LOS ALTOS, Calif.-Credit unions are being urged to pay more attention to fraud detection than fraud prevention this year.

SANTA ROSA, Calif.-Consumers can now buy insurance for almost every imaginable product or scenario. But one person believes property and casualty lines continue to be the best growth opportunities for credit unions in 2012.

PLEASANTON, Calif.-The news is mixed for CUs when it comes to consumers' views in the wake of Bank Transfer Day.

KATY, Texas-Stacey Fielder-August, former wife of retired Major League Baseball star Cecil Fielder, knows what it's like to have enough money to be set for life, and then lose most of it and her marriage as well.

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y.-Most credit unions do a disservice to their members and their bottom line by not focusing on insurance as a core member need, according to one person.

GREENSBORO, N.C.-Don't let habit steer members into one type of mortgage, when another would be better.

LISBON, N.D.-Dan Wagner, manager/CFO at Lisbon Farmers CU, has an intriguing hobby: he builds custom guitars. His most recent is a "Red Tail" guitar, released in conjunction with the movie of the same name. Below, Wagner talks more about it.

ARLINGTON, Va.-Over the next several years credit unions should pay close attention to signs of a rising-rate environment and prepare to take steps to protect their deposits.

NCUA'S WALL STREET SUITS ARE DEALT A MAJOR BLOW BY JUDGE

MADISON, Wis.-The CUNA Lending Council has released a new white paper: "Collections in a Post-Recession Environment."

Wegner Dinner Set For March 19

Some random thoughts while cleaning out the notebook in this paper-based log, from henceforth to be known as a plog.

With the increase in membership and many members looking for smart ways to save money, a growing number of credit unions are partnering with auto and home insurance providers. Here are five compelling reasons credit unions are enhancing member benefit packages with an auto and home insurance program.

HINGHAM, Mass. – A former manager at the Hingham FCU likely will avoid jail time after admitting to stealing more than $100,000 from the credit union.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – IBM Southeast Employees FCU and about 100 members have agreed on an unusual settlement of a class action suit of claims the members lost an estimated $10.5 million in an investment scheme sold by the credit union’s CUSO.

NEW YORK – ACI Worldwide on Friday said the Department of Justice has closed its antitrust investigation of its acquisition of S1 Corp., giving the final approval to the deal.

NEW YORK – Municipal CU launched a new mobile banking application for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio CU is one of the first financial institutions to post an FBI-inspired warning to robbers – a burnt orange sticker on its front door that warns of its “Bandit Shield.”

TUMWATER, Wash. – O Bee CU is celebrating the grand opening of its West Olympia branch through Feb. 25 with a drawing for a family vacation for four to Disneyland and a half-carat diamond pendant.

WOODLAND, Calif. – Yolo FCU announced it will host a special challenge to help save the community $1 million in loan interest by June 30.