Growth strategies

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.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — A recent study found the No. 1 feature consumers look for in a bank or credit union is low or no fees, which should be an advantage credit unions can leverage, according to one analyst.

BILOXI, Miss. — The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) FCU here is set to merge with Keesler FCU at the end of March.

Darigold Federal Credit Union has taken the first steps to merge into Sound Credit Union, pending regulatory approval and a vote by Darigold's members.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Fort Financial CU and ITT Employees' FCU here have announced plans to merge.

HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Huntington Schools CU is now Partners 1st FCU after the two shops finalized a merger this week.

MANSFIELD, Texas — Texas Trust Credit Union says it wants to be a $1 billion institution by the end of 2016, and the CU is moving in that direction with double-digit growth in assets, loans and members last year.

NEW YORK — Fourteen credit unions will participate in a pilot program to test "Borrow & Save," which offers low-and-moderate income U.S. consumers small-dollar loans as an alternative to payday lenders.

PHOENIX -- More than a year after Arizona Federal Credit Union decided to charge a controversial $3 monthly membership fee, the $1.2 billion-asset CU reports the dues have created their desired effect.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- State Employees Credit Union has proposed merging into First Florida Credit Union to create an institution with more than $700 million in assets and nearly 60,000 members.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Credit unions and other community financial institutions have an opportunity to gain additional market share from big banks this year, according to new study, but CUs will still have to overcome some familiar obstacles.