JACKSON, Mich. – Members are being given the option of choosing the card image for their debit or Visa cards for an additional fee, as part of American 1 CU’s new Instant Issue program.

WASHINGTON – The long-sought bills to lift the limit on member business loans and to allow credit unions to raise supplementary capital are expected to be introduced again in the House as soon as this week.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Redevelopment funded in part by tax dollars will clean a significant chunk of pollution at an old gas station site where Traverse Bay Area CU is building a new headquarters.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—NCUA said this afternoon it has not been approached by newly chartered Thrivent FCU to expand its common bond along with its sponsoring group, but any initiative to expand its current field of membership to include Christians, as well as Lutherans across the country, would have to be approved by the agency.

WESTBURY, N.Y.— Fast-growing Nassau Educators FCU announced this afternoon the hiring of Madison Ave.’s DeVito/Verti as its new advertising agency, signaling a strong intention to set itself apart among fellow credit unions and traditional banks on Long Island.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The American Bankers Association called on NCUA this morning to stop what it sees as a massive back-door field of membership expansion by the newly chartered Thrivent FCU, which could expand from its current membership serving the nation’s Lutherans to all Christians in the U.S.

Altura Credit Union, which has gone through tough times in a tough market, doubled its net income in 2012 over 2011, giving the $655-million CU its "best year in history."

State Employees CU, one of just three credit unions restricted by enactment of the Durbin amendment, said the provision limiting fees on debit transactions cost it about $40 million in lost revenue in 2012.

Qualstar CU is paying members $2.5 million in bonus dividends.

The CARD Act has improved disclosures to consumers, but it has had the opposite effect when it comes to its intended goal of reducing cardholder costs, according to a new analysis.

Just two weeks after issuing new mortgage rules, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau added 1,800 pages of regulations covering mortgage servicing-which one analyst says will have an impact on systems and staffing at credit unions.

Bob Dorsa, president of the American Credit Union Mortgage Association (ACUMA), said the initial response from his membership to new mortgage servicing rules from the CFPB is that they are going to cost credit unions more money.

One credit union believes the new mortgage servicing rules from the CFPB are going to make life "quite difficult" for many CUs, depending on the kind of platform they have in place.

Despite speculation to the contrary, Chartway FCU said last week its position calling for one national CU trade association was not related to a CFCU board member's loss in a race for a NAFCU board seat.

While legal and political wrangling continue around Richard Cordray's appointment as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, credit unions are being urged to continue to work to comply with all the rules set by the new agency.

Grant To Fund Training For Disabled At CUs

The aging of America and a still recovering economy are leading to many more cases of elder financial abuse, creating a problem some say is approaching epidemic proportions for both victims and credit unions that are often in a difficult position.

Suspected cases of elder abuse can be reported to the local police, or to an agency of the state's Adult Protective Services (APS).

A recent webinar run by the National Federation of Community Development CUs outlined potential indicators of elder financial abuse.

Credit unions of all assets and locations share one thing in common: it's imperative that they grow. That's why Growth will be the only item on the agenda at Credit Union Journal's Grow Show 2013, which is now set for May 30-31 in Orlando.