Corporate governance

ATLANTA – In a newly released poll, three in 10 checking account holders expressed interest in paying a monthly fee for a checking account that would have no other fees.

SAN JOSE, Calif.-As firms in Silicon Valley hire more engineers born outside the United States., one CU is making the transition to America a little easier when it comes to their personal finances.

GLASGOW, Scotland-Brazil's credit unions have moved aggressively to create a national brand and presence in which nearly every nonmember-facing function has been centralized, with partnerships formed with the likes of Bain & Co. and Accenture to ensure product and service delivery.

GLASGOW, Scotland-Poland's credit unions have come a long way in just 20 years, including a comprehensive collaboration aimed at cutting costs and raising awareness that exceeds anything currently being seen in the U.S.

MT. PROSPECT, Ill.-Credit unions will face two critical challenges in 2012, but they must overcome four barriers to achieving those two objectives, according to one technology expert.

SAN FRANCISCO-Interest rates are low and have been for many months, but the Federal Home Loan Bank here cautions CUs not to wait too long to plan for the inevitable climb.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – How did one credit union improve service, cut its costs and automate its processes? Credit Union Journal will highlight how Affinity Plus FCU did just that in a free, one hour webinar to be held Aug. 23 at 11 a.m. ET.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – Service CU expanded its footprint in New Hampshire’s Seacoast area with the grand openings of two new branches in Hampton and Exeter, because of its merger with Seacoast CU.

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Black Hills FCU, the state’s biggest credit union, has been approved by NCUA to serve the counties of Butte, Haakon, Stanley and Hughes.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Campus USA CU, the first credit union established on a U.S. college campus, has applied to state regulators to serve all 265,000 residents of nearby Leon County.

LAKE MARY, Fla.-CUs need to focus on relationship building-and that can happen online as well as in the branch, pointed out Harland Financial Solutions.

ONTARIO, Calif.- To take advantage of an increase in new car sales next year, CUs must start planning now for marketing and improved member-segmentation strategies, insists Credit Union Direct Lending.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.-Taking checking business from banks should be near the top of nearly every CU's 2012 strategic planning list, says Stan Hollen.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-If the Durbin Amendment taught CUs anything, it's that strategic planning can't be a white paper that sits on the shelf every year.

NORTH CANTON, Ohio-One person is reminding credit unions that in planning for 2012 it's important not to forget the threat presented by broken trust.

RIVERWOODS, Ill.-Credit unions have a big chance to make 2012 the year of Gen Y outreach, said one observer.

SAN DIMAS, Calif.-CUs need to do a better job at sales in 2012, but not in the traditional sense, one observer is suggesting.

Toward the end of 2008 I began urging credit unions to devote at least a small amount of time during upcoming strategic planning sessions to developing strategies that would deal with an extended period of ultra-low rates and soft loan demand.

NAPLES, Fla.-The steps may be among the most basic, yet they are often overlooked in strategic planning.

DALLAS-Everyone's heard of Dodd-Frank. But few are as familiar with all it entails as they should be. And that could make for a challenge in 2012, observed one person.