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Non-interest income will be down this year industry wide, cautions one economist who feels there's room for many CUs to increase their fees as well as leverage CUSOs to help soften the blow.

Non-interest income at credit unions may have reached a recent-year high, but multiple threats to what has been a growing revenue stream have analysts recommending it's time for improved and new income approaches.

Saying credit unions can't continue to rely as heavily on non-interest income as they have in recent memory-and certainly not the same sources-Bill Handel is urging CUs to lean on their abilities to price effectively and leverage CUSOs to keep the bottom line intact.

At least one analyst is concerned credit unions are reversing their own bottom lines when it comes to fee reversals.

Not only should credit unions be making loan applications available online, but they can boost their non-interest income revenue by adding an option for insurance quotes at the end of those applications.

LAS VEGAS – One Nevada CU, the state’s biggest credit union, reported a $1.4 million net for the fourth quarter and a $2.5 million net for the year—shedding red ink for the first time since 2008.

BURBANK, Calif. – Logix FCU, formerly Lockheed Employees FCU, on Tuesday said it is paying its members a $5.5 million loyalty dividend.

Altura Credit Union, which has gone through tough times in a tough market, doubled its net income in 2012 over 2011, giving the $655-million CU its "best year in history."

Qualstar CU is paying members $2.5 million in bonus dividends.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico Educators FCU is paying members a $4 million special dividend, with members who maintained certain deposit loan balances and participated in the credit union’s Earn Your Return program receiving payouts ranging from $25 to $1,000.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – ESL FCU paid a dividend to members totaling $7.25 million this month.

RALEIGH, N.C. – State Employees CU, one of just three credit unions restricted by enactment of the Durbin amendment, said the provision limiting fees on debit transactions cost it about $40 million in lost revenue in 2012.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Premier FCU paid its members a 5% interest rebate for 2012, amounting to $230,000.

PARCHMENT, Mich. – First Community FCU paid its 60,000 members a $2 million dividend Monday, up to $500 each.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – St. Mary’s CU said this afternoon it hired James Garvey, the president of Borel Private Bank and Charter Private Bank, as president and CEO of the $600-million credit union.

ATLANTA – First Data Corp. reported this morning that losses rose again in the fourth quarter to $179 million, and to $701 million for the full year, as the card processing giant continued to battle debt service related to its huge 2007 leveraged buyout, one of the biggest in history.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – First Tech FCU reported a 51% increase in net income for 2012 to $62.8 million, giving the $5.6-billion credit union for Silicon Valley workers a 1.15% return-on-assets.

LENEXA, Kan. – CommunityAmerica CU paid its members a $5 million special dividend yesterday.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Coastal FCU said this afternoon it distributed $1.6 million in loan rebate dividends and deposit bonus dividends through its VIP Program to 6,920 of its 240,000 members.

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines FCU said today it paid its members another $10 million dividend at year-end, celebrating another big year for the $5.7 billion credit union.