Corporate governance

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.

In the search for non-interest income, credit unions should be paying closer attention to payment protection products, according to Karim Habib, director of lending for CUNA Mutual Group.

"ATMs on steroids" are one strategy for driving non-interest income, especially for those involved in shared branching, according to CO-OP Financial Services.

Credit unions must start devising strategies to increase debit interchange transactions.

Credit unions should consider rethinking their deposit processing model, according to Curtis Hallowell, VP-product management for Cummins Allison Corp.

There are four opportunities for credit unions to improve non-interest income, according to Jerry Nissen: adding value to free services, offering small business services, increasing fees for existing services and growing membership.

Many credit union members need financing for medium-ticket expenditures, and Kyle Kehoe believes CUs can help these consumers, book a loan and generate fee income, all at the same time.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton signed legislation that will allow municipalities and other public entities to deposit funds in federally insured credit unions.

EUGENE, Ore. – SELCO Community CU entered the Portland market with the merger of Forest Park FCU, a $40-million failed credit union with two branches in Portland.

STURGIS, S.D. – Northern Hills FCU said it got approval from NCUA to expand its community charter to include 100,000 residents of Pennington County.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Spartanburg Regional FCU is paying it forward with employees directed to find someone who needs $50 and give it to them.