Growth strategies

To stand apart from the crowd and attract new members, some credit unions are offering some creative and unusual perks.

GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. — Fulton County FCU has rebranded itself as First Choice Financial FCU.

NEW YORK — Befitting a credit union with a heavily international membership, United Nations FCU has seen a strong response to a World Cup bracket challenge that it launched shortly before the quadrennial soccer tournament kicked off in mid-June.

Many credit union representatives have said that when times get tough — such as during an economic downturn — the CU's marketing budget is the first to get cut and often the last to be reinstated.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Francisco Bay Area is a "very crowded" market, with "high competition" among the many credit unions, banks and other financial service companies that are here.

SAN FRANCISCO — As credit union leaders from across the U.S. flock here for CUNA's America's Credit Union Conference this week, they will find most San Francisco Bay Area CU executives with big smiles on their faces.

MORA, Minn. — Members of Greater Minnesota CU here have approved a merger with SPIRE CU, which will be the continuing credit union.

CUNA and the state leagues have launched a new website to mark U.S. credit unions' march toward 100 million members.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Members Credit Union here and Bay Winds FCU plan to merge.

NASHVILLE — The merger between Kentucky Corporate FCU and Volunteer Corporate CU moved a step closer to completion with NCUA approving the deal earlier this month in a closed meeting.

Four credit unions – two in Connecticut and two in Nebraska – announced Monday they are merging

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—The next decade could be the most transformational period the financial services industry has ever seen—and firms that want to survive it should take a few lessons from the video rental and typewriter industries.

BROOMFIELD, Colo. — The $151 million Community Financial CU here and the $66 million Boulder Municipal Employees FCU plan to merge this fall.

OLYMPIA, Wash. and EUGENE, Ore. — A pair of small Pacific Northwest credit unions bid farewell Tuesday, with the two different merger announcements going out just four minutes apart.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — VARO No. 319 FCU is set to merge with Carolina Collegiate FCU, following a vote by VARO's members, the two credit unions announced Tuesday.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Credit unions won't get much help from a slowly recovering economy during the second half of the year, say analysts who foresee minimal GDP growth and CUs still having to slug it out to find ways to drive ROA.

LAS VEGAS — To thrive in the second half of 2014, credit unions need to do some much-needed — if slightly belated — spring cleaning.

TAMPA, Fla. — Florida Central Credit Union plans to purchase a branch of First Federal Bank of Florida.

DOTHAN, Ala. — The National Credit Union Administration Wednesday approved the sale of Flint River National Bank to $260 million Five Star CU here, and the deal is scheduled to close in early June.

Waterford, Mich. — Oakland County Credit Union and BestSource Credit Union said they will merge effective Sept. 1 to create a credit union with almost $300 million in assets, 31,000 members and six branches.