Ray Birch

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- Cowlitz Credit Union announced yesterday that it plans to merge with Red Canoe Credit Union in September.

TAMPA, Fla. -- GTE Financial has introduced a unique new program that aims to reduce members' waistlines and fatten their wallets.

LAKE BLUFF, Ill. -- Forget that NFL quarterback Peyton Manning had a record-breaking regular season for touchdown passes and yardage.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Credit Union Administration's new risk-based capital calculator received more than 2,200 unique visits the day it was launched last week and a total of 5,400 through Friday.

CLEVELAND -- Firefighters Community CU will convert its credit card base to EMV early this year, distributing 5,400 chip cards to members.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Pentagon FCU continues to expand its real estate CUSO, a move the CU says is enhancing member service and solidifying long-term relationships.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Banks are reducing their number of branches to increase efficiency and boost sluggish revenue growth, according to a new report from SNL Financial.

WASHINGTON -- After reviewing the proposed new rule on risk-based capital introduced at Thursday's NCUA's board meeting, CUNA is not changing its stance that credit unions do not need reform that increases their capital burdens.

BROOKFIELD, Wis. -- The Target data breach has financial institutions focused on payments and considering their options to fight cyber crime.

DENVER -- Credit unions need to adjust how they communicate with members and work with them on card fraud issues, say cyber security experts who expect the number of data breaches to increase.

BOSTON -- Credit and debit cards have made cash virtually obsolete in some markets. Could biometric technology someday do the same to plastic?

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Early reaction to NCUA's proposed risk-based capital rule is that growth for a number of credit unions will stall under the new standards, some CUs will benefit from a capital cushion, but not enough was done by the agency to reward good managers of risk.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- With NCUA's proposed new risk-based capital rule due out Thursday, credit unions are anxiously waiting to see if the agency gets it right.

WASHINGTON -- NCUA's warning that it could fine credit unions by as much as $1 million a day for filing late call reports is under more fire.

WASHINGTON -- The cost to credit unions from the massive Target Corp. data breach could be $25 to $30 million, if not higher, according to CUNA.

LUFKIN, Texas -- Linda Smith, chief executive officer of Lufkin FCU, retired earlier this month.

DENVER -- Credit unions need to adjust how they communicate with members and work with them on card fraud issues, say cyber security experts who expect the number of data breaches to increase.

TEMPLE, Texas -- NCUA's warning that it will fine credit unions filing late call reports by as much as $1 million per day is drawing support as well as criticism from industry leaders, with one executive describing the agency as "tone deaf."

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Rebounding energy prices sent the Consumer Price Index up 1.5% in December. However, for the year, CPI held fairly steady at 1.7%, reports NAFCU.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- When it comes to compliance, fraud and risk, CUs this year should pay closer attention to their card rewards programs, how loans are being serviced and ramifications from data breaches.