Growth strategies

WYOMISSING, Penn. – Utilities Employees CU has signed with SWBC Investment Services to offer its members broker-dealer services.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Alliance CU is offering a $60 Visa gift card to any members who refer a friend for a new loan or line of credit – part of its 60th anniversary celebration.

BADEN, Penn. – Ambridge Area FCU had an online contest at its Facebook page in an effort to reach the younger generation.

John Cassidy, president and CEO, Sierra Central Credit Union and Dan Sutton, COO of Kemba Credit Union share their thoughts on what has driven growth for their operations.

SouthPoint FCU here has seen increased member satisfaction and a rising number of products-per-member since instituting its Service Points of Excellence program.

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas CU Division denied an application from Resource One CU, a product of six mergers, to cover a huge swatch of territory covering more than five million people in Harris, Collin and Denton counties.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Sioux Empire FCU has expanded its field of membership to include residents in McCook or Turner counties.

EUREKA, Calif. -- Coast Central CU has launched Fiserv’s Popmoney person-to-person payment service.

MOOSE LAKE, Minn. – Lake State FCU, with $184 million in assets, has signed with INVEST Financial Corp. to provide its members with brokerage and investment services.

ST. HELENS, Ore. – Officials with St. Helens Community FCU and nearby Wauna FCU said they plan to merge to create a credit union with about $300 million in assets.

PONTIAC, Mich. – Affinity Group CU, a partnership of five area credit unions, yesterday said St. Cletus CU, a $15-million Warren credit union, is joining the conglomerate.

It's unlikely any credit union community has gone from non-existent to progressive market-leaders as quickly as have credit unions in Poland.

A Groupon-like offering from SaveAround is now available for credit unions to pitch to its members.

For as much as credit unions preach the virtues of collaboration, Sundie Seefried, CEO at Partner Colorado CU, worries that the pressures of business are preventing that from actually happening.

WALTHAM, Mass. – RTN FCU said it will get two new branches, in Brookline and Dorchester, with the recently approved merger of Medical Area FCU in Brookline.

Grzegorz Bierecki, president and CEO of Poland's National Association of Cooperative Savings & Credit Unions (NACSCU), offers his thoughts on how Poland's CUs have matured so quickly and how the unique model works.

LIVONIA, Mich. – The Michigan CU League said this morning it has struck a deal with Gas Station TV to sell video ads to local credit unions across the country on-screen at the gas pumps.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The League of Southeastern CUs has rolled out the second run of on air and Internet spots for its $1.2-million advertising campaign, built around the tagline “Credit Unions: we’re giving banking a better name.”

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Tropical Financial CU picked five members from a cast of 100 who auditioned on camera to appear in broadcast, electronic and print media as the faces of the $600-million credit union.

RICHMOND, Va. – Entrust Financial CU is introducing a “Banking With a Higher Purpose” campaign today over local TV and radio to emphasize a personal touch that will provide all new accountholders with their own member service rep for the first 90 days.