Lisa Freeman

As the end of the year looms and a new year on the horizon, credit unions across the country are offering members a tangible piece of "the credit union difference:" annual bonuses.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Members of Golden 1 CU will be getting an early holiday gift from their credit union, as the CU's $18 million "Member Giveback Distributions" hit savings accounts Wednesday.

GENEVA, N.Y. — Finger Lakes FCU President/CEO Kathy Crelot is stepping down after 15 years with the $102 million CU.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — NCUA has banned five former credit union employees from participating in the affairs of any federally insured financial institution.

When I first started writing about credit unions, lo' these many years ago, there were a number of things that shocked me, not the least of which was a fire-and-brimstonesque speech by then NCUA Chairman Norman D'Amours about the evils of competition (sometimes called "coopetition") among credit unions.

NORTH GRAFTON, Mass. — Grafton Suburban Credit Union members voted recently to change the CU's name to Homefield Credit Union, reflecting the credit union's growth into neighboring communities.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — NCUA announced the agency will issue its revised proposed rule on risk-based capital at its Jan. 15 board meeting.

There's a commercial on TV right now that makes fun of all the different "bests" out there — "best grandmother," "best boss," etc. And then there's the increasingly ubiquitous phrase: "best practices."

Both CUNA and NAFCU scurried to urge lawmakers to pass several different credit union-backed initiatives in the waning days of the 113th Congress, also known as the "lame-duck session" because some of its current members won't be coming back when the 114th Congress convenes in January.

WASHINGTON — Credit unions are lobbying for several key pieces of legislation in the lame-duck session, but it could be a case of too little time and too much inertia.

CHICAGO — Despite much interest in ApplePay and other emerging opportunities, credit unions still see auto loans as the growth area heading into 2015, according to a recent TransUnion survey.

While some might forget to pause on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, it's a sure bet the credit unions founded to serve our military men and women won't.

National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors President and CEO Mary Martha Fortney should be making her victory lap around Capitol Hill, but she's too busy seeing to the future of this unique trade organization before she retires at the end of the year.

Even weeks after Apple Pay went live, it continues to make headlines, and not just in financial news outlets.

CUNA has promoted longtime credit union economist Bill Hampel to chief policy officer.

But reading CU Journal West Coast Correspondent Michael Bartlett's coverage of Earvin "Magic" Johnson's session at the California and Nevada CU Leagues' annual meetin, I was pleasantly surprised.

Oak Ridge, Tennessee — Tennessee Members 1st Federal Credit Union has selected Rick Mikels to be its new president and CEO.

While the rest of my neighbors are carving pumpkins and wishing me a Happy Halloween, you should see the looks on their faces when I respond, "Thanks, and a Happy International Credit Union Month to you!"

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — NCUA has banned three former credit union employees from participating in the affairs of any federal insured financial institution.

DAYTON, Ohio — Thomas Newton has been named the new president and CEO of Dayton Firefighters FCU.