Frank Gargano

COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of more digital options for helping members. Now more credit unions are hoping that artificial intelligence can help reduce stress on frontline staff.

The Inclusiv Network and the National Association of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals opened the Juntos Avanzamos-NLCUP regional chapter in California last month. It's the first part of a campaign to address financial inclusion on a local level.

Steve Kenny, who has been with the institution for more than 35 years and at the helm for roughly 13 years, stepped down from his leadership roles on Jan. 9.

Kevin Cole was appointed president of the $672 million-asset organization in 2021, and took on the role of chief executive after longtime leader Bill Anderson retired last year.

Margie Salazar, who has been with the El Paso institution for more than 25 years and is currently its chief financial officer, will succeed longtime chief executive Karl Murphy on Feb. 1.

Employees of the $11.8 billion-asset institution's South Division Avenue branch organized with the Communications Workers of America in an affirmative vote.

The Chicago-based institution partnered with MANTL to streamline how credit unions onboard new customers in multiple channels.

Roxane Bowering succeeded Andrea Thune as the next president and chief executive of the New York credit union.

In this month's roundup of American Banker's favorite stories: a deep-dive into how 2022 accelerated the decline of overdraft fees, Zelle's plan for addressing fraudulent transactions, the National Credit Union Administration opens the doors for fintech and credit union partnerships for lending and more.

Telhio Credit Union in Ohio hopes to help contractors verify their earnings when applying for loans and other financial services.

Executive coaching programs and specialized employee resource groups have helped financial institutions broaden their available pools of talent and ensure more representation throughout all levels of management.

Financial institutions have launched tailored relief campaigns to help refugees begin rebuilding their lives.

The National Credit Union Administration's spending frameworks were scaled back in certain areas in response to feedback from industry groups.

Employees of a Lake Michigan Credit Union branch say they're fighting to organize after upper management failed to respond to their complaints about pay disparity, COVID-19 benefits and more.

The National Credit Union Administration's emergency exemption allowing for remote board and membership meetings at federally chartered institutions is scheduled to lapse at year-end. The agency's chairman recommended hybrid meetings as an option that can satisfy traditional meeting requirements.

The Dallas-based company is expanding in the Southeast and the Mountain West, and overhauling its digital systems, as part of a plan that executives say will pay off over a two- to five-year period.

Roughly 40,000 residents of Moore County have been left without power since Saturday, when gunfire damaged two substations. Financial institutions are urging residents to use online banking and call centers if they do not have access to a branch.

The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions' Fuel Disbursement Program provided more than 160 farmers with roughly 17,000 gallons of pre-paid fuel. Other groups are supplying computers and printers to help the country's domestic credit unions remain operational.

In this month's roundup of American Banker's favorite stories: the National Credit Union Administration sets its focus on liquidity risk for 2023, an exclusive fireside chat with Venus Williams on pay equity, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's funding comes into question and more.

Tom Smith will step down as president and chief executive in May 2023. Smith joined the credit union in 2008 as chief lending officer.