Americas

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Automating branch scheduling here has saved Marine Federal Credit Union more than $200,000 annually.

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. — To make a more personal connection with members, The People's Credit Union offers a personalized debit/credit card program that has attracted hundreds of responses.

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Employee engagement is the one competitive advantage that turns average credit unions into great ones, according to Pioneer West Virginia Federal Credit Union CEO Dan McGowan.

PLYMOUTH, Minn. — Instead of simply counting Facebook likes, followers, fans and friends, TruStone Financial Federal Credit Union here has turned this social media platform into an auto loan profit center.

POTTSTOWN, Pa. — As a community-chartered credit union, one of Diamond Credit Union's growth strategies is expanding its branch network.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Faced with system inefficiencies with its maintenance, administration, vendor management and contract management segments, the Partnership Federal Credit Union developed a business technology unit that has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars.

MidWestOne Financial Group in Iowa City has agreed to buy Central Bancshares in Golden Valley, Minn.

MUFG Union Bank will close 20 branches of the former Frontier Bank in Washington state.

BUFFALO — Many credit unions here remain closed after a massive winter storm dumped several feet of snow on the city in a matter of days.

The acquisition of CapitalSource has pushed PacWest's capital from full to overflowing. With diminished interest in M&A, the Los Angeles company recently doubled its dividend, while analysts expect management to award a special payout in the future.