Corporate governance

COSTA MESA, Calif.-If a credit union is not offering online account opening and loan processing, it is a topic that should be broached during strategic planning for 2012.

SPOKANE, Wash.-Credit unions have always prided themselves on knowing their markets and communities. But that's just not enough when it comes to planning for 2012, according to one person.

SAN ANTONIO-SWBC's strategic planning advice to credit unions: You can't put too many eggs in the lending basket to drive ROA next year.

SAN DIEGO-One company that has insights into what credit unions and banks are planning for 2012 said the former had better prepare for even more formidable competition from the latter.

DES MOINES, Iowa-It's time for the credit union to get creative with lending in planning sessions, because the plain vanilla 2.9% auto loan rate is not going to cut it anymore.

CINCINNATI-Credit unions don't need to do anything special when it comes to planning for 2012, according to one executive, as long as they keep their focus on what has made credit unions unique and engendered member loyalty.

BELLEVUE, Neb. – SAC FCU, Nebraska’s second-largest credit union, announced the addition of four new counties: Washington and Saunders in Nebraska, Mills and Harrison in Iowa, to its existing field of membership of Douglas, Sarpy and Cass Counties in Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa.

IRWINDALE, Calif. – SCE FCU is launching a “People Powered Banking” branding campaign this week, featuring members’ images on buses and billboards throughout Los Angeles.

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia CU is among a handful of companies that have signed with Comcast Cable to use dynamic ad insertion in On Demand programming, further leveraging the On Demand service as an advertising platform.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Greylock FCU has agreed to acquire Steinerfilm Employees FCU, a $300,000 credit union in nearby Williamstown, Mass.

WASHINGTON – NASA FCU was approved by NCUA to add 120,000 members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science to its field of membership, one of the biggest select group additions in recent years.

HURON, S.D. – Dakotaland FCU, South Dakota’s second-largest credit union, will pick up two new branches with the mergers of Turtle Creek FCU and Interlakes FCU, NCUA reported yesterday.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.-First Entertainment Credit Union placed some eye-catching signage on its Studio City branch-which turned out to be a little too eye-catching for some.

BOULDER, Colo. – Elevations CU, Colorado’s fifth-largest credit union, announced yesterday it is merging into it $80 million St. Vrain Valley CU in Longmont.

SEATTLE – Members of Watermark CU on Wednesday approved a merger with Sound CU in Tacoma, which will form the fifth-largest credit union in Washington state with almost $1.2 billion in assets.

LEWISTON, Idaho-Bigger has proven better for Potlatch No. 1 FCU here, which has averaged 11.69% average annual growth over the past five years.

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine credit unions have launched an extensive summer radio campaign promoting the CU24 SURF ATM Network.

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines FCU said it is cutting its overdraft fees in certain instances all the way to one cent, as part of its new Bounce ProtectionPlus.

WICHITA, Kan. – Credit Union Of America said it plans to acquire First Choice CU to create a credit union with $450 million in assets and 45,000 members.

CASPER, Wyo.-There may not be a way to illustrate how a positive member experience impacts growth and the bottom line, but one CEO claims that is precisely what has helped to drive her CU's growth over the past half decade.