Blanchard Presented With Honor
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Larry Blanchard, a longtime leader in the credit union movement and key player in the drive for HR 1151, the 1998 CU Membership Access Act, was honored last week by the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) with an Honored Cooperator Award. Terry Lewis, VP for the National Cooperative Bank (NCB), presented the award to Blanchard during ceremonies at Credit Union House on Capitol Hill. The awards ceremony was held as part of the 2002 Cooperative Conference. The well-known Blanchard, currently a congressional lobbyist for CUNA Mutual Group, has served many roles in his more than 30 years in the credit union movement, including credit union manager, as well as executive with NCUA, CUNA and NAFCU, and as an independent journalist writing about credit unions.
Bacino Cautions On Privacy Issues
OMAHA, Neb.-Former NCUA Board Member Geoff Bacino urged Nebraska credit union executives to step up their vigilance on maintaining member privacy and records. Bacino, speaking to the Nebraska CU League's annual meeting, warned of the damage a single breach can cause to a credit union's reputation. "Credit unions have worked hard to build a solid trust relationship with their members," said the former NCUA board member. "But this can be destroyed by a single event." Bacino urged attendees to check all points where hackers might penetrate security.
TFCU Thumbprinting New Members
VACAVILLE, Calif.-Travis FCU has begun thumb-printing new members to help fight against the area's growing incidents of identity fraud. The credit union will print the thumbprints on new members' signature cards and is asking non-members who make in-person transactions to also provide thumbprints. Officials say the fingerprinting will help police trace criminals easier and act as a deterrent to those contemplating ID fraud.
Two CUs Good Places To Work
SAN DIEGO-Two credit unions have been named winners of the most recent Peter Barron Stark & Associates "Award For Workplace Excellence." American First Credit Union, San Diego, and Columbia Credit Union, Vancouver, made the list of seven winners. The award is solely based on actual employee feedback, measuring employee's responses in a number of categories, including integrity, ethics, and commitment to quality.
