Corporate governance

No one knows risk management like NASA does, and one real-life "rocket scientist" urged credit unions to embrace risk if they want to innovate.

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Organizations seeking to become the worldwide leader in financial institutions got some lessons – and laughs – from the worldwide leader in sports.

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Video of a focus group of consumers made for some awkward and uncomfortable moments for credit unions, as the participants expressed views ranging from broad misunderstandings to negative assessments of credit unions.

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Paul Yang, CEO of Premier Community CU in Stockton, Calif., was named winner of the $10,000 THINK Prize from CO-OP Financial Services last night.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – State regulators said this morning they have approved an application from Navy Army Community CU, one of the biggest conversions ever to state charter, to serve 1.2 million residents in surrounding Hidalgo and Cameron counties.

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Credit unions got some advice from two disparate sources here yesterday: the general manager of the Oakland A’s and a former member of the Doobie Brothers who is now a defense expert.

FAIRBORN, Ohio – Wright-Patt CU is expanding its field of membership to serve all 800,000 residents of Cincinnati and surrounding Hamilton County.

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Bethpage FCU continues to average more than 550 new checking accounts per week, volume it credits to momentum built in the weeks and months leading up to 2011’s Bank Transfer Day.

HARTFORD, Conn. – Credit unions across Connecticut on Monday unveiled a new multi-media campaign featuring ads in the state’s biggest print and on-air media.

Courtesy pay, or overdraft protections, continues to be a good source for non-interest income for credit unions, according to Jim Craig, director of Geezeo Interactive.

Harland Financial Solutions believes credit unions have room to add fees and not upset their members in the process.

Credit unions may be focused on getting the MBL cap raised, but are they paying enough attention to the fee income opportunities readily available-and that members are willing to pay-for small business services?

More retailers-such as Target, Walmart and even Starbucks-are using incentives to encourage consumers to use their store cards.

With pressure on overdraft and interchange revenue streams only likely to increase, credit unions will have to think creatively to maintain non-interest income.

With the economy seemingly on the upswing and consumer attitudes improving, deepening relationships with members is key to building non-interest income in 2012.

Credit unions may have an advantage in the financial services marketplace in that they have a noble purpose, but Jason Jennings said is insufficient differentiation to succeed.

Credit unions looking for their next growth strategy should look to the example set by the Vermont Cheese Council.

So long, toll-free phone numbers. One person has a plan to put account information even closer to cardholders' fingertips.

Many credit unions have struggled to successfully monetize Facebook and other social media outlets, but a new project, SafeNet, aims to change that.

A new project aims to take real-time, person-to-person financial transfers beyond the realm of online banking and move them to the ATM.