MADISON, Wis.-A new report suggests it will be increasingly hard to justify building and staffing branches in traditional ways without strategic thinking on how to drive down branch costs or drive up branch-dependent revenue.

The Glatt Consulting Credit Union Industry HealthScore, which ranks credit unions on a five-point scale, found the score for the first quarter of 2012 improved 9.7% from Q4 2011 and 3.19% from Q2 2011.

The time is now to start building the credit union of the future, advised John Lass, SVP of strategy for CUNA Mutual Group, because the industry is at a strategic inflection point.

The Bank Transfer Day boon and the power of social media combined to help ArrowPointe FCU pull in $826,400 during its One Day Loan Sale, more than tripling results from the same promo a year ago.

Consumers CU here has begun offering its own twist on the government's HARP 2.0 with a program, dubbed the "High Five Refi," that has now processed more than $5 million in loans.

Great Lakes CU has launched a no-credit-check loan for members in need of quick cash. Its "Cash-In-A-Flash" program offers loans of up to $500, paid back over a nine-month term at 17.90%.

Gone are the days when a credit union could simply throw out a low loan rate and get members to pay attention. Today it takes a rock-bottom price and something extra to stand out.

With two out of every three loan dollars going somewhere besides a credit union, it's critical to implement certain practices if those lost dollars are to be captured, according to one analyst.

A pair of credit union leaders shared their thoughts on what has driven growth for their operations.

Executives at three credit unions that saw strong loan growth from 2008-2010 share strategies at America's CU Conference on not just surviving, but thriving.

The League of Southeastern CUs has rolled out the second run of ad spots for its $1.2-million advertising campaign, built around the tagline "Credit Unions: we're giving banking a better name."

MidSouth Community FCU, Macon, Ga., promoted Eric Bobo to VP of operations.

It's unlikely any credit union community has gone from non-existent to progressive market-leaders as quickly as have credit unions in Poland.

Several large Denver-based credit unions have partnered with some of their smaller counterparts to provide a leg up with social media strategies.

A Groupon-like offering from SaveAround is now available for credit unions to pitch to its members.

PHILADELPHIA-A local woman was charged with a sophisticated auto loan fraud that allowed her to obtain $536,000 from five area credit unions and one bank: Police and Fire FCU, Philadelphia FCU, American Heritage FCU, Freedom FCU, Navy FCU and Susquehanna Bank, authorities announced last week.

Prizes Mark 35th Anniversary

Credit Union Journal asked attendees of CUNA's recent America's Credit Union Conference what major initiatives their credit unions would be launching in the second half of 2012.

After some big banks backed out of a low-income housing project here, Tuscaloosa CU has stepped in to help struggling first-time homeowners achieve their dreams.

United Nations FCU can attest to the benefits of outsourcing to a third-party for mortgage appraisals and choosing the right company to do the work.