Corporate governance

Historically a mortgage shop, Marshall Community CU had to make major changes when the real estate market crashed, and since 2009 has diversified its product mix and focused on cross-selling to great success.

FAIRBORN, Ohio – Wright-Patt CU, which last year added 50 employees to deal with rapidly growing mortgage lending, plans to add another 68 jobs this year.

HOUSTON – Cardtronics announced this morning it has completed the acquisition of i-design group plc, a Scotland-based provider of technology and services that transform ATM screens and receipts into delivery devices for interactive customer communications by financial institutions, for $13 million.

ROCKY HILL, Conn. – Nutmeg State FCU has launched an auto buying service it says will save members time, money and hassles.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Lake Michigan CU is partnering with Home and Garden TV host Carter Oosterhouse for a marketing campaign that will culminate in a sweepstakes awarding a $25,000 home makeover.

DOVER, N.H. – RewardsNOW, a popular rewards program for credit unions, has rolled out a local rewards program for metro Detroit as part of its Shop Main Street program.

BROCKTON, Mass. – Members of HarborOne CU, the Bay State’s second largest credit union, are mailing in their vote whether to convert the $2 billion credit union to a mutual savings bank, with the 30-day ballot scheduled to culminate a week from today at a special members’ meeting.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- More than two dozen South Carolina credit unions are offering free gas fill-ups throughout the state this week as part of a public relations campaign to highlight good deeds in their local communities.

South Carolina FCU has launched a campaign designed to boost awareness of its electronic services.

SeaComm FCU transitioned to a sales culture internally nearly six years ago, and since then the focus has been not only making sure that the member leaves with the right mix of products and services, but an emphasis on cross selling and offering those things to the member.

HUNT VALLEY, Md. – Point Breeze CU, the one-time telephone workers credit union, said this afternoon it hired Bernard McLaughlin, head of $140 million Members First CU in Manchester, N.H., as president and CEO of the $725 million credit union.

TAMPA, Fla. – Magnify CU announced this afternoon that Joey Chestnut, the number-one ranked eater in the world, will compete in the first Magnify Credit Union World Ice Cream-Eating Championship in nearby Lakeland on Saturday, April 6.

RALEIGH, N.C. – State Employees’ CU said this morning it has created a property management subsidiary, called SECU*Real Estate, to provide the credit union with the ability to streamline management of real estate property owned throughout North Carolina.

WASHINGTON – Saying it is time credit unions take even greater advantage of a cultural shift away from big banks, CUNA President Bill Cheney urged CUs to begin telling one story thousands of times.

The surge of membership resulting from Bank Transfer Day is good news overall, but it has not done much to lower the overall age of members.

Dennis Dollar said he has not participated in a single strategic planning session at a credit union over the past three years during which the issue of an aging membership hasn't been discussed.

The pressure on margins and multiple threats to non-interest income require that credit unions get better at understanding what each member brings to and takes away from the cooperative, according to one expert on data analysis.

As numerous CUs have learned over the years, letting members tell the credit union's story can be some of the strongest marketing the organization undertakes.

Credit unions that offer financial wellness programs to help their employees combat financial stress can boost their bottom lines in multiple ways.

Credit unions of all assets and locations share one thing in common: it's imperative that they grow. That's why Growth will be the only item on the agenda at Credit Union Journal's Grow Show 2013, which is now set for May 29-31 in Orlando.