RealView Platform UpgradedALISO VIEJO, Calif.-Platinum Data Solutions has added a qualitative scoring function to its RealView automated collateral review platform, which it said automatically ranks each appraisal with a "low," "medium" or "high" quality grade, based on the number and type of rule discrepancies found in each report.For info: www.platdata.comMnCUN Partners With Counseling Svc.ST. PAUL, Minn.-The Minnesota Credit Union Network's Network Service Corporation formed a partnership with Lutheran Social Services Financial Counseling Service (LSS). Through this new relationship, Minnesota credit unions can offer members facing financial difficulties immediate access to trusted, high-quality financial counseling, it said.For info: www.mncun.orgUSAlliance Taps CU Student ChoiceWASHINGTON-Credit Union Student Choice said $800-million USAlliance FCU, Rye, N.Y., has partnered with Student Choice to deliver a private student lending program to its members.For info: www.studentchoice.orgWolters Kluwer Reports Q1 InstallsMINNEAPOLIS-Wolters Kluwer Financial Services said in the first quarter of 2012 it completed more than 175 installations of its ComplianceOne solution with U.S. credit unions and banks.For info: www.wolterskluwerfs.com/oneWhite Paper Explores EMV DebateDES MOINES, Iowa-Even as the terms "EMV" and "chip-and-PIN" became nearly synonymous over the past few years, some players have chosen a different route-namely, chip-and-signature. TMG's Aris Jerahian explores the discussion in a new white paper, "Chip Card Debate: U.S. Weighs Benefits of PIN and Signature Formats."For info: The paper can be downloaded for free at www.themembersgroup.com/PREMVCUSO Offer Benefits To BusinessesN. CHARLESTON, S.C.-CU Benefit Solutions, a CUSO of South Carolina FCU, said it has partnered with Innova Plan Strategies, LLC to offer comprehensive benefits packages to credit unions and other businesses.For info: www.SouthCarolinaFinancialSolutions.orgLoanSifter, Bankrate Team UpAPPLETON, Wis.-LoanSifter, Inc., announced has partnered with Bankrate, Inc., as a Bankrate Certified Technology Partner, enabling lenders to automatically post their mortgage rates and pricing information on Bankrate straight from LoanSifter's automated pricing engine.For info: www.loansifter.com or www.bankrate.comVisit www.cujournal.com today!

Account Openings Rise 47%WILMINGTON, N.C.-Velocity Solutions, a provider of retail account strategies, reported year-over-year growth in new consumer checking accounts from clients employing its Invitation Checking System, an automated account acquisition tool.For info: www.myvelocity.comWillow Capital Marks 2nd AnniversaryCENTERBROOK, CONN.-Commercial lending and business services company Willow Capital Group, LLC marked its second anniversary. It offers commercial services to credit unions and other lending institutions, including loan sourcing, underwriting, closing and servicing.For info: www.willowcapitalgroup.comInHouse Inc. Adding AppraisersPONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.-InHouse Inc., a provider of appraisal technology for CUs, banks and other mortgage originators, is adding to its network of appraisers in response to increased demand among lender clients for the InHouse Connexions appraisal management platform's "Build Your Own Appraisal Solution" approach.For info: www.InHouseUSA.comLawfirms Serving CUs MergeANAHEIM, Calif.-The Law Offices of Thomas H. Wolfe, P.C., a California and Nevada CU Leagues Business Partner, has merged with Moore Brewer Jones Tyler & North, which has offices in California, Texas and New York and is one of the largest law firms in the country focused on representation of CUs and CUSOs.For info: www.culaw.comEPL, MagTek Announce PartnershipBIRMINGHAM, Ala.-MagTek, a manufacturer of electronic devices and systems for issuance, reading, transmission and security of cards and PINs, and EPL, Inc., a provider of software solutions for credit unions, announced a partnership to offer CUs an integrated solution for instant issuance, card management and PIN selection.For info: www.magtek.com or www.eplinc.comPULSE Provides Web AccessHOUSTON-Debit/ATM network PULSE launched PULSE Debit Dashboard, a Web-based tool it said allows participants to better understand the economics of their debit programs by identifying trends, analyzing metrics and benchmarking themselves against industry peers.For info: www.pulsenetwork.comTruHome Gains Ginnie Mae ApprovalLENEXA, Kan.-CUSO TruHome Solutions, LLC, a credit union-owned mortgage company, said it has received approval to issue and service Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) single-family mortgage-backed securities, allowing TruHome to pool and securitize government mortgages (FHA, VA, USDA), and retain the servicing rights.For info: www.truhomesolutions.comKern Schools FCU Chooses Alloya CorporateBAKERSFIELD, Calif.-Kern Schools FCU has chosen Alloya Corporate FCU to be its new corporate. Kern Schools serves 170,000 members and has $1.3 billion in assets.For info: www.alloyacorp.orgCoopera, CUANY Offer Hispanic Member Growth StrategyDES MOINES, Iowa-The CU Association of New York and Coopera are collaborating on a Hispanic Member Growth Strategy program.For info: www.cuany.org or www.cooperaconsulting.comPSCU Named One Of Top WorkplacesST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-PSCU was named as one of the best places to work by Workplace Dynamics, which conducts annual employee surveys for companies headquartered in the Tampa Bay area and creates rankings of small-, medium- and large-sized companies from employees' responses.For info: www.pscu.comSix CUs Renew With TMGDES MOINES, Iowa-The Members Group said it has renewed credit, debit and PIN processing contracts with six credit unions: Premier America CU, Chatsworth, Calif.; IH Mississippi Valley CU, Moline, Ill.; Deere Employees CU, Moline, Ill.; Embarrass Vermillion FCU, Aurora, Minn.; Mile High FCU, Butte, Mont.; and, University of Iowa Community CU, Iowa City, Iowa.For info: www.themembersgroup.comCU Students Choice Hosts Financial Aid WebinarWASHINGTON-Credit Union Student Choice and its 200-plus partner CUs recently offered a free national webinar to nearly 500 attendees to help families decode the lingo of financial aid award letters and make informed financial decisions about the costs of college.For info: www.studentchoice.orgBusiness Partners Announces Audit ResultsCHATSWORTH, Calif.-Business Partners, LLC, which is owned by 17 financial institutions located throughout the country, announced audited financial results for 2011, with highlights including equity at $7,741,061 (28.1% of total assets) and cash and CD investment liquidity at $6,825,272 (24.8%) on total assets of $27,533,333. Profitability continued for the 8th straight year with net income at $1,034,017 (13.3% ROE and 3.8% ROA).For info: www.businesspartnersllc.comWeber Marketing Opens Canadian Office In VancouverSEATTLE-Branding and strategic consulting agency Weber Marketing Group, which has worked with Canadian credit unions for 10 years, officially expanded into Canada with the opening of a new office in Vancouver, B.C., on May 1.For info: www.webermarketing.comCU Toolbox, myCUmortgage Partner For Marketing SolutionHOLMDEL, N.J.-Credit Union Toolbox, a service of Mortgage Success Source, a provider of automated marketing solutions for financial institutions, entered a marketing agreement with myCUmortgage, a CUSO of Wright-Patt CU, to provide marketing and professional development tools to help their partners better serve their members and grow their credit unions.For info: www.credituniontoolbox.com or www.mycumortgage.com

Genisys Installs Envelope-Free ATMs

It's a mistake to assume that a credit union can't get into mobile lending if it doesn't have a smart phone app says John Putman, lending business systems director at CUNA Mutual Group.

Think your credit union is offering all you can when it comes to mobile access? Get ready for consumers to expect more.

Credit unions would be well-advised to take a course in "Socialnomics," according to Erik Qualman, an expert on social media.

Superior Federal Credit Union automated its mortgage loan processing and now the $370-million CU claims 25% share of its local mortgage market.

National Credit Union Association has released its expenses for its National Training Conference in Orlando.

Lending is on the rise for Oregon Community Credit Union after it instituted a new sales culture as part of its 360 Training program for employees.

Branchless-Realtors FCU, billed as the first virtual CU when it was chartered by the National Association of REALTORS three years ago, is throwing in the towel and plans to merge into Northwest FCU, the $2.2-billion CU in nearby Herndon, Va.

Mark Sievewright, president of credit union solutions at Fiserv, admits that discussing the future of plastic payment cards is difficult with the onset of mobile and alternative payment methods.

The surge in new members at credit unions is not a tide that is raising all ships, with most smaller CUs saying they are not seeing anywhere near the gains being reported by some.

Not all small CUs say they're not seeing strong membership growth.

The Pennsylvania Credit Union Association believes connecting small credit unions with NCUA regional supervisory teams, and the league's compliance staff, is helping small CUs better cope with regulatory and compliance issues.

At the recent Ohio Credit Union League Annual Meeting, Credit Union Journal asked attendees if they are paying close attention to the latest MBL legislation and what kind of impact a cap raise would have on their CU.

CUS SEEK EXEMPTION FROMCONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU

Latino Meeting Dates Are Set

Odds and ends from the Reporter's Notebook Remnants Bin.

A follow up to the April 9, 2012 article, "Post-Merger Issues Surface in Florida" about Space Coast Credit Union.

PORTSMOUTH — Service CU has introduced a new online rewards program for debit card use, called Purchase Rewards, as part of its new online banking redesign.