Webcast On Coaching Staff
WASHINGTON-NAFCU and DDJ Myers Ltd. Will offer a July 8 webcast with advice on coaching employees to success. "Enhance Productivity and Improve Performance with Employee Coaching" will broadast 2-3:30 p.m. EDT and is open to all. To register: 800-344-5580 or www.nafcu.org/coaching.
Fryzel Addresses Assessments
YONKERS, N.Y.-NCUA Board Member Michael E. Fryzel, discussed the issue of assessments at the Ukrainian Credit Union Association/s Annual Meeting here. Fryzel explained why the agency is deciding whether we should separate the assessment for the Share Insurance Fund from the assessment for the Corporate Stabilization Fund, and stressed the decision to do so would not increase the assessment.
Rent-A-Center Targets Underbanked
PLANO, Texas-Rent-A-Center, Inc., which rents items such as appliances and electronics largely to those who can't afford to purchase them, is expanding its move into financial services, including check cashing, payday loans, money transfers and prepaid debit cards in about 350 stores in 17 states. Rent-A-Center's financial services arm turned its first profit in the second half of 2009. After taking a breather last year, when it added financial services to just 11 locations, the company plans to pick the pace back up and add the offerings to a net of 50 stores this year. Plans include creation of a website where consumers can apply for short-term loans. Rent-A-Center operates 3,000 stores in all 50 states.
Prohibition Orders Are Issued
ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA has issued prohibition orders against:
* Jason Rene Kisor, a former employee of Pen Air FCU, Pensacola, Florida, who was convicted of theft, embezzlement or misapplication of funds. Kisor was sentenced to three days imprisonment with a credit of one day, five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $58,123 in restitution.
* Melissa Laliberte, a former employee of Meriden Franco-American FCU, Meriden, Connecticut, who was convicted of embezzlement and filing a false income tax return. Laliberte was sentenced to 51 months in prison on Count One and 36 months in prison on Count Two; followed by 36 months of supervised release on Count One, and 12 months supervised release on Count Two; and ordered to $961,871 in restitution to NCUA and IRS.
* Christine McLamb, a former employee of Health Facilities FCU, Florence, S.C., who was convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to 75 months imprisonment, five years supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,033,965 in restitution.
* Cynthia Vaughan, a former manager of Rockland EFCU, Spring Valley, N.Y., based upon her indictment for three counts of Bank Fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1344.
Faith-Based CUs Meet
NAPERVILLE, Ill.-In a second such effort, the Illinois CU League hosted a meeting for faith-based credit unions in the Chicagoland area with a goal of helping the unique group of CUs to grow. Presenters included NCUA economic development specialist Ron Jones, reps from Members United Corporate FCU, league staff and others.
OTS COO Steven Markwell Dies
DENVER-Steven P. Markwell, COO of Open Technology Solutions (OTS), has died. Mr. Markwell was 47. OTS is a CUSO joined owned by Bellco CU in Colorado, Bethpage FCU in New York, First Tech CU in Oregon, and SECU of Maryland. "Steve developed deep relationships within many organizations in the credit union movement," said OTS CEO Mike Atkins, "and he was regarded as an outstanding partner. He will be deeply missed." Mr. Markwell is survived by his wife, Lindsay, and two daughters, Lauren, 5, and Lily, 3. Donations can be made to the Markwell Children's Fund, c/o Bellco Credit Union, 7600 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village, CO. 80111. Phone: 1-800-235-5261.
'Good Deeds Done Daily' Is WinnerPALM DESERT, Calif.-AltaOne FCU in Ridgecrest, Calif.-won top prize in the Marketing Association of Credit Unions' (MAC) 2010 Awards Competition for its "Good Deeds Done Daily" campaign, which, besides utilizing an array of media to promote the opening of a new branch, used a mystery team of "do-gooders" to travel around Bakersfield, Calif. doing good deeds for local residents. The team paid for students' books, brought lunch to the Fire Department, donated money to a pet shelter and other community-centric efforts. The buzz led to 6,000 hits on the CU's microsite, 500 people at the grand opening, and more than $1.2 million in new deposits.
