Just as consumers have become accustomed to trading out their cell phones frequently, more car buyers will turn to leasing to keep the newer model in the driveway.

Credit unions may want to hold off on special promotions for loans on hybrid vehicles until the cars' prices come down.

If credit unions are to go toe-to-toe with competitors on low auto loan rates, they will have to make changes to address the overall car loan yield.

The only thing predictable about the auto lending market this year is that competition will be as big or bigger than in recent years.

Look for heavy manufacturer incentives sometime this year, possibly right after tax rebate season, according to one analyst.

CUNA called on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to use its new authority over the Electronic Funds Transfer Act to amend requirements that force two separate disclosures on fees to a single, on-screen disclosure.

In the latest of a growing number of disputes over loan participations, San Diego Metropolitan CU filed suit in federal court claiming bad faith in its purchase of millions of dollars of church loans.

Lending its billionth dollar just wasn't enough for Clackamas Federal Credit Union.

Credit unions could learn a thing or two from the big banks about how to run an ad campaign.

NCUA Officers DeposedIn WesCorp LawsuitLOS ANGELES-Top officials at NCUA are scheduled to give depositions in NCUA's lawsuit against officers of WesCorp FCU this week, promising to shed new light on the corporate's failure. It is not clear who NCUA will send to the federal court session because the regulator is allowed to send anyone who can best explain the agency's oversight of corporate credit unions in the 2007-2009 periods. Issues will include all of the warnings and directives NCUA may have given credit unions and corporate credit unions on their purchases of mortgages and MBS, and the role of the NCUA Board in granting WesCorp waivers of its investment rule in order to buy risky securities. Lawyers for the WesCorp figures plan to argue that NCUA's charges against the WesCorp figures contradict separate suits against JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and RBS Securities, which sold WesCorp billions of dollars in MBS.Fannie Mae Is SeekingAdditional $2.4B BailoutWASHINGTON-Fannie Mae has requested an additional $4.6-billion in federal bailout funds after announcing a $2.4-billion loss for the fourth quarter of 2011 and a $16.9-billion loss for the year. The additional assistance will bring to more than $117 billion to amount of government aid poured into the mortgage giant since its September 2008 takeover by the federal government-making it the biggest government bailout in U.S. history. Freddie Mac, which is also expected to request additional assistance, has consumed more than $72 billion in bailout funds since then. The two companies are critical to the mortgage business of credit unions as they buy an estimated two-thirds of all single-family mortgages originated by CUs.Garner Tapped To Head CatalystPLANO, Texas-Kathy Garner has been named as the new president/CEO of Catalyst Corporate. Garner had previously been EVP-member relations and business development with Catalyst Corporate, and was president of Northwest Corporate from 1995-2007. Garner will replace Dianne Addington, who has served as the president/CEO at Catalyst Corporate since it was created in September 2011 from the combination of Georgia Corporate FCU and Southwest Bridge Corporate FCU. Addington was tapped by the NCUA to run Southwest Bridge when it was conserved prior to its emergence as Catalyst Corporate. Garner also worked for U.S. Central from 1984 to 1995.Agency Approves More MergersALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA last week approved mergers allowing Chevron FCU to absorb $175-million Spectrum FCU; for Wisconsin's Community First CU to absorb $13-million Newvision CU; for Utah's Mountain America CU to absorb $16-million Pocahy Family FCU; for Atlanta Postal CU to absorb $24-million Human Services' Employees FCU; for Massachusetts' Rockland CU to absorb of Sturdy CU, and for Wisconsin's Connexus CU to absorb Tower CU, creating a $410-million institution.WA Ups Size Of Muni Deposits At CUsOLYMPIA, Wash.-The Washington State House agreed last week to increase the amount of funds municipalities may deposit in credit unions from $100,000 to $250,000, providing a big new pool of funding for the state's credit unions. The bill is now on its way to Gov. Christine Gregoire, who is expected to sign it into law. In addition to raising the limit for public funds deposits, the bill allows federally chartered credit unions to become depositaries.APG FCU Wins Arena Naming RightsBEL AIR, Md.-The arena currently under construction at Harford Community College here will be named the APG Federal Credit Union Arena once it opens, following a sponsorship deal with the credit union. The credit union has agreed to spend $50,000 per year for 15 years to secure the naming rights. When completed, the APG Federal Credit Union Arena will be the largest indoor venue in Northeastern Maryland, accommodating 3,200 people.Low-Income Habits ExploredMADISON, Wis.-The Filene Research Institute has released a new report that seeks to offer new insights into the financial habits of low-income consumers, while also highlighting ways to meet the challenge of serving that demographic. The study, "We Don't Do Banks: Financial Lives of Families on Public Assistance," is authored by Rourke O'Brien, research fellow with the Asset Building Program of the New America Foundation, and includes analysis of the role policymakers can take in easing the financial lives of financially tenuous citizens. For info: www.filene.org.e_SClBKinecta Opens Mortgage Loan CenterMANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.-Kinecta FCU has opened a new mortgage loan center in Mission Valley, following the opening of another center in Rancho Penasquitos in December. The $3.5-billion credit union, which also operates a Midwest mortgage center out of Chicago, said it did more than $2.7 billion in mortgage originations last year in 25 states.Lockheed Signs With CO-OPBURBANK, Calif.-Lockheed FCU has signed with CO-OP Financial to provide it with credit card processing. The $3.2-billion credit union already contracts with CO-OP Financial for transaction services. CO-OP Credit is an internal credit processing solution provided through a single connection to the host. The company said it is delivered with the same CO-OP fraud, chargeback and credit union servicing processes used for debit and ATM program support.CU Veteran MacKinnon Passes AwayDEARBORN, Mich.-Donald MacKinnon, Jr., who helped charter more than 100 credit unions and served as president of Dearborn FCU (now DFCU Financial), died Jan. 25 at 93. MacKinnon is a member of the Credit Union Hall of Fame in Washington.Coopera Taps Williams As Acting CEODES MOINES, Iowa-Coopera Consulting, the unit of the Iowa league that specializes in strategies for serving the Hispanic community, has named Murray Williams as acting CEO. Williams is filling a void created by the death of Coopera co-founder Warren Morrow, 34. VP Miriam De Dios and Client Account Coordinator Anna Haug will also help lead the company.SECU Member Foils Armed RobberLUMBERTON, N.C.-A State Employees CU member escaped unharmed and with his money after a gunman tried to rob him at an ATM here. The member was getting into his car after stopping at an SECU ATM just before 3 p.m. when a man approached him carrying a double-barreled shotgun, according to police. The member shifted his car into reverse and "floored it," and the gunman ran off behind a nearby church. The gunman is still at large.DJ Endorses Grow FinancialTAMPA, Fla.-Morning radio host Jayde Donovan has signed with Grow Financial FCU to record a series of celebrity endorsements for the $1.7-billion credit union. The local radio personality for WPOI-FM, HOT 101.5, will tell her story as "a new resident of the Tampa Bay area who needs to establish a relationship with a local financial institution." The series includes ads posted on the HOT 101.5 website. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.Grow Financial has 18 branches and 156,000 members in the Tampa Bay area.CO-OP, Diebold Team UpRANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - CO-OP Financial Services said it has contracted with Diebold to offer CO-OP ATM Managed Services, a complete ATM fleet implementation and management suite for credit unions.Diebold will market and sell CO-OP ATM Managed Services and also will offer its Diebold Integrated Services as part of the product suite, which includes anti-skimming, currency management, enterprise security and software deployment services.Diebold will be offering CO-OP Payment Processing services for signature and PIN debit and ATM transactions.CO-OP said its ATM Managed Services enables credit unions to turn over all of their ATM-related issues to a single source, allowing them to focus on their core financial services to members.

The Indiana league, in cooperation with the Kentucky league, is rolling out a multi-media campaign in support of the "iBelong" awareness effort.

The recession has come with another cost that, sadly, is often overlooked, believes one person: a noticeable downgrade in the professionalism of marketing at many CUs.

Texas-El Paso Employees FCU has evolved.

Banks and thrifts posted strong earnings for Q4 2011, according to new data from the FDIC.

General Motors employees are set to begin receiving bonuses of up to $7,000 each as a result of the auto giant's recent profitability.

No department within credit unions has felt the budget axe as much as the marketing department over the past few years.

Sunkist Employees FCU has become the first credit union to sign with CU*Northwest for a pilot assistance program known as the Small CU Initiative.

Great rates and great service? Not good enough, says one marketing professional.

The Texas Credit Union League has developed a Credit Union Mentor Program, which it said will formalize collaborative partnerships between individual credit unions.

MADISON, Wis.-CUNA Mutual Group and NCUA have announced plans to collaborate on a series of fraud mitigation sessions. The day-long training sessions titled, "Don't Give Fraud the Green Light-Mitigating Fraud in Your Credit Union," will be conducted by CUNA Mutual Group risk management consultants and highlight the latest fraud concerns and control techniques. Workshops will include implementation of best practices in the areas of wire transfer, fraudulent deposit, lending and employee dishonesty.