Redstone FCU, Huntsville, Ala., promoted Terri Bentley to VP, technology. Kevin O'Connell joined Numerica CU, Spokane, Wash., as a small business officer and Derek Brownson joined as a business services relationship officer.

The smartphone boom is rapidly ramping up usage of mobile check deposit, which could open the door wider for crime if credit unions don't remain active in guarding against fraud through this emerging service.

John Leekley, founder and CEO of RemoteDepositCapture.com, believes the window of opportunity for remote deposit capture fraud is closing.

Strong check endorsement policies go a long way toward fighting mobile check deposit fraud, but sources are uncertain whether banks and credit unions have focused their full attention in this area.

Every CU should know its members and apply mobile check deposit policies based on an individual's relationships and demographics, advises Cindy McGinness, new product development manager at PSCU.

Sooper Credit Union's "solar garden" lending program has generated 42 loans for $670,000 in its first year-plus.

VERMILLION, S.D.-One small CU here has found success the old-fashioned way-sustained growth by responding to the membership and leveraging a healthy dose of collaboration.

Despite having just over 2,000 members and $14.5 million in assets, Vermillion FCU CEO Janet Mount said she does not feel that her CU faces any sort of plateau beyond which it can't grow.

McCormack, Oakland Win Wegners

Credit union leaders are "Storming the Hill" this week during NAFCU's Congressional Caucus with a purpose: to demand relief from the growth of new regulations that affect credit unions' ability to serve their member-owners.

Harland Connections CEO Raj Shivdasani urges credit unions to prepare for untethered banking, or "Infrastructure as a Service" (Iaas); how Square is aiming to harness the "informal economy"; and more.

For those closely connected to the mission of community-based financial institutions, the consumer call to action may be as strong as ever, but how do credit unions reach general consumers who may have tuned out the pro-CU messages?

FLOWOOD, Miss. – Statewide FCU announced this morning it is partnering with Vancouver, B.C.-based TRG Mobilearth for a tablet-based app enabling employees to leave the branch and perform branch functions like new accounts, loan and mortgage applications anywhere their members live, work or play.

HOUSTON – A great-grandmother was held at gunpoint when two robbers hit the United Savers Trust CU branch where she has worked for 15 years.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Altana FCU has partnered with VALIC Financial Advisers Inc. to make various investment and insurance programs available to its membership.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – GaPac Community FCU, the one-time Pacific Coast paper Mill employees’ credit union, said it has changed its named to WestEdge CU to reflect a broader field of membership serving all of Whatcom County.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Community Choice CU has signed with NeighborBench for the company’s cloud-based compliance solution.

ROCHESTER, Mich. – Michigan State University FCU opened a new branch at the Oakland University student center – known as Oakland University CU – as part of a long-term financial relationship with the college.

ROCKLAND, Mass. – Rockland FCU is blocking and reissuing debt cards after it was notified by MasterCard the accounts may have been breached by a local merchant.

TULSA, Okla. – TTCU, the former Tulsa Teachers CU, has merged NEO FCU, an ailing, one-time $50-million Miami, Okla.-based credit union.