Growth strategies

WEST JORDAN, Utah — Mountain America Credit Union has taken relationship building with its select employer groups to a new level with the creation of its Workplace Branching initiative.

TAMPA — GTE Financial used technology to fuel its turnaround, centering those efforts around remote deposit capture and P2P payments.

JACKSON, Miss. — With access to quality financial services providers a particular issue in its area, $169 million-asset Hope Credit Union tapped mobile technology and shared branching to attract new members, to the tune of more than 4,000 new members in 10 months.

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Thanks to the introduction of a project-management tool that allows for two-way communication throughout its organization, $1.2 billion Numerica Credit Union has improved results in nearly every measurable category.

CHALRESTON, W.Va. — Pioneer West Virginia FCU has increased its credit card balances by more than 33% each of the last two years and is on pace to beat those results in 2013. The CU credits the jump to bringing the management of its portfolio in-house.

DES MOINES, Iowa—The U.S. Hispanic market, with more than $1 trillion in buying power, represents a large growth opportunity for credit unions.

WASHINGTON—More members are making credit unions their primary financial institution, according to Callahan & Associates.

BALTIMORE—Municipal Employees CU of Baltimore has moved one step closer to acquiring Baltimore-based Advance Bank, as NCUA yesterday approved the deal.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State regulators have awarded Peoples CU a broad community charter expansion covering almost 3 million residents in greater Miami.

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. – Honor CU has agreed to acquire SIR FCU, an $80-million credit union with three locations in the Upper Peninsula: Negaunee, Marquette, and Gwinn.

HIGHLAND RANCH, Colo. – State regulators on Friday approved an application from Red Rocks CU for a community charter serving a sprawling field of membership covering 1.4 million residents of Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson counties.

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Members CU last week rolled out its new local television advertising campaign “Why Go Anywhere Else,” featuring former Indianapolis Colts player Gary Brackett.

LANSING, Mich. – Credit unions throughout Michigan will participate in a “cash mob” Tuesday, offering coupons and other financial inducements for consumers to shop locally as part of their celebration of International Credit Union Week.

FAIRBORN, Ohio – Wright-Patt CU has picked five families to compete in its eight-month Savings Race, with this year’s contest – the Health & Financial Fitness Edition – dedicated to teaching contestants how to become healthier both physically and financially.

WICHITA, Kan. – Kansas credit unions, including seven in the Wichita area, gave away cash and gift cards yesterday, part of a “cash mob” staged as part of International Credit Union Month.

CHICAGO – Great Lakes CU will pick up a branch in nearby Willow Springs with the acquisition of Chicagoland Electrical Industry CU, a struggling one-time $22-million credit union.

MADISON, Wis. – The Filene Research Institute’s i3 innovations program has proposed nine new ideas, including a national network that helps credit unions sell repossessed cars, a web application to track milestones for homebuyers and a mobile app that helps members determine the future value of their savings for retirement planning.

The latest bank to be acquired by a CU says it agreed to the deal to bring a new financial choice to this town-which is the same reason the credit union made the offer in the first place.

For many credit unions, growing members, revenue and service levels can feel like a daily mountain climb. A company that specializes in gear for such climbs-along with camping, paddling and more-is offering advice on making that hike easier.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – MIT FCU, the credit union for Massachusetts Institute of Technology employees, has hired national branding and design firm Corey McPherson Nash to develop a brand strategy stretching across the $385-million credit union’s multiple channels.