"ATMs on steroids" are one strategy for driving non-interest income, especially for those involved in shared branching, according to CO-OP Financial Services.

Credit unions must start devising strategies to increase debit interchange transactions.

Credit unions should consider rethinking their deposit processing model, according to Curtis Hallowell, VP-product management for Cummins Allison Corp.

There are four opportunities for credit unions to improve non-interest income, according to Jerry Nissen: adding value to free services, offering small business services, increasing fees for existing services and growing membership.

The last few weeks have seen good news (with a potential to become Revised News), bad news, and news that depends on your perspective-as news most often does.

Are Multi-Million-Dollar Salaries Sign Of Lost Way?

While today's volatile financial environment offers opportunity for credit unions to build their memberships, the challenges are twofold.

SEATTLE – Costco, the discount merchandise warehouse, is planning to expand its financial offerings with a test pilot for mortgages and student loans.

PITTSBURGH, Penn. – The manager of the now defunct Saint Albert the Great FCU was sentenced Friday to six months in prison and six months home detention for stealing $85,241 from the tiny credit union.

ROCHESTER, N.H. – Holy Rosary CU has contributed $15,000 to the YMCA of Strafford County to support the organization’s newly opened facility’s capital campaign.

ATLANTA – 1st Choice CU announced last week the naming of Daniel Caldwell, its chief financial officer, as president and CEO of the $28 million credit union.

ALIQUIPPA, Penn. – A&S FCU, the one-time credit union for A&S railroad employees, was approved by NCUA to convert to a community charter covering all 180,000 residents of surrounding Beaver County.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The state Senate last week approved a bill that would require credit unions and banks to post security cameras at night deposit boxes.

DURHAM, N.C. – Self-Help CU has signed with EasCorp FCU’s Vertifi to offer the CUSO’s DeposZip mobile remote deposit capture solution.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Acclaim FCU, the credit union sponsored by apparel-maker VF Corp., was approved by NCUA to expand its field of membership to include members of the American Consumer Council, a national consumer education group with 115,000 members.

WHEELING, W.V. -- Local entrepreneur Gary West purchased the Roadworthy Tavern and Inn in West Liberty from the U.S. Marshals Service for $1.2 million at an auction last week, money that will go to help pay off a $5 million restitution order for the former CEO of Center Valley FCU who used credit unions funds to buy the restaurant.

CHELSEA, Mass. –Metro CU, which has expanded its Boston-area footprint the past two years through several mergers, will gain another branch in downtown Boston with a merger of Massachusetts State Employees CU, a troubled one-time $76 million credit union.

WASHINGTON – The House approved a student loan bill Friday on a partisan basis that immediately invoked a veto threat by the White House.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA is preparing to ease the reins on the use of financial derivatives and allow more credit unions to deal in a variety of instruments that would help them hedge interest rate risk, including interest rate swaps, caps, floors, options and collars.

Many credit union members need financing for medium-ticket expenditures, and Kyle Kehoe believes CUs can help these consumers, book a loan and generate fee income, all at the same time.