Growth strategies

DOTHAN, Ala. — The proposed sale of Flint River National Bank to the $260 million Five Star CU here is a step away from completion after the Alabama CU Administration last week approved the deal.

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — CPCU Credit Union here plans to rebrand itself as Naveo CU, effective sometime this fall.

AUSTIN, Texas — Consumers, in growing numbers, are turning to mobile exclusively for their remote banking needs, and CUs are doing a better job than banks at signing up mobile users.

BALTIMORE — More than a quarter of a million videos turn up on YouTube when users search for the words "credit union."

HOBBS, N.M. — After 18 months of heading two New Mexico credit unions 18 miles apart, CEO Mark Roddenberry is delighted $45 million Lea Community Federal Credit Union and $13 million Estacado Credit Union have officially merged.

In yet another proposed merger of a small credit union into a larger one, $69 million EDTECH FCU's board of directors has voted unanimously to merge with $584 million Horizon Credit Union.

MEMPHIS — The last few years have been rough for Agility Financial Credit Union.

LONGVIEW, Wash. — Cowlitz CU here has announced that it will merge with Red Canoe CU.

It takes the "wow factor" to dislodge members from checking accounts they hold at FIs outside the credit union, says Dennis Dollar.

DOTHAN, Ala.—The FDIC and OCC have approved the proposed sale of Flint River National Bank to the $260 million Five Star CU here.

Another small credit union says it is looking to merge due to increased regulatory burdens, as $26.8 million Santa Cruz County Employees CU, Santa Cruz, Calif., has entered into a merger agreement with $704 million Bay FCU.

The full capabilities of a core-processing platform are often underutilized until a CU is ready to fire on all cylinders.

VERNON HILLS, Ill. — When it comes to social media in the credit union community, the spotlight quickly turns to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, often ignoring LinkedIn.

A new credit union service organization is helping credit unions collect on charged-off accounts and return "prior prime" members to their former CUs.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Telhio Credit Union has acquired Shiloh Baptist Church FCU.

WICHITA, Kan. — The $225 million-asset Mid American Credit Union has acquired the Lawrence Kan.-based Jayhawk FCU.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — Matteawan FCU has merged with Hudson Valley FCU, the two credit unions announced Tuesday.

OSHKOSH, Wis. — A trio of Wisconsin credit unions have decided to merge — a rare event in itself, made all the more unusual in that none of the three are struggling.

When American CU executives travel to other parts of the world with WOCCU, they're usually the teachers. But the U.S. executives who recently traveled to Brazil found a very advanced credit union movement--and discovered they could learn a thing or two about cooperation and the value of a national brand from their Brazilian counterparts.

MADISON, Wis. — A recent trip to Brazil organized by the World Council of Credit Unions exposed a dozen American CU professionals to Brazil's credit union system, but it may also be the last trip of its type for some time to come.