DES MOINES, Iowa-Saying Iowa is one-million credit union members strong, this state's league has launched a website it hopes will get a lot more of that million talking to legislators about credit unions.

LANSING, Mich.-LAFCU here has initiated a charitable event that does double-duty by illustrating how much people save annually by being credit union members vs. bank customers.

LEXINGTON, Ky.-One credit union's message that putting lipstick on a bank doesn't change the fact it's a bank is being credited for driving new memberships here.

Loan To Engine ManufacturerHas art, Mazuma logo. KANSAS CITY, Mo.-Mazuma Credit Union has entered into what it said is a multi-million dollar deal with American Performance Technologies (APT), a manufacturer of small engines used for motor, power sports and lawn equipment. The deal will help APT expand its operations facility and create 88 new jobs in the Kansas City metro area. Mazuma Credit Union will provide $3 million in debt financing as part of an overall $7.7 million investment made by APT.The unique aspect of APT's two-cycle engine is the greener engine technology that does not burn any oil, while producing fewer emissions with more specific output than today's other two- or four-cycle small engines. Some benefits of this improved technology are zero oil consumption, three times more power of a similar size 4-stroke engine, best in class torque output, and increased engine life.UNFCU Backs Kilmanjaro Has art. Mt. Kilmanjaro ClimbKILMANJARO, Tazmania-United Nations FCU is again sponsoring a group of 75 people, including some youth, who are participating in a three-day trek to the top of Africa's highest mountain-Mount Kilimanjaro.Seeking to reach the 19,341-foot peak are 75 climbers representing 36 African countries, 14 United Nations agencies, businesses, women's rights activists and civil society organizations who this year are all participating in a continent-wide campaign to end violence against women and girls. The initiative is part of Africa UNiTE, the Africa component of the United Nations Secretary-General's global campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women. The Climb under the theme "Climb Up, Speak Out," aims to:* Raise awareness and the visibility of violence against women and girls as a key issue for development, peace and security in Africa; and* Mobilize national commitments from African governments, civil society organizations, the private sector and development partners to take action to prevent violence against women, provide services to survivors, and end impunity by perpetrators of the violence by 2015."Reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro is a metaphor for overcoming life's adversities and during these next few days, underlines the importance of creating positive, social change," said three-time climber Michael J. Connery, Jr., president/CEO of United Nations FCU.e_SClB53,000 Better Choice LHas art, PCUA Better Choice.png oans Made HARRISBURG, Penn.-The Pennsylvania CU Association reported that since launching in 2006, more than 53,000 Credit Union Better Choice loans have now been issued to credit union members for short-term cash needs. More precisely, the PCUA said the 79 participating CUs have made 53,714 loans totaling nearly $26 million dollars since the program's inception. "More importantly, the program has saved borrowers more than $18 million over using a traditional payday lending product," the association reported. During 2011, 10,829 loans totaling $5.23 million dollars were issued. In the second six-months of 2011, 5,098 loans totaling $2.3 million dollars were issued. Further, borrowers were also able to place more than $230,000 into savings accounts during the six-month period.The Credit Union Better Choice loan is a payday lending alternative product where credit unions offer borrowers a 90-day loan with a $500 limit. The program was developed through a collaboration of the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association, Pennsylvania Treasury Department, and the Pennsylvania Department of Banking."The continued growth of the Credit Union Better Choice program indicates that consumers need access to short-term loans," says Jim McCormack, Association President/CEO. "Through a voluntary program, credit unions across the Commonwealth are meeting the needs of their members."According to the association, Pennsylvania consumers saved an average of 80 cents in loan fees and costs for every dollar borrowed through a Credit Union Better Choice loan rather than through a typical loan from a payday lender. This translates into more than $18 million that consumers kept in their own pockets by using credit unions that offer Credit Union Better Choice loans. Kinecta, NuVision Cancel MergerMANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.-Credit union giants Kinecta FCU and NuVision FCU have called off their proposed combination, which would have been the second biggest credit union merger ever, creating a $4.4-billion credit union.Roger Ballard, the CEO of Huntington Beach-based NuVision who has been running Kinecta for the past year-and-a-half in preparation for the merger, will continue as joint CEO of both credit unions while Kinecta conducts a CEO search process and puts a transition plan in place.As both credit unions have continued to assess the length of time required for merger review, approval and integration, they now estimate an additional two-year timeframe given the economic environment. Both credit unions have come to the conclusion that continuing the merger process for this amount of time would be too disruptive to their business and members.The merger would have been second in size only to last year's combination of California' Addison Avenue FCU and Oregon's First Tech CU, creating a $5 billion credit union.Cancellation of the mega-merger comes after Kinecta, a one-time $4.4-billion credit union giant that returned to the black last year after two miserable years and $126 million in losses, fell back into the red in 2011 to the tune of $30.6 million, stretching out the timeframe for the giant combination. But Ballard said as recently as January he still hoped to complete the deal.Covantage, School 'Mad About Money'ANTIGO, Wis.-CoVantage CU is working with D.C. Everest Junior High School and John Muir Middle School to offer a savings program to students called "Mad About Money."The main component of the program is Kidz Credit Union, a student-run, mini credit union that opened in the two schools last fall. Pine View Credit Union and Highlander Credit Union, named by the students, give students an opportunity to learn about saving money in a fun, hands-on way, the program said. Six students are trained to fulfill the roles of tellers and member service, and actually run each mini credit union.Along with opening Pine View Credit Union, CoVantage presents a financial education program that teaches students about saving, budgeting, prioritizing needs and wants, and the differences between cash and credit.More than 400 students in the two schools learned from Mad About Money.Policy Library IntroducedST. PAUL, Minn. -The Minnesota Credit Union Network has partnered to make a new online policy library resource available to its member credit unions. In partnership with PolicyAid, the resource provides access to sample policies that help to ensure compliance with current rules and regulations, the Network said.Subscribers receive access to more than 65 sample policies available for download in Word format, allowing for personalization. Policy templates include topics such as social media, liquidity and Truth In Lending. Available policies are updated on a quarterly basis to reflect any new and amended regulations, the MnCUN said. "The Minnesota Credit Union Network understands the compliance burden on credit unions today, which led to the development of this partnership with PolicyAid," said MnCUN Vice President-Network Service Corporation John Ferstl. "Every year credit unions spend tens of thousands of dollars in time and resources as they work to maintain compliance with regulations. This affordable resource will help relieve some of that burden and enable credit unions to focus their attention on what they do best-serving their members."REAL Solutions Expands In IllinoisNAPERVILLE, Ill.-Forty representatives from Illinois credit unions are participating in the second year of the REAL Solutions Enhanced Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP), as a result of support from the Illinois Credit Union Foundation. According to the Illinois league, in bringing back the program for the second year two significant modifications have been made to enable as many Illinois credit unions as possible to participate in the program: a reduction in cost and an increase in number and locations of proctored test sites. Thanks to sponsorship from the Foundation, the only cost to Illinois credit unions is the purchase of the FiCEP books and exams from CUNA. Expanded testing sites in 2012 program will include Chicago, Danville, Gurnee, Moline, Rockford and St. Louis.In the first year of the Illinois program, 23 individuals from 11 credit unions "graduated" as Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors (CCUFC). WOCCU: Last Call For EntriesMADISON, Wis. - The World Council of Credit Unions has made its last call for nominations for its Distinguished Service Award. Nominations for the global credit union movement's top individual and organizational honors are due no later than March 30, 2012. The award will be presented during World Council's World Credit Union Conference, July 15-18, in Gdańsk, Poland. The DSA honors the exceptional achievements of individuals and organizations whose activities have furthered World Council's vision of "improving people's lives through credit unions." Individual recipients may be World Council member organization officers, directors or representatives; international credit union pioneers; field technicians with long and outstanding service records; or individuals whose actions have benefited global credit union development. World Council presents up to three individual awards in a single year. Institutional recipients may be organizations or agencies that have assisted with developing international credit union movements and service infrastructures over an extended period of time. World Council presents only one institutional award each year. For info: www.woccu.org/recognition.Diamond Anniversary, Diamond GiveawayLAKE MARY, Fla.-CFE FCU will celebrate its 75th birthday-known as the diamond anniversary-by giving away half carat diamonds in a social media Dash for Diamonds Sweepstakes.The $1.3 billion credit union will hold its diamond anniversary sweepstakes throughout the year during surprise parties hosted at branches across Central Florida. The number of parties and their details are a secret.The first 75 people to arrive at each event will get to select a gemstone from CFE's treasure chest. Seventy-four of the stones will be cubic zirconia faux diamonds and one will be a genuine half carat diamond valued at $1,000."We're using this milestone anniversary and social media to raise awareness for CFE in the community," said Suzanne Dusch, vice president marketing for CFE, formerly Central Florida Educators CU.Seventy-five hours before each event the date, time, and location will be revealed on CFE's Facebook and Twitter pages. Participants can also register on mycfe.com to receive email and text alerts.

Horsetail Technology and Credit Union Journal have partnered to make an extraordinary offer that will result in one credit union receiving a $100,000 Extreme Network Makeover.

ST. PAUL, Minn.-The Minnesota Credit Union Network recently held Credit Union Day at the Capitol, an event aimed at bringing the credit union community together with their lawmakers.

VALLEY VILLAGE, Calif.-It's been a year now since the final credits rolled for tiny Motion Picture FCU.

The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund ended 2011 with an equity ratio of 1.30% after the year-end transfer from the NCUSIF to the Stabilization Fund, according to data released last week by NCUA.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.-Joe Trettel, president of Permatech, a business located here, admits he was "not into politics" until he was asked to participate in a Hike the Hill event in Washington earlier this year organized by the North Carolina CU League and CUNA.

WASHINGTON-Experienced credit union fundraisers were scratching their heads last week at the advent of a new Super PAC-a political action committee that is allowed to independently raise and spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns-in the name of credit unions.

The Credit Union Association of New York hired Dirck Van Deusen as director of political and foundation development.

Credit union executives urged Congress last week to step in and alleviate a rapidly growing list of new regulations affecting credit unions and banks.

GROTON, Conn.-Two credit unions that paid a year-end dividend based on members' relationships say an aggressive marketing effort should be part of the rollout.

Credit unions can prevent, or at least limit, losses due to robberies and wire transfer fraud by implementing a few simple procedures.

Credit unions are only increasing their risks by remaining on the defensive, waiting for a robber to hit them. Instead, they must get active with technology, training and networking for deterrence and mitigation, according to one analyst.

Randy Romes says there is a lesson for credit unions in an experience he recently had in taking his son to a Cub Scout camp.

One of the credit unions hit hardest in the country by the recession and real estate collapse, Silver State Schools, has a "long road" ahead ot it, but its CEO believes it will recover.

Credit Union Journal asked all of the state leagues: What are your plans for involvement in the 2012 elections? Will you be involved in the presidential race? What sorts of activities/fundraising will you be doing?

STOCKTON, Calif.-The City of Stockton has been one of the faces of the financial crisis in the West, having battled Las Vegas for the dubious distinction of "Foreclosure Capital" over much of the last four years.

GAINESVILLE, Fla.-Business lending at SunState FCU has grown by $21 million in the past two years to the point where the CU has reached its MBL cap, despite competition from much larger CUs in the region.