WASHINGTON-Total loans outstanding at credit unions increased for the seventh straight month in October, according to analysis released last week by CUNA.

WASHINGTON-CUNA has revised down the number of new members credit unions attracted during September and October as part of the Bank Transfer Day hoopla by about one-third, but it is still expecting sign-ups during November to be strong.

THE NORTH POLE-Giving your true love 12 days worth of Christmas gifts may have been immortalized in song, but they would likely be immortalized even longer in examiners' reports should loans be made to finance them.

SUMTER, S.C.-Just in time for holiday gift-giving, SAFE FCU slashed its loan rates almost across the board to 2.99% APR, generating more than $2 million in the first two days of the offer.

Members Upgrade/Install Mobile AppSAN JOSE, Calif. Meriwest Credit Union reported that its members performed more than 2,500 downloads to upgrade or install a new version of the Meriwest Mobile Banking application on both the iPhone and Android platforms. The upgraded versions provide enhanced usability, more detail in transaction histories and access to built-in financial tools, the credit union said. Has art, Tek NAFCU Strebe.jpgCongress Explores Data BreachesWASHINGTON-Testifying before Congress, one credit union executive said data breaches are a serious problem for both consumers and businesses. Glenn Strebe, CEO of Air Academy FCU in Colorado Springs, Colo., who testified on behalf of NAFCU, said that credit unions and other financial institutions already safeguard data as required by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and urged that similar measures be adopted for other entities that handle sensitive personal and financial data."GLBA has worked for financial institutions and should serve as a model for extending greater data protections to other entities," Strebe told the House Small Business Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology.Strebe added that there is no comprehensive regulatory structure for retailers, merchants, or others who collect or hold sensitive information.Strebe said that NAFCU supports new measures to prevent data breaches but wants a safe harbor for institutions that already comply with GLBA.Requiring such institutions to retool their systems would impose an unnecessary and undue burden and cost. Strebe highlighted AAFCU's extensive cyber security and data security measures in his testimony.While, by and large, credit unions have not been the source of significant data breaches, Strebe stated that it is often the credit union that bears the brunt of the breach, and he underscored that the Dodd-Frank debit interchange fee cap has exacerbated the problem for credit unions and other financial institutions, which use interchange fee income to help defray some of the costs of protecting data and repairing damages when they occur.Wescom ATMs Features 'Elizabeth'NORTH CANTON, Ohio-Wescom Credit Union now features an update to the animated greeter it has used at its ATMs since 2003.Created by Diebold, "Elizabeth" is the on-screen "hostess" who welcomes Wescom ATM users and provides visual interludes during ATM processing functions. Diebold managed the integration of Elizabeth while adding new Opteva® ATMs equipped with deposit automation technology to Wescom's fleet, the company said."In updating Elizabeth this year, Wescom refreshed her image as an animated figure to enable efficiency and consistency when developing new interlude screens," said Diebold, which is adding 20 new Opteva 760 deposit automation ATMs to Wescom's fleet.For info: www.diebold.com

CHICAGO-It's "painful" to capture data on credit, ALM, operations and liquidity each quarter-then scrutinize them amidst 200 economic factors in six economic scenarios, three years into the future.

E-Mail Cleansing Is LaunchedBOSTON-Experian QAS has launched an e-mail cleansing solution that allows organizations to upload email address files for cleansing to increase the accuracy of e-mail campaigns and raise deliverability rates. "This 24-hour service enables companies to upload data files through the Experian QAS Website for cleansing," the company said. "The tool identifies format and syntax errors, removes illegitimate domains and confirms that the domain can receive e-mail."For info: www.qas.com.Security Service Selects CIBERGREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.-Security Service FCU has chosen CIBER to implement Microsoft Dynamics CRM systems to enhance service for its 850,000 members. "The engagement will span multiple phases, starting with the CRM implementation for systems used by service center personnel. This will include automation of common customer requests, as well as business-process redesign to optimize new system functionality," the company said. "Going forward call center representatives will use the same system that service center personnel use."For info: www.ciber.comAcct. Closing Interface DebutsMURRIETA, Calif.-CUTEK Inc. said it has developed a customizable interface that walks a credit union employee through the account-closing process for the outgoing member. "Each credit union comes up with its own list of possible reasons for closure, along with whatever script they would like the employee to follow to try to save the account from closure," the company said. If the closure proceeds, the interface will automatically pay any required closing dividends, transfer the funds out of the account, close the account, and perform any other needed steps. For info: www.cutek.net.Akcelerant, G&W Team UpMALVERN, Penn.-Akcelerant has entered into a partnership with GRANT & WEBER, an account servicing and receivables management organization specializing in CU collection services. As part of the agreement, new integration will be developed to allow joint customers access to GRANT & WEBER'S services, including pre-charge off account management, charge-off collection, risk and retention monitoring services directly through the Akcelerant Framework or Akcelerant Elements.In addition, Akcelerant and Allied Solutions have developed a system for capturing point-of-sale opportunities for Mechanical Breakdown Protection (MBP) and Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) during the loan origination process. "This new integration, named CONNECT.ALLIED IQQ, seamlessly blends Allied's cutting-edge online quoting software, Internet QuikQuote (iQQ), with SOLUTION.LENDING, Akcelerant's loan origination system," the companies said.For info: www.akcelerant.com. Bluepoint Launches ImagePointVISTA, Calif.-Bluepoint Solutions has launched its ImagePoint Mailroom solution, which it said enables financial institutions to capture and electronically process both deposits and remittances, including credit card, mortgage, auto and other loan payments, received in the mailroom. The application is a SaaS-based, automated processing tool designed to scan, sort, apply and split remittances and deposits, validate the data, then export it for clearing, posting and archiving.For info: www.bluepointsolutions.com.Remote ATM Security OfferedMATTHEWS, N.C.-With ATM ram raids and internal theft on the rise, Alarm It Security Solutions said its MT3000 system now includes remote capabilities. "The MT3000 ATM/kiosk security system...is an anti-tamper, anti-abuse security system that offers protection against unauthorized intrusion," the company said. "The unique alarm system, logs every entry into the terminal-authorized or not-allowing you to track external and employee access to the ATM or kiosk."For info: www.alarmitinc.com.OEFCU Chooses IMMLINDEN, N.J.-Integrated Media Management said that Operating Engineers FCU in Livermore, Calif. has selected its FormSpeed workflow product. "The browser-based solution collects information and effectively routes forms through their proper channel," the company said, and will "streamline front-end document processes to enhance the member service experience while also simplifying employee communication and satisfying compliance."For info: www.immonline.com.Prospectors Signs With CorelationSAN DIEGO-Corelation, Inc., the credit union industry's newest core processing vendor, has signed Prospectors FCU in Diamond Bar, Calif. as its latest client to use the KeyStone core processing system. Prospectors will convert to Corelation's KeyStone in early 2012. PFCU CEO Mary Freeman said that along with the user-friendly programs, it is imperative that the credit union has a computer system that allows it to have the capability to continue a healthy growth rate, while expanding to meet members' needs.For info: www.corelationinc.com.NEAFCU Selects GeezeoBARDONIA, N.Y.-NorthEast Alliance FCU has signed with Geezeo, Tolland, Conn., to implement the company's white label personal financial management system and engagement banking platform. PFM empowers online members, the company said, giving them a holistic view of their financial assets, liabilities and budgets.For info: www.geezeo.com.For the latest in technology updates, visit www.cujournal.com.

LATHRUP VILLAGE, Mich.-A miniature poodle guards his credit union debit card in an ad on the homepage at Michigan First CU here. The graphic links to a YouTube video showing the lovable poodle begging for the Michigan First card-even though a competing bank card comes with a "flashy" side of bacon.

ATLANTA-New research from SYNERGISTICS Research Corp. has found that more than eight-in-10 Internet households also use mobile phones or devices.

SAINT PAUL, Minn.-City & County CU came late to the paperless revolution but seems to have quickly made up for lost time, using 40% less paper over the past year.

SAN ANTONIO-It's critical that credit unions understand that rapid "consumerization" of technology is changing how credit unions conduct business, along with how members interact with their credit unions, according to one person.

OLYMPIA, Wash.-TwinStar CU here holds employees responsible for their loan sales and service. But that can be a problem if you can't get accurate, comprehensive data about each employee's performance.

Credit unions want tools that make it easy to give members a consistent experience across every delivery channel-just one trend identified from the 25 CUs making wishes in Credit Union Journal's 10th Annual Technology Wish List.

FITCHBURG, Mass.-Workers' CU here is the first credit union to allow members to instantly open accounts from a mobile device, part of a "revolutionary but natural" step that follows years of online account opening.

SAN JOSE, Calif.-In perhaps the crowning moment of the Bank Transfer Day movement, officials with Most Holy Trinity Church today will deposit $3 million of church funds withdrawn from Bank of America into the new branch of Self-Help FCU, a start-up community development credit union.

New Card Issuance System UnveiledMINNETONKA, Minn.-Datacard Group introduced Datacard MX6000 card issuance system, a complete card-to-envelope solution that delivers full-color cards and highly personalized carriers on demand, starting from white card stock and blank paper. The system can print up to 1,500 unique cards per hour.For info: www.datacard.comAutoland Adds Four New ClientsCHATSWORTH, Calif.-Autoland, Inc., signed four CUs to use its car buying and trade-in services: Seattle Metropolitan CU and Verity CU, Seattle; SRI FCU, Menlo Park, Calif.; and Valley First CU, Modesto, Calif.For info: www.autoland.comSunmark FCU Signs With UsNetALBANY, N.Y.-Universal Sharing Network (UsNet) said Sunmark FCU has joined its shared branching network as an issuer and an acquirer.For info: www.universalsharing.comCity & County Joins Shared BranchingST. PAUL, Minn.-Minnesota brought its number of credit union service centers to 39 after City & County Credit Union added its four locations to shared branching.For info: www.cuservicecenters.comLending Insights Marks 75th CUONTARIO, Calif.-Lending Insights, providers of analytical tools and business intelligence solutions to the credit union industry, said its client base has grown in 2011 to include 75 credit unions.For info: www.lendinginsights.comCUES, JMFA Extend PartnershipMADISON, Wis.-The Credit Union Executives Society (CUES) announced an extension of its partnership with John M. Floyd & Associates Executive Search Group, a Baytown, Texas-based firm specializing in recruitment searches, outplacement services and succession planning.For info: www.cues.org/executivesearchCU Members Mortgage Signs 12 CUsDALLAS-CU Members Mortgage said 12 more CUs chose it as their new mortgage lending partner: Georgia Heritage FCU, Holy Family Memorial CU, LGE Community CU, Lincoln S.D.A. CU, National 1st CU, TCC CU, The Florist FCU, USX FCU, Utah Central CU, Victoria FCU, Wauna FCU. For info: www.cumembers.comCatalyst Offers NEV Reporting ToolsPLANO, Texas-Catalyst Corporate said Strategic Solution's NEV (Net Economic Value) reporting tools are being offered at no extra charge to credit unions that subscribe to the standard or comprehensive NEV Analysis Report. The Extreme Rate NEV Analysis provides credit unions with a long-term measurement of interest rate risk on their balance sheet as a result of a 400-500 basis point increase in interest rates, the company said.For info: www.catalystcorp.org

SSFCU Named A Top Workplace

Yes, CUNA backtracked on the number of people who moved to credit unions on Bank Transfer Day. But so what? 440,000 new members is nothing to sneeze at. In fact, it's a stunning success.

As communication continues to digitalize and members become ever more mobile, credit unions need to stay ahead of the curve and ensure that they can communicate with members, no matter the channel.

Just because you are in the 1% does not mean you do not identify with and understand the needs of the 99%. But it does raise questions about how involved the "owners" are in the credit union's governance.