Corporate governance

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. – Georgia United CU awarded $1,000 gas cards to two members, who qualified for a drawing after referring somebody for a loan or new checking account.

NEW ORLEANS – Shell New Orleans FCU yesterday said it changed the name of the $110-million credit union to Xplore Federal Credit Union.

PHOENIX – Arizona FCU, recently rebounded from deep financial troubles, has become one of the first credit unions in the country to charge a monthly membership fee, a $3-per-month assessment for all members over 18 years old.

Spire FCU here has found success by partnering with a trio of local food co-ops.

Seeking to overcome the fact many consumers said they had "never heard of" Freedom First CU, the credit union is giving away cash as one strategy to boost awareness.

BALTIMORE – Municipal Employees CU of Baltimore announced this morning an agreement to acquire troubled $61 million Baltimore-based Advance Bank, the fourth credit union acquisition of a bank in the last 18 months.

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Navy FCU announced this afternoon it is expanding its huge operations center here and will be hiring around 1,500 employees here later this year.

MADISON, Wis. – Heritage CU, a former Oscar Mayer employees’ credit union, has agreed to merge into it Price CU, a $30-million Prentice, Wis., credit union with three branches, in Prentice, Hawkins and Phillips.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Tech CU said it is offering a Global Members program that helps immigrant high-tech workers open a checking account and establish credit, buy a new car, or eventually purchase their first home.

AUSTIN, Texas – United Heritage CU has signed 97 Degrees West, a branding, marketing and digital firm, as its advertising agency of record.

TUKWILA, Wash. – BECU has unveiled a new campaign on old media to promote its social media outreach – using TV, radio and billboards in the greater Seattle market to tout what its members are saying about the credit union on social media sites.

After heavy losses in 2009 and 2010, Pioneer West Virginia FCU's $1-million net income in 2011 seemed so incredible that it drew some pointed questions from NCUA examiners-and has prompted many credit union CEOs to ask, "how'd they do that?"

Veteran credit union executive John Tippets took a credit union that some said was "toast" and made it the toast of the town, and at CU Journal's Grow Show, Tippets will outline exactly how he did it.

Brandon Michaels, president and CEO of $476-million Mazuma Credit Union, believes if an organization does not get culture right, "nothing else matters."

When $476-million Mazuma CU had nine positions to fill, it wanted to let potential applicants know exactly what they were getting into-as it does not regard itself as having the "typical banking environment."

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Summit FCU has introduced a promotion aimed at helping members transfer loans from high-cost predatory lenders to the credit union.

LANSING, Mich. – A member of Lake Trust CU is the winner of MasterCard’s 2012 Priceless New York Sweepstakes and he and his wife will enjoy a four day, three night trip to New York City, as well as a show, dinner, guided tour, a $2,000 MasterCard gift card and $7,500 cash--all valued at $22,500.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Legislation that would allow state chartered credit unions to pay their directors has moved through the Senate and is advancing towards a vote in the House, as credit unions around the country look for new ways to recruit members of their boards.

SEATTLE – Six credit unions have joined to offer $5,000 monthly prizes and a $5,000 annual prize for the state’s Save To Win lottery, the fourth state to offer the savings contest.

RICHMOND, Ind. – Natco CU plans to open a community center to provide assistance and resources designed to help area consumers achieve economic empowerment.