Michael Bartlett

LAS VEGAS - The outlook for credit unions in 2014 is generally positive, according to industry insiders and analysts.

MADISON, Wis. - Will 2014 be the year the rubber meets the road when it comes to mortgage rules and regulation? Jon Bundy, regulatory compliance manager for CUNA Mutual Group, thinks so.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Tawana Y. James, director of the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion at the National Credit Union Administration, retired Friday.

DOWNEY, Calif. -- Financial Partners Credit Union says its "smart" branch in nearby Orange, Calif., is working so well, it plans to open two more just like it.

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Three bills targeting credit unions that were introduced in the Oregon state legislature in January were squashed, but the Northwest Credit Union Association continues to gear up its advocacy efforts.

SAN DIEGO -- Mission Federal Credit Union says its "Mission Fed Money Match" program has been a great success and will be continued and expande d in 2014.

BROOKFIELD, Wis. — Consumers are paying their bills in more ways than ever before - with the number paying bills from smartphones and tablets growing significantly - according to a new study.

PLANO, Texas — Consumer spending slowed during the third quarter as private-sector job growth continued to be weak, according to recent analysis from Brian Turner.

MANSFIELD, Texas — Texas Trust Credit Union has initiated a new outdoor advertising strategy, which includes replacing billboards with two Jeep Patriots that were custom wrapped to raise visibility of the $796 million credit union.

HOUSTON — Jim Free, retired president of tiny Southern Star Credit Union, died on Dec. 5.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — As the real estate market continues to make a comeback, CUs are turning to a CUSO to help them book more loans.

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill aimed at curbing abusive practices by "patent trolls" who file frivolous lawsuits - by a 325-to-91 margin with bipartisan support.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — NCUA announced Wednesday that it will begin accepting applications for its first round of technical assistance grants for 2014 beginning Feb. 3.

WASHINGTON — John Farmakides, president and CEO of Lafayette Federal Credit Union, testified before a Congressional subcommittee Thursday morning about impediments to credit union business lending.

WASHINGTON – The NAFCU Board on Wednesday met with the Federal Reserve to discuss credit union issues and present the findings of its “2013 NAFCU Report on Credit Unions.”

WASHINGTON — Rose Bartolomucci, president and CEO of Towpath Credit Union testified Wednesday before the House Committee on Financial Services on behalf of CUNA to advocate for regulatory relief the credit union community.

WASHINGTON — In the wake of Wednesday's legislative hearing by the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit — "Examining Regulatory Relief Proposals for Community Financial Institutions," and the proposals that would benefit federal credit unions — NAFCU weighed in with a letter.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Sprig by CO-OP, a digital wallet for credit union members introduced earlier this year, is being upgraded to enable out-of-network, pay-anyone payments, according to CO-OP Financial Services.

BOSTON — Though consumer demand for prepaid debit cards continues to rise, new entrants to the market have caused price compression, limiting revenue opportunities, according to a new survey.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Payments processor The Members Group reported Monday that its credit union and community bank clients have more than tripled their requests for credit card marketing promotions this year.