mutual savings bank several underlying...

Credit Unions In Their Communities.(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... * M/A COM Federal Credit Union, Lowell, Mass., held a Kid's Club Day with financial literacy games, prizes, snacks and crafts. * In Vancouver, Wash., the Credit Union Charity Ride, sponsored by iQ Credit Union and Fibre Federal Credit...

Where Credit Unions Were Active In Political Races.
November 6, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Credit unions were involved in numerous political races across the country leading up to this week's elections. Below is a synopsis of some of those activities. Complete details can be found at www.cujournal.com. In San...

CUNA Presses NCUA To Step In When Boards Don't Do Job.(Credit Union National Association )(National Credit Union Administration )(Brief article)
November 6, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Mary Dunn, CUNA's Deputy General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, told The Credit Union Journal on deadline that on the central issue of enforcement of bylaws that "the onus is on the credit union's board,...

Members Seek Board Ouster Of Would-Be Convert.(Lafayette Federal Credit Union)
November 13, 2006... KENSINGTON, Md. -- Angry members of Lafayette FCU began a petition last week to recall the credit union's nine-member board, which is working to convert the $320-million credit union to a mutual savings bank. While similar recall efforts...

You, Too, Can Be A Hero: Call FCU Takes SEG & Biz Development Promo Turns Ordinary Office Workers Into 'Heroes'.(Call Federal Credit Union)
November 13, 2006... RICHMOND, Va. -- Look! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's Kelley Parks, VP of marketing and business development at Call Federal Credit Union, decked out in superhero garb and capturing the attention of potential SEGs. "We fly through...

Democratic Tide Sweeps CU Friends.
November 13, 2006... WASHINGTON -- More than a dozen strong credit union supporters were swept from Congress last week in a national tide that brought the Democrats control of both the House and the Senate, for the first time in 12 years. Still, the Democratic...

Rates Are Peaking-What's Next For CUs?: Investment Experts Share Rate Predictions, Strategies.(credit unions)
November 13, 2006... DALLAS -- Credit unions are looking at the plateau in interest rates and wondering-as are their members-is it time to cash out? The Credit Union Journal asked several corporate credit union investment experts if cash is still king or if it...

On Deadline.
November 13, 2006... OSI Acquires Raddon Financial Group GLASTONBURY, Conn.- Credit union outsourcer Open Solutions Inc., which is in the process of going private, said yesterday it has acquired Raddon Financial Group, Inc. in a deal valued at $33 million....

Economic Slowdown Continues, But No Crash In Sight, One Expert Says.
November 13, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Despite a slowdown in the economy, one economist is predicting consumers-who are showing an increase in credit card usage-will continue the holiday shopping tradition, helping to stave off a possible economic crash. "They'll...

CU 24 Reduces Switching Fees.(Credit Union 24 Inc.)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- What's behind Credit Union 24's reduced switching fees? The new pricing will benefit its member credit unions by boosting income while adding more convenience to CU members, a spokesman said. "It's a product of our new...

Worth Noting.(K of C Federal Credit Union- Viriva Community Credi Union)(Vantage Financial Credit Union - Rose Bartolomucci)(death of Grahame Mehrtens- Credit Union Founation Australia)
November 13, 2006... K of C FCU Has New Name PHILADELPHIA-K of C Federal Credit Union converted to a state chartered credit union and changed its name to Viriva Community Credi Union. To celebrate its 70th anniversary and name change, several high yielding...

Ensuring 'Strategy' Isn't On 'Culture's Breakfast Plate.(Jeff Post- CUNA Mutual Group )(Interview)
November 13, 2006... "Taking a good, hard look at yourself" is a common cliche, but as another cliche so accurately notes, "it's easier said than done." Yet as was reported in this space Nov. 6, that's precisely what CUNA Mutual Group has been attempting to do...

Most Valuable Data Is Free-If Staff Knows To Dig.(Cross-selling)
November 13, 2006... Member: Hello, I need to add an additional name to my credit card account. My son's going off to college, and I would like to have a credit card in his name that is attached to my account-you know-for 'emergencies only.' Teller: Sure, no...

Movement Missing Out On Social Mission Opportunity.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... Frank Diekmann hit the nail on the head with his Oct. 23 editorial, especially when we see our economy going through some major adjustments. With outsourcing of business and jobs to other countries I believe we'll see an increase in the lower-...

On Branding: Is Your Biz Dev. In Sync With Brand?(Column)
November 13, 2006... Does your credit union have a business development team that operates separately from your marketing department? I'm seeing this more often as credit unions put more focus on growth. Business-to-business sales people are charged with going into...

Using Data, Analytics To Improve Your Marketing Efforts.(Column)
November 13, 2006... This is the first in a series of articles that will describe how you can use data and analytics to improve your marketing success. What will be described is not a quick-hit solution, but a discipline that successful companies have learned to...

Product & Service.(Multiple Listing Service)(Real Estate Solutions Inc.)(CUcorp)(HR Value Group)(Aite Group )
November 13, 2006... FNIS, Digital Mapping Team Up JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-The Real Estate Solutions division of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. announced an agreement to license and market Digital Mapping's online intelligent mapping service, which...

Democrats Seen Focusing On Consumer Issues.
November 13, 2006... WASHINGTON -- With last week's Democrats sweep of the House and Senate credit unions can expect the Congress to put a greater emphasis on consumer issues, like credit card disclosures or check-clearing time, credit union lobbyists predicted...

Smart Money Shifted To Democrats Pre-Election.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Credit union groups were subtly shifting their campaign contributions over the weeks preceding last week's elections from the Republicans to the Democrats and their leadership, as an election-day takeover of at least one chamber...

People.(credit unions)
November 13, 2006... Security Service Federal Credit Union, San Antonio, Texas, named Greg MacMillin assistant vice president of risk management. STAR Credit Union, Madison, Wis., named Elizabeth Pernot CEO and manager. US Federal Credit Union, Burnsville,...

Alabama CUs To Hit The Airwaves.(radio and television advertising)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Credit unions are launching a radio and television ad campaign to publicize the credit union difference. The Alabama CU League is more than half-way to raising $360,000 in voluntary contributions to finance a cooperative...

Latino CU Planned For Atlanta.(Latino Community Credit Union)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... ATLANTA -- A group of community development agencies is putting together plans for a new credit union that would serve this city's buregoning Hispanic population. The project, being headed by Ideas, a Decatur-based group that works in...

Career Transition Loans Offered.(NuUnion CU)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... LANSING, Mich. -- NuUnion CU, formerly State Employees CU, said it is offering $1 million in below-rate education loans as part of the Michigan CU League's Career Transition Program for auto workers. The credit union will offer eligible...

Jack Henry Acquires USB Alliance.(Jack Henry & Associates Inc., US Banking Alliance)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... MONETT, Mo. -- Jack Henry & Associates has acquired US Banking Alliance, an Atlanta-based provider of banking software and advisory services. US Banking helps credit unions and banks develop more profitable loan pricing and deposit...

Service CU Adds Instant Issuing.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... PORTSMOUTH, N.H -- Service CU has implemented Dynamic Card Solutions CardWizard instant card issuing services at its branches throughout New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Germany. Since going live with the system the $1-billion credit union...

Vultures Circle ATM ISO TRM.(DDJ Capital Management)(TRM Corp)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... PORTLAND, Ore. -- A well-known investor in distressed companies, a so-called vulture fund, has accumulated a 14% stake in financially ailing TRM Corp., the nation's second largest independent service organization for ATMs. The vulture...

Election Round Up: CURIA Champion U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray Will Return To The House.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Republican Brian Bilbray, an outspoken supporter of the CU Regulatory Improvements Act, bucked the national trend last week and won re-election easily to the state's 50th House district. Bilbray was an original sponsor of HR 1151,...

Election Round Up: Veteran Iowa Congressman Leach Loses Bet On Internet Gambling.(Jim Leach )(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... DES MOINES, Iowa -- Former House Banking Committee Chairman and staunch credit union supporter Jim Leach folded his hand last week when a strong campaign by the Internet gambling interests turned him out of office. The 64-year-old Leach served...

Election Round Up: Big Election Bet On Sen. Joe Lieberpan Pays Off For CUNA Lobby.(Joseph Lieberman)(Credit Union National Association)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... HARTFORD, Conn. -- Three-term Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman won a fourth-term last week with some strong last minute assistance from credit unions-and Republican voters. The moderate Lieberman lost the Democratic primary in August to...

Election Round Up: Senate Gets A New CU Champion As Sanders Moves Over From House.(Bernard Sanders )(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Credit unions won a new champion in the Senate last week with the election of Bernard Sanders in Vermont. Sanders, who served eight terms in Vermont's only House seat is the only self-professed socialist in Congress, but runs...

Gates Fndtn. Awards $2M Grant.(Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, World Council of Credit Unions )
November 13, 2006... MADISON, Wis. -- The World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) has received a $2- million microfinance grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to implement a CU growth program in Africa and Latin America. "It's wonderful, it's...

Russian CUL Gleans U.S. Expertise.(Russian Credit Union League, World Council of Credit Unions )
November 13, 2006... RUSSIA -- The Russian Credit Union League (RCUL) recently invited a World Council of Credit Unions advisory team to Russia to help develop a long-term strategy for strengthening the league. World Council's Chief Operating Officer Brian...

Uganda CUs Get Aid From Canada.(World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. )(Canadian Co-operative Association)(Uganda Co-operative Savings and Credit Union, Ltd.)
November 13, 2006... Madison, Wis. -- World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. and the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) have partnered to strengthen the credit union movement in Uganda. This is the first joint project initiated in more than 20 years and...

CU Name Change Draws Ire After A Close Member Vote.(University of Iowa Community Credit Union, Optiva CU )
November 13, 2006... IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa Community Credit Union is moving forward with plans to become Optiva CU despite complaints from a handful of members that the new name lacks originality and has no connection to the community. "Anytime...

Perimeter Develops Risk Profile Tool For Security Planning.(Perimeter Security Systems Ltd.)
November 13, 2006... MILFORD, Conn. -- Perimeter, a provider of e-security announced a self-assessment and security planning tool for credit union use called the RiskProfile system to help IT and technology executives align security plans and spending with the...

Product & Service.(NXGEN Payment Services Partners with Cynergy Data)(Clarke American )(D. Hilton Associates )
November 13, 2006... DHilton Boasts Award-Winning Efforts THE WOODLANDS, Texas-Marketing materials produced for CUs by D. Hilton Associates recently received 13 Lone Star Awards from the Texas CU League. The awards include: First Place, Harris County FCU...

First Financial Offers Savings Alternative To Payday Loans.(First Financial Credit Union)
November 13, 2006... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Providing an alternative to payday lenders is only the first step in keeping members from doing business with the predatory industry, so one credit union is taking a carrot-and-stick approach. First Financial Credit...

Study Projects 15% Growth in 2008.(Corporate Payment Progress Index)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... RICHMOND, Calif. -- The corporate payment industry is rapidly moving toward electronic processing of business-to-business transactions, according to the first-annual Corporate Payment Progress Index (CPPI). The CPPI was created by Vicor, a...

Get Ahead With Hispanic-Owned Biz.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... ATLANTA -- Having a relationship manager who is Hispanic is valued by Hispanic-owned small businesses, according to a recent study by Synergistics Research, a provider of multi-sponsor marketing research for the financial services industry. ...

Study: Consumers Love Free Gifts.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... DALLAS -- According to a recent study by Rennhack Marketing Services (RMS), 60% of consumers said a free gift makes a difference in their banking decision. RMS said its 2007 ConsumerTrac research is an annual survey that helps define which...

No-Swipe Credit Cards May Be Vulnerable To Hackers, Fraud.
November 13, 2006... AMHERST, Mass. -- Researchers at the University of Massachusetts here demonstrated how easy it was to read the data transmitted by "No-swipe" or contactless "wave" cards issued by Visa and American Express. In a demonstration for a reporter...

Federal Reserve Chairman Cites NFCDCU Research On CDFIs.(National Association of Community Development Credit Unions )(Ben S. Bernanke )
November 13, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben S. Bernanke lauded the work of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) during a speech before the Annual Conference of the Opportunity Finance Network, reported Rafael Morales,...

NAFCU: CU Loans Should Reflect Decrease In Auto, Light Truck Sales.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... ARLINGTON, Va. -- NAFCU's Macro Flash Data report for sales of vehicles in October showed a decline across all vehicle types, including light trucks and SUVs and automobiles from one month ago. Auto sales declined by 300,000 units to 7.3...

CA/NV CUL Appoint Donovan Director Of Government Affairs.(California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues )(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues named Ryan Donovan director of federal government affairs, part of a restructuring of its overall advocacy efforts. Donovan, who became head of the league's office here in April...

Free Credit Reporting Could Drive Consumers To Switch Accounts.
November 13, 2006... ATLANTA, Ga. -- According to recent research by Synergistics Research Corporation here, a significant number of consumers said they would switch checking providers to get free credit report monitoring. The online survey, conducted in July...

Retail Group Predicts Internet Will Play Big Role In Holiday Shopping.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The Internet will play a larger role than ever in holiday shopping this year, according to a new survey conducted for the National Retail Federation (NRF) by BIGresearch. With shoppers expected to spend an average of $791.10...

Makeover Promo Warms Hearts, Heats Up Home Equity Lending.
November 13, 2006... EAST LANSING, Mich. -- A repeat loan promotion by Michigan State University Federal Credit Union that gave one local disabled teenager a room makeover also generated 640 new home equity and mortgage accounts during its two-month run. ...

Virginia Considers Building CU House In Richmond.(Virginia Credit Union)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... LYNCHBURG, Va. -- In an effort to heighten its presence with lawmakers, the Virginia Credit Union League has formed a task force to examine the details of building its own Credit Union House similar to CUNA's in Washington D.C. "We're...

Research: The Steps Needed To Make Your Research Work.
November 13, 2006... Getting results requires taking the right action, and taking the right action requires having accurate information right from the start. That's why there is little point in agonizing over dozens of possible reasons why members are leaving...

BLOG The New Word Of Mouth: A Look At What's Being Said About Credit Unions In Cyberspace.
November 13, 2006... CYBERSPACE -- As more people enter the "blogosphere" the potential for a new type of word-of-mouth marketing, education and, of course, the spread of disinformation, just keeps growing. While most credit union references on random blog...