Corporate governance

LAKE BLUFF, Ill.-One economist believes there is enough overdraft and checking revenue up for grabs in the final months of 2011 to cover credit union assessments and any interchange losses for the entire year.

LYNN, Mass. – State regulators have approved the conversion of Massachusetts Postal Employees CU to a community charter serving more than 350,000 residents on the Bay State’s North Shore.

SAN DIEGO-"Big Bankers" invaded the beach here over Labor Day weekend. Or at least they did in TV spots from San Diego County Credit Union, which has been running a series of television commercials this year featuring "big bankers" and their love of high fees.

LAS VEGAS-For more than two decades American consumers borrowed rather than saved, and now that behaviors have reversed themselves, one economist wonders if credit unions will have to rethink their strategic focus.

ARVADA, Colo.-A group of credit unions here has found success building membership and growing loans by appealing to young consumers through avenues that include video games and poker tournaments.

IRWINDALE, Calif.-SCE FCU's "People Powered Banking" branding campaign features 10-foot tall images of its members all around the Los Angeles area, along with a cheeky message.

LAKE JACKSON, Texas-Moving to a community charter means taking on the big boys, and TDECU likes to do that one at a time.

CHELSEA, Mass. – Metro CU, which recently entered 14 area college campuses with the acquisition of Boston’s University CU, will get another metro-Boston branch with the planned merger of Secure CU in Melrose.

BOSTON – First Priority CU, which failed in its longtime bid to convert to a bank, has instead applied to state regulators to expand its field of membership to cover more than half of the Bay State.

BIRMINGHAM/TALLAHASSEE – Consumers in Alabama and Florida will learn much more about the credit union difference in coming months thanks to the League of Southeastern CUs’ new $1.3-million cooperative advertising campaign.

MADISON, Wis. – Credit union executives will be able to vote for the best of the latest slew of innovations proposed by the Filene Research Institute in an online “Idea Idol” being aired by the credit union think tank Sept. 14.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Postal Federal Community CU has changed its name to BluCurrent CU as part of a plan to reach out to a broader membership base.

ENDICOTT, N.Y. – Visions FCU has received approval from NCUA to enter the New Jersey market with the acquisition of Paragon FCU, a troubled one-time $415 million credit union.

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. – United FCU, which is in the process of acquiring nearby Griffith Savings Bank, said it has had all depositors in the troubled Indiana S&L join the American Consumer Council to facilitate the rare credit union deal.

WASHINGTON-Credit Union lending improved in the second quarter, while share growth declined. But the big story may be the strength of core checking deposits, an indication credit unions are taking advantage of big banks' pricing problems resulting from the new interchange rules.

DUBUQUE, Iowa-Dupaco Community Credit Union here is featuring its own members on billboards as part of a campaign that also has a strong social media component.

VASHON, Wash.-Puget Sound Cooperative CU's newest branch here is an early hit, much to the delight of those who worked for two years to bring a credit union to Vashon Island.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Redwood CU has signed an online marketing contract with Zenergy Works of Santa Rosa.

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Center for Community Self-Help, which operates two of the nation’s leading community development credit unions, has partnered with CitiCorp to introduce Self-Help’s Micro Branch – a check-casher/credit union hybrid model designed to provide responsible financial products and services for unbanked Californians.

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine’s CU will continue their media campaign this fall with radio spots promoting their SURF ATM and shared branching network.