Growth strategies

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.

By taking advantage of consumer frustration with banks, $132-million WestStar Credit Union has successfully driven growth with a "Kick Some Asterisk" marketing campaign, and seen some terrific ROI in the process.

Credit unions often struggle with creating a strong presence in the mainstream media, especially smaller CUs. But San Jose CU has earned a Credit Union Journal Best Practice for the attention it garnered before, during and after Bank Transfer Day.

What has your credit union been doing in 2012 to transform new members into members who use the CU as their primary financial institution?

TROY, Mich. – Michigan Catholic FCU said Friday it has agreed to merge with Dearborn’s First Catholic CU, creating a $410 million faith-based credit union with serving 40,000 members at nine branches to be known as Alliance Catholic CU.

CHICAGO – Polish & Slavic FCU said it has signed almost 9,000 new members and added more than $100 million in deposits after expanding three years ago to the Windy City from its Brooklyn, N.Y., base.

INDIANAPOLIS -- FORUM CU introduced a new rewards checking account, YOUR checking, and features no monthly fees, no minimum balance, free online banking.

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University FCU has agreed to acquire Eaton County Educational CU and build a new branch in Charlotte to serve the ailing $33 million credit union’s membership.

KYLE, S.D. -- The first credit union on the Lakota, or Sioux Pine Ridge Reservation opened its doors for business Wednesday.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The NCUA Board is expected at next week’s meeting to approve two large community charters, one for Atlantic FCU in New Jersey and the other for The Focus FCU in Oklahoma.

WICHITA, Kan. – Pentagon FCU said its PenFed Realty has agreed to acquire Prudential Dinning-Beard Realtors, the fourth Prudential agency acquired in the past two years by the fast-growing credit union real estate subsidiary.