CARTERET, N.J.-Expect to see credit union marketing budgets increase in the second half of 2012. "By and large, what we're seeing is credit unions loosen up a bit," said Sean McDonald, director of business development at Mid-State FCU here and chairman of the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council.

LAKE BLUFF, Ill.-Economy finally on the upswing? Not according to one analyst, who is predicting that 2013 and 2014 will be as bad or worse than it was 2008 and 2009.

ARLINGTON, Va.-All eyes are on how Europe weathers its financial crisis to gauge what U.S. credit unions can expect to see in the latter half of this year.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-The continuing influx of members from banks to credit unions is the most compelling trend of the second half of 2012, according to Fredda McDonald, EVP of Credit Union Experience for PSCU Financial Services.

LOMBARD, Ill.-Due to a projected sluggish second half economy and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's focus on overdrafts, credit unions need to use the next six months to begin creating new revenue streams.

While it's easy to bemoan the fact that we don't have a booming recovery, credit unions need to keep in mind that a slow, steady recovery has its own strength and may simply require a little more patience.

RALEIGH-Credit unions need to use the second half of 2012 to monitor the emerging mobile payments market, because what happens there will influence not just how members use their money but how CU employees do their jobs.

SAN DIEGO-Symitar has seen a "nice acceleration" in the number of credit unions looking to change core processors over the past few months, and the company expects that trend to continue for the second half of 2012.

DES MOINES, Iowa-A steadily improving economy presents benefits as well as concerns for credit unions, according to the CEO of The Members Group.

FORT WORTH, Texas-Credit unions are off to a good start in 2012, but there's a lot of uncertainty brewing.

BETHPAGE, N.Y.-- Bethpage FCU here drew nearly 400,000 spectators for its 9th Annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach. The turnout is nearly 15% of Long Island's total population.

PLANO, Texas-Catalyst Corporate FCU reported it has now helped 385 CUs to convert their check processing and an additional 212 to transition their remote deposit services to the corporate that were previously served by Western Bridge Corporate FCU, whose operations Catalyst Corporate is absorbing.

CHICAGO-Older buyers are expected to dominate the bulk of auto sales this year, but the preferences of younger consumers are changing the car-buying process in major ways.

CHICAGO-Credit unions limiting social media strategies to Twitter and Facebook are also limiting their potential, says Brent Dixon, young adult advisor for the Filene Research Institute.

CUNA Seeks 'Credit Union'

Your credit union is quite likely a strong supporter of local education in your community. But what does your credit union (or company) do to support credit union education?

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.-Credit unions have gained vehicle loan market share, according to Experian Automotive's quarterly automotive credit analysis.

Partly cloudy. That's the best way to describe the concenus forecast for the second half of 2012 by credit unions, economists and other analysts. Credit Union Journal polled a variety of people for what they see for Q3 and Q4 and found a mixed bag of responses. Even the most optimistic of forecasts were tempered with caveats, all tied to what many see as a fragile economy even as some are reporting robust lending numbers and big increases in new members.

KENNEWICK, Wash.-Motorists entering this southeastern Washington city are now being greeted by a giant LED display that wraps around two sides of the iconic "flashcube" building here that was renovated recently by HAPO Community CU to house its headquarters and branch.

LATHRUP VILLAGE, Mich.-A unique rewards credit card is helping to boost this state's economy and Michigan First CU's card program-increasing balances and skyrocketing new credit card apps.