Growth strategies

CHERRYVILLE, N.C. – Carolina FCU is the fifth credit union to join the North Carolina Consumers Council, a nonprofit organization promoting consumer education, awareness and protection that will expand membership eligibility for the credit union.

MADISON, Wis. – The Filene Research Institute is launching a pilot program with 50 credit unions to offer a social business program aimed at employees, instead of members.

LITTLETON, Colo. – Colorado CU has applied to state regulators to add more than 800,000 residents in two surrounding counties, Douglas and Jefferson, to its field of membership.

FORT WORTH< Texas – American Airlines FCU rolled out a priority checking account designed to appeal to ages 13-25 that rewards members for greater use.

GROTON Conn. – Charter Oak FCU paid each of its 3,300 Gold Rewards members a $100 cash bonus, a total of $330,000, the biggest payout in the three-year history of the rewards program.

ElecTel Cooperative FCU has booked more than $1.7 million this year as part of one-day-only loan promotions, including $74,000 in a "Green Wednesday" promo the day before Thanksgiving.

The size and growth of the Hispanic market in the U.S. is no secret. Less well-known is how credit unions can better penetrate it.

DUNEDIN, Fla. – City commissioners last week gave preliminary approval to a $127,000 package of financial incentives to Achieva CU which helped lure the $1 billion credit union from Clearwater to build its new headquarters.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Pioneer CU said its Brown County branch will be accepting property tax payments for the county.

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Power House Theatre will be renamed the Gesa Power House Theatre as part of a $1 million naming rights deal with $1.6-billion Richland-based Gesa CU.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame FCU said it succeeded in savings members $1 million in interest payments, fulfilling a pledge it made the beginning of the year under its Million Dollar Savings Challenge.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – NCUA on Wednesday reported it approved a TIP charter to Yale-New Haven Healthcare FCU, allowing the $30-million credit union to serve any healthcare workers in Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven and New London counties.

HONOLULU – Aloha Pacific FCU will pick up a new branch inside the Dole Pineapple Cannery with the acquisition of troubled Hawaii Stevedores/Castle & Cooke FCU, the fast-growing credit union giant’s fifth merger in the last five years.

WILLISTON, Vt. – New England FCU has contracted with CUSO Financial Services LP to provide members of the $930-million credit union with investment and brokerage services.

Three Rivers FCU has gained a deeper understanding of member needs and increased its wallet share among young members since instituting "Your Voice."

Christian Financial CU boosted its auto lending portfolio and recaptured members' loans after instituting "Campaign Tracker."

They're not rock stars, but they are popular with members. IT techs are touring GTE Financial's branches, fixing members' computers for free, and boosting remote banking usage.

Xceed Financial Credit Union had so much success with the program that garnered it a Credit Union Journal Best Practices Award, the $746-million CU is now planning an expansion.

Harborstone CU was able to successfully track down a scam artist by using technology, a move that has earned it a Credit Union Journal "Best Practices" Award.

The recession taught State Department FCU that it's time to get even closer to members.