Growth strategies

PHILADELPHIA – American Heritage FCU is now offering new members up to $130 to join the credit union in November and open a checking account with direct deposit of net pay, a no-fee debit card, onLine bill payer and e-statements.

DENVER – Public Service CU on Monday said it has been approved to serve an additional 900,000 residents in Adams and Weld counties.

PHILADELPHIA – Sb1 FCU has converted to a community charter serving about 640,000 residents in the city of Philadelphia.

MADISON, Wis.-An idea that helps homeownes anticipate when big ticket items might need replacing, and then to plan for that, has been identified as the most innovative of 2011.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-All of the charges being loaded onto consumers' bank statements-such as Bank of America's well-publicized $5 debit fee-and the bonanza of pro-credit union headlines and news coverage that have followed have created a surge in interest among consumers in what these not-for-profit financial cooperatives might be able to do for them.

CHICAGO-A new solution is being offered to make it easier for non-members to "switch" to a credit union.

ST. PAUL, Minn.-Six months after launching it's "Ditch Your Bank" campaign, Affinity Plus FCU here is seeing continued membership growth, this time thanks to new fees from the big banks.

TUKWILA, Wash.-Call them "Feeless In Seattle," the former bank customers who were flocking to BECU even before Wells Fargo and Bank of America announced a user charge for debit cards.

BETHPAGE, N.Y.-Bethpage FCU announced last week it would offer no-fee checking "for life."

RIDGECREST, Calif.-When it comes to managing growth at a small credit union-where the numbers can be skewed more easily-the advice from Eric Bruen is simple: don't get in over your head.

PACOIMA, Calif.-Despite sometimes feeling pressured by regulators and a difficult economy, Pacoima Development FCU continues its slow but steady growth.

COVINA, Calif.-John Meeks does not want to offer excuses, he wants to offer his members the services they expect.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.-One common refrain is credit unions are the best-kept secret in the financial services world, and that's exactly where $32.6-million SLO Credit Union was before Suzanne Leedale took over as CEO in January 2008.

DOWNEY, Calif.-Every week the NCUA or the state regulator release the names of another two, three or four small credit unions that have held their last board meeting, having been merged into a larger credit union or liquidated altogether.

ATLANTA-As Delta Community CU here holds its second annual "Switch Day," it's getting a big boost from the big banks.

EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Employees FCU, the city’s fourth-largest credit union, will grow with a new name starting Jan. 1, Evolve CU.

SIDEBARTUKWILA, Wash.-Among the most interesting trends in the volume of new memberships being experienced by BECU is that more accounts are being opened online than in-branch.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – Post Community CU has received approval from state regulators to add four counties and almost 500,000 people in them to its field of membership: Eaton, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren.

LITTLETON, Colo. – Colorado CU has applied to state regulators to convert to a community charter serving 500,000 residents of surrounding Adams County.

HOUSTON – Local credit unions celebrated International CU Day by kicking off a new campaign to attract bank customers angered by growing fees with an advertising promotion called “Nickel-&-Dimed by Fees.”