May Announces Retirement Plans
EL PASO, Texas-Harriett May, the well-known CEO of the $1.8-billion Government Employees CU (GECU) is retiring effective March 31, and will be succeeded by long-time COO Crystal Long, its chief operations officer. May, who recently served as chairman of CUNA, has been with GECU for 38 years. Long has been with GECU for 32 years.
More Mergers Are Announced
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-The $1.3-million Birmingham Financial FCU, operated under conservatorship since October 2011 by NCUA, has been liquidated and merged into the $113-million eCO Credit Union here. In Reno, Nev., the $74-million Sierra PacificFCU has been approved to absorb the $20-million Southwest Gas FCU, Las Vegas, via merger, while in Battle Creek, Mich., Kellogg Community FCU said it finalized its merger with St. Joseph Valley Community FCU in Kalamazoo. KCFCU now has $369-million in assets. In Vernon Hills, Ill., the $1.6-billion Baxter Credit Union is absorbing the $62-million, Minneapolis-based Target Credit Union via merger.
Eight People Elected To CUNA Board
WASHINGTON-Six incumbents and two new people have been elected to the CUNA board. Taking office March 19 will be new directors Paul Hughes of Greenville (S.C.) FCU and Michael L'Ecuye of Bellweather Community CU, Manchester, N.H. Re-elected were Rod Staatz of SECU in Maryland; Mike Mercer of Georgia CU Affilliates; 3, Peter P. Dzuris of Northland Area FCU in Michigan; Patrick S. Jury of the Iowa CU League; Winona Nava of Guadalupe CU in New Mexico, and Brett Martinez of Redwoods CU in California.
Book Marks Holy Rosary's 50th
ROCHESTER, N.H.-To mark its 50th anniversary this year, Holy Rosary has published an historical memoir. Written by Michael Berhendt, the 196-page "Comme D'Or" (Good as Gold) chronicles the CU's history as part of the local Franco-American experience.
Webinar Schedule Is Released
MADISON, Wis. - CUNA Mutual Group has announced its line-up of Credit Union Protection 2012 Webinars: Jan. 11, Online Banking Fraud & Authentication Guidance; Feb. 15, Cyber-Risks & The Data Breach Hot Seat; March 28, Disaster Preparedness; May 9, Plastic Card Fraud; June 27, Social Media Risks; Aug. 15, Directors Risk Oversight & Liability; Sept. 19, Staying in Compliance; Oct. 17, Payment & Deposit Fraud; and Nov. 14, Robbery & Burglary. For info: www.cunamutual.com/cuprotectionwebinars.
Checking Accounts 'Shred' Record
SAN DIEGO-San Diego County CU reported that its social media-based "Shred Your Big Bank Debit Card" campaign, which was tied to Bank Transfer Day, resulted in the opening of 4,049 checking accounts during November, which was 65% higher than its average during the first six months of 2011. During October and November total membership growth was up 235% (to 223,980 members).
CUES Donates $5K In Clarke's Name
MADISON, Wis.-CUES has contributed $5,000 to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, Salt Lake City, in honor of board member Shelley B. Clarke, president/CEO, Goldenwest FCU, Ogden, Utah. Clarke was elected to the CUES board in 2009, and resigned from the CUES board upon her retirement from Goldenwest Dec. 31, 2001.
Keynote From 'Crazy, Busy, Nuts'
MADISON, Wis.-The CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council said that Victoria LaBalme will give a keynote address titled "Crazy, Busy, Nuts: Getting Off the Conveyor Belt of Life," at its annual meeting March 7-10 in New Orleans. For info: www.cunamarketingcouncil.org.SFFCU, Walgreens In ATM Agreement
SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco FCU has reached a deal to allow its members surcharge-free usage of cash-dispensing ATMs in 500 Walgreens locations, and also to place 20 of its branded ATMs within stores in the city. The agreement was reached with Welch ATM.
White Paper On Retirement Gap
MADISON, Wis.-The CUNA HR/TD Council has published a white paper, "The Coming Retirement Gap," written by Lucy Harr. The paper focuses on succession plans, preservation of CU and cooperative philosophy, management of job functions, and adequacy of benefit plans. For more info: wwww.cunacouncils.org.
Wood Winner of Kanjorski Scholarship
DUBOIS, Penn.-Carrie Wood, CEO of Timberland FCU in DuBois, has been selected as the first winner of the Paul F. Kanjorski Advocacy Scholarship from the Pennsylvania CU Association to attend the 2012 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington. Kanjorski championed the CU cause in Congress before retiring.
Two More Announce Special Bonuses
KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Eastman CU said it will distribute a $5 million extraordinary dividend payments to eligible members in February. Eastman has awarded a total of $50 million in extraordinary dividends to eligible members since 1998. Meanwhile, Detroit Metropolitan CU is paying an 8% rebate on loan interest paid during 2011 and a 50-BP bonus on dividends.
'Millionaire's Club' Expands In School
GLENEIG, Md.-The Credit Union Foundation of Maryland and DC has expanded its "Millionaire's Club" financial literacy program aimed at high school students to the Applications Research Lab in Howard County, Md. It is currently operating in eight schools.
9 Countries Get Lessons In Lobbying
WASHINGTON-The World Council of Credit Unions and CUNA hosted a two-day workshop at Credit Union House here for CU and trade association representatives from nine Latin American and Caribbean to learn ways to improve their lobbying skills. Participants came from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.
$1 Million Donated to BizKid$
MADISON, Wis.-Three CUs have collectively donated $1 million to underwrite BizKid$, the credit union-backed TV series on money management that airs on PBS and is backed by credit unions. Committing the funds are BECU, Tukwila, Wash.; SECU in Raleigh, N.C., and SchoolsFirst FCU in Santa Ana, Calif. The TV series is overseen by the National Credit Union Foundation.
Illinois State Charters Get Credit
NAPERVILLE, Ill.-State-chartered CUs here are receiving a total credit of $1.257-million toward regulatory fees. The credit is the result of of legislation initiated by the Illinois CU League (ICUL) to implement the court-approved settlement of the regulatory fee case it filed in 2004 and which became effective in 2009. Under the terms of the settlement, Illinois state-chartered CUs received a cash payment from the state in June, 2009 of $6.2 million as a credit for the overpayment in regulatory fees made under the Blagojevich Administration's fee escalation and transfer ("sweep") budgetary arrangement adopted by the State in its fiscal years 2004 through 2006.
Preliminary OK For New CU Charter
KYLE, S.D. - Organizers say they have received preliminary approval for the contours of a CU that will serve the Lakota Indians, also known as the Sioux, at their Pine Ridge Reservation here. The Pine Ridge Lakota Reservation covers 70,000 square miles in the western third of South Dakota and is home to 40,000 Native Americans, but it does not have a single bank or CU. The Native American charter is being funded by a $150,000 grant from the Treasury Department's CDFI fund to the Lakota Funds, a CDFI sponsored by the Lakota Nation.
White Paper on 'Lifetime Value'
MADISON, Wis.-The CUNA Operations, Sales & Service Council has released a white paper titled "Building Member Lifetime Value," which discusses five strategies used to leverage MLV to drive revenue and profitability. Author Jeff Rendel provides real-world examples of credit union successes and shares the tools each used to build their MLV. For info: www.cunacouncils.org.
Building Rededicated To Former CEO
MARGATE, Fla.-City County Credit Union here has rededicated its main office building in the memory of William "Bill" Marquardt, who was president and CEO of the credit union for 17 years prior to his death. During his career Marquardt oversaw growth to $375 million in assets from $67 million, and initiated a number of innovative services, including its AutoBranch, where members can now purchase vehicles at affordable prices. Marquardt's wife, Donna, children and grandchildren were on hand for the unveiling of building plaques and the planting of a tree in his honor.
