SAN JOSE, Calif. – Meriwest CU has provided $35,000 in down payments for each of four families through a $140,000 Federal Home Loan Bank grant that enabled them each to purchase a new Habitat for Humanity home.

OTTAWA, Canada – The World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) World CU Conference kicked off here Sunday with some 2,400 people from 60 countries in attendance.

OTTAWA, Canada – The “Unite for Good” theme CUNA has created is aimed at CUs in the United States, but credit unions from around the world are being urged to use it, as well.

OTTAWA, Canada – Credit unions in four Atlantic provinces of Canada are in the midst of a significant self-evaluation that could change the way they operate.

CLEVELAND – State regulators this afternoon shuttered Taupa Lithuanian CU, a $23.6 million credit union, and appointed NCUA has liquidating agent for the year’s 12th credit union failure.

WASHINGTON – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid proclaimed his determination to end the use of the filibuster to block presidential appointments this morning, indicating his intention to bypass a Republican blockade on a confirmation vote for the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other presidential nominations as soon as tomorrow.

For credit unions, the discussion frequently is over how to keep up with mobile. But Brian Branch, CEO of the World Council of Credit Unions, believes it is mobile that is catching up with credit unions and that the challenge now lies in leveraging how the two complement each other.

WASHINGTON – Credit unions are selling increasing amounts of their record mortgage loans on the secondary market, almost all of them to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Three CEOs whose credit unions survived Super Storm Sandy last October are offering advice and lessons learned on preparing for and recovering from such disasters.

Credit unions too often have assumptions about members that are rooted in "old standards" and not "facts," according to one industry insider.

There are seven steps credit unions can take to become more consumer centric by better using member data already available to them, according to one analyst.

Credit unions are becoming more susceptible to emerging loss exposures that can cause immediate losses or result in third-party claims, litigation and subsequent losses, according to one CUNA Mutual Group executive.

Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union says its hybrid carrot and stick "Member Benefits" program has added $155,023 to its bottom line since it was introduced six months ago.

The "Extreme Network Makeover" Contest from CU Journal and Horsetail Technologies is back for the second year.

The winner of the 2012 Horsetail Technologies/Credit Union Journal "Extreme Network Makeover" has successfully implemented over $100,000 worth of new technologies and now has a more efficient, secure operating system.

LAKE BLUFF, Ill.-The national price for overdrafts is rising, and credit unions are driving up that fee.

BOSTON-NAFCU President/CEO Fred Becker said his farewell to credit unions last week. Becker is retiring after 14 years as leader of the trade group, closing his career at NAFCU's Annual Conference & Exposition here. His predecessor, Ken Robinson, was also on hand for the meeting. Becker called on credit unions to remain true to their mission of serving members. The three-day meeting drew several thousand attendees to the Hynes Convention Center and included several dozen sessions on a variety of subjects. CFPB Director Richard Cordray told the meting credit unions are a model for his agency. For coverage, see page 18, as well as additional reporting at CUJournal.com.

Board members and other CU volunteers here got a refresher course on the numbers they ought to be watching, including some newer ratios many may not have considered.

Hip clothing store Urban Outfitters may have more in common with small CUs than it would seem at first glance.

What can CUs learn from over 2,000-year-old Chinese warfare tactics? It's all about finding the "Fourth Option."