No Hats, Hoods Expands To S.C.
COLUMBIA, S.C.-South Carolina has become the latest state to adopt a "no hats, no hoods, no sunglasses" policy at financial institution branches as part of an effort to thwart robberies. Both the South Carolina league and the state's bankers association are backing the new policy. Credit unions and banks in Missouri, Massachusetts and Oklahoma have a similar policy in place. During 2003, South Carolina averaged three bank robberies per week.
A CU By Any Other Name
LANSING, Mich.-Credit union lobbyists are considering returning to the state legislature this year to add an amendment to last year's CU Modernization Act that would require state-chartered credit unions to use the words "credit union" in their names. The new law does not require state- chartered credit unions to have the words in their legal name. This has prompted concerns among credit union officials that if credit unions choose not to use the name it could erode the credit union brand over time. Federal credit unions are required to use the words 'Federal Credit Union' in their legal names.
CU House Chair
WASHINGTON-Jim McCormack, president of the Pennsylvania CU Association, has been elected chairman of the board of Credit Union House. McCormack succeeds David Chatfield, president of the California/Nevada CU Leagues.
CUNA HR Council To Meet
MADISON, Wis.-The CUNA Human Resource and Training and Development Council Summit will be held April 18-21, 2004, at the Fontainebleau Hilton Resort in Miami Beach, Fla. Participants may register online at www.cunahrcouncil.org by clicking on the "2004 conference dates and location" link. For questions pertaining to registration or program information, call Teresa Steele at (800) 356-9655, ext. 4047.
Visa To Raise Interchange Rates
SAN FRANCISCO-Visa USA announced it will raise its credit card interchange rates April 3 in eight consumer categories and four commercial categories while adding four new consumer categories. The increases follow credit card rate increases recently announced by MasterCard International which are scheduled to take effect April 2. Visa acknowledges that its changes are an attempt to address MasterCard's increases as well as a new partnership between American Express and MBNA.
