For decades, credit unions have treated insurance products as the redheaded stepchild to their core business. Pressure on net-interest margins, the need for fee income that comes from helping members and not dunning them, the focus on member retention by increasing products per household, and the major jump in online banking utilization rates-all of these factors are causing a few innovative credit unions CEOs nationally to rethink insurance.

It seems that a Mr. Sam Clemons, who was something of a steamboat pilot during the latter half of the 19th century, may have been onto something when he observed that there are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics.

Arp Trivedi, manager of administration with Motion Federal Credit Union, explains how Smartsheet and Google Apps have given a boost to his credit union.

TAMPA, Fla. – GTE Financial announced this morning it has become one of a handful of credit unions-the first outside the Washington metro area—to offer its members the HarmonyLoan, allowing the borrower to adjust the interest rate on their mortgage or car loan with a single click of the mouse.

Featuring credit unions’ efforts in their communities.

BROOMFIELD, Colo. – Community Financial CU will distribute $300,000 to its members as part of its fifth annual bonus dividend.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Denali Alaskan FCU has signed with Insuritas to expand its insurance business with an automated sales platform and online agency capabilities.

PHOENIX – Credit Union West has selected Connect Financial Solutions’ suite of online banking, mobile, online account opening and custom channel solutions.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Piedmont Advantage CU plans to move from Liberty Street to the corner of Stratford and Burke Mill roads in 2014, serving as an anchor in a 22-acre business park to be named Piedmont Advantage Park

TULSA, Okla. – Tulsa FCU’s 13th branch is scheduled to open Monday in a Reasor’s grocery store.

DENVER – Colorado state regulators on Friday approved large community charters for three one-time employee-based credit unions, continuing the trend away from the common bond.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Department of Financial Institutions last week said it is eliminating paper examination reports for state chartered credit unions and banks as part of its latest cost-saving move.

CINCINNATI – A former teller at Cinco CU on Friday was charged with stealing $620,000 she allegedly hid by swapping $1 bills for $100 bills and sandwiching them between bricks of $100s to disguise the theft.

CINCINNATI – A group of loan officers last week filed a class action suit claiming Emery FCU erroneously classified them as exempt employees to avoid paying them overtime.

CHELSEA, Mass. – Metro CU continued to expand its suburban Boston footprint with a deal to acquire Fenwal CU, a troubled single-branch, $2-million credit union in nearby Ashland, Mass., the fifth merger for Metro in three years.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Seven North Carolina credit unions last week introduced the state’s first savings sweepstakes, which will award a grand prize of $30,000 and monthly cash prizes – the first of three states planning new statewide savings contests.

WICHITA, Kan. – Meritrust CU said this afternoon it hired James Nastars, the senior vice president of lending and collections at $1.5 billion University FCU, as president and CEO of the $830 million credit union.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA announced this afternoon it will award one low-income designated credit union a $50,000 grant for the best proposal that results in long-term savings to a credit union through collaboration.

HARRISBURG, Penn. – Pennsylvania State Employees CU said it will pay members a $10 million cash reward based on their relationship with the credit union, the credit union giant’s first member bonus since the financial crisis.

VIENNA, Va. – Bolstered by the Bank Transfer Day wave and a tide of new branches, Navy FCU added 600,000 new members in 2012--more than twice its previous record of 230,000 for 2011—giving the world’s biggest credit union more than 4.2 million members worldwide.