More CUs Enter Into Mergers

NORCROSS, Ga.-These are boom times for Associated CU here. The entire month surrounding Bank Transfer Day saw a 50% increase in new share accounts over the previous year, and the credit union is getting 80% penetration on new checking accounts and debit cards.

MISSOULA, Mont.-If a big box retailer can open early near the Thanksgiving holiday to draw a crowd, why not a credit union?

AUSTIN, Texas-What began as a push to improve internal communication resulted in an increase in one credit union's Net Promoter Score, along with increased loan growth and employee retention.

NORCROSS, Ga.-What it describes as a "very credit union-ey" product has helped members with weak credit scores here to get a vehicle.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.-Digital FCU (DCU) here has boosted its mobile deposit numbers to the point where nearly 50% of all remote deposits come via mobile channels, earning it a Credit Union Journal "Best Practice" award in the Mobile Deposit category.

RALEIGH, N.C.-With approximately 7,500 North Carolina state employees facing layoffs as a result of a $2.7-billion budget deficit, State Employees' CU sprang into action.

HOBART, Ind.-Many credit unions rely on shared branching networks to make banking more convenient for their members, and often that means simple transactions.

LEESBURG, Va.-When it opened a new branch in a dense residential area with little commercial development, Northwest FCU turned to direct marketing to get the word out-very direct marketing.

SPOKANE, Wash.-Spokane Teachers Credit Union here has implemented a number of changes it credits for helping it to add more than 900 new members per month-and that was before the recent Bank Transfer Day effort.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-When one CU decided to hire in-house counsel to improve its efforts around collection items referred for litigation, it knew it was a good idea-it just didn't know how good.

HARRISBURG, Penn.-It's been 30 days since credit unions benefited from the biggest-ever increase in membership and awareness in history, culminating in Bank Transfer Day on Nov. 5.

NEW ORLEANS-Tired of losing member loans to local dealer financing, Cabrillo Credit Union has stepped into the used car business and is now doubling loan volume over 2011 projections.

WASHINGTON-Credit unions may soon getter a better handle on potential additional compliance demands as the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has begun accepting consumer complaints related to home mortgages.

Wright Patt CU, Gulf Winds

ATLANTA-Total consumer debt has nearly returned to pre-recession levels, including a 32% growth among credit card originations, according to the newly released Equifax National Credit Trends Report. But home equity lending continues to slide.

PHOENIX-Arizona Central CU here is making a renewed push to grow its health savings account business.

HAMPDEN, Maine-After walking more than 700 miles and driving another 1,300, Brenda Davis arrived at Maine Savings FCU here last week for a special ceremony, having raised more than $30,000 to help fight hunger in this state.

YORK, Penn.-Seeking to maintain the momentum of Bank Transfer Day, First Capital FCU turned to a kissing booth.

NEW BERLIN, Wis.-Landmark Credit Union here last week was in the process of merging four more credit unions, leapfrogging Summit CU as Wisconsin's biggest credit union.