MADISON, Wis. – University of Wisconsin CU on Monday said it is among the first financial institutions to adopt a consumer-friendly account opening form that will allow consumers to compare checking accounts between financial institutions more easily.

PHILADELPHIA – Freedom CU yesterday announced a special low 0.99% six-month rate for its Freedom Visa card.

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines FCU has become one of the first credit unions to offer EMV (Europay, MasterCard and Visa) Travel Prepaid Cards, incorporating both EMV chip-and-PIN technology and the standard magnetic stripe.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska USA Insurance Brokers has acquired the book of business of Anchorage-based Rentschler Insurance Agency.

WASHINGTON – NAFCU on Monday endorsed proposed rules that would standardize the process for person-to-person payments.

DENVER – Lawyers for Wachovia Capital Markets, now a unit of Wells Fargo, called on the U.S. appeals court here Friday to dismiss a securities suit brought by NCUA in the failure of U.S. Central FCU and WesCorp FCU, claiming a lower court erred when it allowed the credit union regulator to extend the period allowed for filing the claims even though the mortgage-backed securities were sold to the two corporate giants as long as six years before NCUA filed suit.

ST. LOUIS-St. Louis Community CU has reached an agreement with Central Bank of Kansas City engineered by the local chapter of the NAACP to buy the former Gateway Bank branch, which was the first and only minority-owned-and-managed financial institution in St. Louis for many years.

Just as the economy has led many Americans to retool, adjust their skills, or seek a new career, the tough times have prompted NCUA to make some role changes as well-including becoming a better landlord.

DATCU has set up a program to reward members who have deeper relationships with it.

Durbin Fires Back, Says Fee Cap A Victory For Consumers

Forty-two people have graduated from the National Credit Union Foundation's Development Education (DE) program.

First Alliance Credit Union here seems to have found a way to balance work and home life for its employees, and it says the ROI is clear to see.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-Harvard University Employees CU rolled out a new MasterCard rewards card last week for the Harvard Alumni Association that offers benefits uniquely designed for the Ivy League grads.

In the latest deal of its kind, Landmark Credit Union has agreed to acquire Hartford (Wis.) Savings Bank, a troubled, $190-million institution.

Noting that one person speaking out via social media about a better way to bank started Bank Transfer Day, McGraw-Hill FCU is wondering just what more than 150 people doing the same thing can do.

More than 50% of credit unions that don't currently offer mobile banking plan to make it available to members within the next 12 months.

Members 1st Forms Mobile Team

Analysts are concerned a number of "myths" about the mobile channel are hurting credit unions when it comes to making real progress.

Social media is seen by credit unions as a quick and inexpensive marketing channel. But the rush to launch that channel has led many CUs to overlook the legal ramifications that accompany a Twitter feed or a Facebook page.

Mobile devices are beginning to replace the check register as consumers use mobile banking most for quick, simple account transfers and balance checks.