'Burning Money' Gets Endorsement
SPANISH FORT, Ala.-The Education Credit Union Council has endorsed the "Burning Money" financial literacy course for high school students. "Our group believes Burning Money is the most innovative and ethical teaching tool available today for high school teachers who want to help their students achieve financial literacy," said Sally Fontenot, President of the ECUC. The program, which uses each student's individual spending habits as a key teaching tool, was developed by the FoolProof Initiativ.
For info www.burningmoney.org.
Co-Founder Of Wyoming CUL Dies
CHEYENNE, Wyo.-Cleo G Ward, 95, a long-time activist in credit unions in Wyoming, has died. Mr. Ward helped establish the Laramie (Wyoming) Railroad Employees FCU (now the Laramie Plains FCU), and was a member of the board of Unified People's FCU for more than 40 years. He was also a co-founder of the Wyoming CU League, where he served as a past chairman, and served on the CUNA board.
CEO Found Guilty In Scheme
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-The former president of Florida A&M University FCU, Eugene Telfair, and a former program director at the university, Robert Nixon, have been convicted by a federal jury of embezzling $134,000 of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds administered by the credit union. In total, the two were found guilty of stealing more than $325,000.
Piano Music In Branches
MIDDLETON, R.I.-People's CU said that throughout December, local Lois Vaughan will be performing Christmas music at all six of its branches, as she has for the past several years.
CUs Participate In Solutions Exchange
SAN JOSE, Calif.--The Underbanked Solutions Exchange-a network of mid-sized banks and credit unions created by the Chicago-based Center for Financial Services Innovation held its annual meeting here and announced expansion of both its size and scope. Alabama-based Redstone FCU joined the group as its 10th participant during the meeting, during which a site visit was made to see an operating version of the Self-Help Micro Branch. Other participants include Kinecta FCU, ELS FCU, Self-Help FCU and Centris FCU.
For info: www.cfsinnovation.com
New CEOs At California CUs
REDONDO BEACH, Calif.--Jennifer Oliver has been named president/CEO of the $70-million South Bay Credit Union. Ms. Oliver was most recently CEO of Los Angeles based California Bear CU. At the $104-million California Bear CU, meanwhile, Robert York has been named as the new president/CEO. York was most recently VP-marketing and business development.
Antonini Named NACUSO CEO
LAS VEGAS--The National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations (NACUSO) has named Jack Antonini as its new CEO, succeeding Tom Davis. The former CEO of USAA Federal Savings Bank and more recently, CEO of ATM operator Cardtronics. NACUSO said in a statement, "The credit union business model and traditional credit union thinking will not sustain the industry...Jack has the vision and experience to help credit unions think critically and creatively and, most importantly, to implement solutions."
NY CUs Lead Puerto Rico Meeting
SAN JUAN, P.R.--The Credit Union Association of New York led a Compliance & Legal Conference for CUs based here and in the U.S. Virgin Islans. Some 44 CU reps attended the event, which was led by General Counsel Michael Lanotte and Director of Compliance Michael Carter, the Association's director of compliance, led the conference.
Becker Offers Holiday Shopping Tips
WASHINGTON-NAFCU President Fred Becker touted the value of credit unions in a series of national radio interviews on financing holiday purchases. NAFCU said the interviews are part of its ongoing efforts to bolster consumer awareness of the benefits of CU membership.
Bluepoint Offers Free Upgrade
VISTA, Calif.-Bluepoint Solutions has announced the availability of a transition program for natural-person CU that have branch capture software licenses purchased through Western Bridge Corporate CU (WesCorp) and Southwest Corporate FCU. The company said it is honoring existing licenses and is offering a complimentary upgrade to the most recent version of its ImagePoint Branch application when the credit union initiates a direct support contract with Bluepoint. More than 1,000 CUs are running the solution through the two corporates.
For info: www.bluepointsolutions.com/transition.
TMG, Canada's Desjadins Bank Partner
DES MOINES, Iowa-Calling it a first-of-its-kind agreement, TMG Financial Services (TMGFS) and Desjardins Bank of Florida, a subsidiary of Desjardins Group of Canada, have entered into an agreement to offer a consumer rewards credit card to bank clients in the United States. Desjardins Bank of Florida primarily serves Canadian citizens who have immigrated to or reside for part of the year in the United States. TMG Financial Services said it has finalized an agent issuing agreement with the bank subsidiary and will begin underwriting credit cards in January 2011.
