Research released last week shows credit unions were outpacing banks in deposits long before 2011's Bank Transfer Day drew attention to the issue.

The recession has turned many more CU credit card holders into transactors — those who pay off balances monthly — which is making rewards more important, according to Kevin O'Donnell of Discover.

RACINE, Wis.-Add $1.4-billion Educators Credit Union to the list of CUs that are effectively using loan transfer programs to save members on interest payments while building loan portfolios.

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) said it now has more than 13,000 signatures on a petition opposed to expanded member business lending for credit unions.

La. FCU Uses Net Promoter Program

JMFA, which offers an Overdraft Privilege program that is utilized by numerous credit unions, issued the following statement in response to Credit Union Journal's inquiries related to its program.

NCUA's plans to introduce a new Office of National Examinations and Supervision has North Carolina's State Employees Credit Union, one of the four $10-billion-plus CUs that fall under ONES' supervision, wondering what the regulator's intent is.

With increased overdraft scrutiny coming from the CFPB, a number of CU CEOs are revisiting so-called "high-to-low" transaction posting practices established by credit unions in the early 2000s.

Diana Dykstra, president of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, is confident the West Coast CUs will successfully defend themselves against what she calls "frivolous" overdraft lawsuits.

Third-party providers that recommend pricing overdrafts as a penalty as opposed to a safety net are "doing a disservice to credit unions," according to the CEO of Moebs $ervices.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-For 30 years Jim Park has headed Credit Union 24, one of only two surviving interstate electronic funds transfer networks exclusively for credit unions. The CEO will retire at year's end and will be succeeded by Mansel Guerry. Park spoke with Credit Union Journal about his career in the industry, offering observations on the growth of ATM transactions, the importance of collaboration within the industry, and how one simple decision years ago led to his long career.

A purported holder of a patent on mobile and ATM deposits filed suit against San Diego County CU last week, claiming the credit union's use of the technology is infringing on its patents.

Dean Seifert, SVP of product development and innovation at Vantiv, shared 10 important steps credit unions should consider to maintain, grow and protect their payments business.

Bank Acct Service Fees Down $2 Billion In 2011

Ben Psillas, president of Allpoint Network, noted that not only can a seamless integration help CUs reduce vendor costs and become more efficient, but also puts the institution in a better position to handle declining volumes of branch transactions.

Barb Kachelski, COO at the Credit Union Executives Society, said while CUs in recent years have focused internally on expense ratios and meeting the demands of regulators, now is the time to turn the focus outward.

"Many, many, many credit unions we talk to are concerned with the overall subject of 'replacement members,' and that means the younger generation," said Jerry Verdi, VP of market intelligence at Diebold.

With credit unions seemingly having little control over growing earnings pressures and shrinking margins, it's time the industry takes a systematic approach to product pricing.

Stan Hollen, CEO of CO-OP Financial Services, told Credit Union Journal that the recent recession has taught CUs that the organization must be nimble to react to the unexpected.

Mobile and P2P should be high, if not at the top, of this year's strategic planning topics, asserts Jim Park, CEO of Credit Union 24.