LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Federal investigators are tracking a major cards breach in the Louisville area, potentially affecting hundreds of cardholders at a half dozen credit unions and banks in the metro area.

DENVER – IOUE #9 CU is challenging a rare order from Colorado’s Commissioner of Financial Services for the troubled $2.6-million credit union to have found a merger mate by March 31.

PHOENIX – Arizona FCU, recently rebounded from deep financial troubles, has become one of the first credit unions in the country to charge a monthly membership fee, a $3-per-month assessment for all members over 18 years old.

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile run was Sunday. Sponsored by the nation's credit unions, the race benefits Children's Miracle Network, raising more than $480,000 for the charity. Since CUs took over sponsorship of the race, the event, which includes a number of special activities throughout race weekend, has raised more than $6 million for CMN.

ATLANTA – Delta Community CU, the former airline employees’ credit union, said this morning that Hank Halter, a former Delta Air Lines executive who has been serving as interim chief since the first of the year, has been hired as permanent president and CEO of the $4.3 billion credit union.

The $268-million Southwest Airlines FCU is among those attempting to get its arms around new mortgage lending rules from the CFPB.

With eight months to go before new mortgage rules from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau take effect, credit unions are struggling with how to respond-or even which rules to respond to.

Unlike some credit unions that are still deciphering the new CFPB mortgage rules that take effect in January, $622-million Silver State Schools CU says it already is prepared.

It's a common refrain: credit unions need to build relationships with Realtors to improve their purchase mortgage business. The $186-million TEG FCU here has taken action.

With demand up and supply down, one analyst is declaring the housing crisis over. But the good news comes with a caveat, as one person is warning that credit unions need to capture as many purchase mortgages as possible because the long-running refinance boom is winding down.

Security Service FCU, San Antonio, named Charles Goss SVP/chief lending officer and promoted John Worthington to EVP/chief communications officer.

The Northwest Credit Union Association has launched a "Say No to Big Banks" campaign to illustrate to the legislature and the Oregon Bankers Association the overwhelming support CUs have from consumers in the state.

One month into the federal government's budget "sequester" and the nation's largest credit unions are saying they are still not seeing much demand from members seeking financial assistance.

In a city known for its bridges, a networking group for credit union executives is helping small CUs cross the "Great Divide" that can often be found between larger and smaller credit unions.

Spire FCU here has found success by partnering with a trio of local food co-ops.

Credit unions are calling foul on proposed federal guidelines that would, among other requirements, force credit unions to put proper consumer disclosures on all social media messages, cutting deeply into the allowable 140-character limit on Twitter, for example.

More New CEOs Are Named

Three months after instituting a $3 per month "membership dues" for members, the $1.2-billion Arizona Federal Credit Union said member pushback has been minimal as it has emphasized the value of "participation" in the credit union.

With used car values still at record highs and managing risk at the CU a growing concern, Black Book and Fitch Ratings have assembled a report to help lenders closely monitor vehicle depreciation.

Margin compression caused in part by lowering auto loan rates just to stay competitive has left most credit unions with little choice but to "reinvent" the auto loan process to cut costs.