CHARLESTON, W.Va.-Sometimes the best thing for a struggling credit union is to start over.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.-Xceed Financial Credit Union recalls a time when saving energy and conserving resources was a concern limited to a handful of activists, hippies and cheapskates. Today, being green is a "business imperative."

GLASTONBURY, Conn.-Highly efficient branches using teller capture are saving the front-line team 80% of their daily keystrokes and significantly shortening end-of-day activities.

PITTSBURGH-Dynamics Inc. has introduced a new credit card it contends lowers fraud costs.

SCFCU Seeks Trademark On Bank Transfer Day Message

JACKSONVILLE, Ark.-Some credit unions are finding those debit promotions that have ramped up the past few months are reeling in more than checking accounts, they're attracting profitable members.

SAN DIEGO-California's CUs were urged to pay more attention to political redistricting by Diana Dykstra, president and CEO of the California and Nevada CULeagues, who called the issue "a big deal."

WASHINGTON-Holiday cheer continues to be sparse as the holiday season approaches.

CO-OP Launches New WebsiteRANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.-CO-OP Financial Services has created a new consumers website and revised its corporate site. The new consumer site helps members of participating CUs locate more than 28,000 surcharge-free ATMs in CO-OP Network nationwide, and will provide a link to the locator for the more than 4,400 offices within the CO-OP Shared Branch network.The address of the new consumer site is www.co-opnetwork.org, the new-look corporate site is at www.co-opfs.orgCUs Offered Insurance AlternativeSACRAMENTO, Calif.-Insurance broker Risk Strategies Company is now offering the Credit Union Health Benefits of America (CUHB) Plan to credit unions nationwide seeking an alternative to traditional medical insurance.For info: www.risk-strategies.comDatacard Releases New SolutionMINNETONKA, Minn.-Datacard Group, a provider of secure ID and card personalization solutions, released Secure Issuance Anywhere, an integrated issuance platform for secure, personalized card and credential management.For info: www.datacard.comCU Student Choice Adds 3 CUsWASHINGTON-Credit Union Student Choice, a provider of higher education financing solutions, pushed its client list to 215 with the addition of three credit unions: $1.2-billion America's First FCU, Birmingham, Ala.; $1.7-billion Landmark CU, New Berlin, Wis.; and, $72-million Rutgers FCU, New Brunswick, N.J.For info: www.studentchoice.orgPolicyAid Supports Compliance EffortsDES MOINES, Iowa-Regulatory compliance CUSO PolicyWorks has developed a new resource, PolicyAid, an online library of credit union policies that gives subscribers access to downloadable, customizable documents that can be adapted fit a CU's individual operations.For info: www.policyworksllc.comAccounting Firm Merger AnnouncedMILWAUKEE-Clifton Gunderson and LarsonAllen, two certified public accounting and consulting firms, announced plans to merge, which will create one of the top 10 largest accounting firms in the U.S. Pending final approvals, the merger will take effect Jan. 2, 2012, and the new firm will be named CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA).For info: www.cliftoncpa.com or www.larsonallen.comAlliance Expands To Risk ManagementMADISON, Wis.-CUNA Strategic Services, Inc., and Abound Resources have expanded their alliance to include risk management and compliance consulting, as well as advisory services for credit unions.For info: www.aboundresources.com or www.cunastrategicservices.comCO-OP Intros Merchant-Funded Rewards ProgramRANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.-CO-OP Financial Services is expanding its rewards offerings with ShoppingFLING, a standalone, merchant-funded rewards program offered in partnership with RewardsNOW, Inc., Dover, N.H.For info: www.rewardsnow.com or www.co-opfs.orgDiebold Enhances Vantage West CU's ATMsNORTH CANTON, Ohio-Diebold said it is refreshing the ATM fleet at $1.1-billion Vantage West CU to meet new regulatory guidelines and increase member conveniences, streamline business operations and enhance security by adding deposit automation functionality and providing numerous integrated services.For info: www.diebold.comMerdianLink Boosts Online Apps At SFFCUCOSTA MESA, Calif.-MeridianLink said it has helped $653-million San Francisco FCU increase online membership applications to hundreds per month from just a few dozen per month following the recent deployment of the company's platform.For info: www.merdianlink.comCUNA Mutual Group Expands Investment Advisory ServicesMADISON, Wis.-CUNA Mutual Group, through its registered investment advisor affiliate, MEMBERS Capital Advisors, is expanding its Credit Union Investment Advisory Services (CUIAS) program in anticipation of an increase in deposits from new members due to Bank Transfer Day.For info: www.cunamutual.comDiebold Theft-Prevention Technology Fights ATM Card SkimmingNORTH CANTON, Ohio-Diebold, Inc., said it has re-engineered its Opteva ATM hardware to support anti-skimming efforts with a new design for the bezel-the portion of the ATM containing the card slot and the surrounding area-to not only detect skimming activity, but to help prevent it.For info: www.diebold.com

PITTSBURGH-One company has developed what it believes is the next wave of magnetic stripe payments technology, allowing consumers to link to multiple accounts off the same card.

Prevail CU, Seattle, appointed Forest Hayes VP and CFO.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-As more credit unions expand into private student lending, others are cautioning that there is a need to proceed with care.

HOUSE BILL WOULD CREATE

you will see several notes for art. the ones that need captions, I have provided captions in separate DT tags inside this DTI doc.CUNA Mutual Posts GrowthMADISON, Wis.-CUNA Mutual Group reported that through the first three quarters of the year its operating revenue grew 5.8%. CUNA Mutual also reported net income is up $97-million year to date, despite paying out more in catastrophe claims and weather-related crop insurance claims.CU Delegation Returns From KenyaHas art, WOCCU Hubbard.jpgNAIROBI, Kenya-A delegation of credit union reps has concluded the inaugural engagement program trip to Kenya with World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) Global Women's Leadership Network. The delegation visited a variety of enterprises supporting Kenya's many small savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs), the name by which credit unions are called throughout Africa. The delegation included Joe Finnigan of Vermont FCU; Gene Brody of Bay Ridge FCU; Linda Darling of Suncoast Schools FCU; Linda Hardy, and Sandra Paynter of Consolidated Credit Union (Canada); Hank Hubbard of Communicating Arts Credit Union. and Stacey Walker of Xcel FCU.Halleck New Calif. CUL ChairRANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.-Teresa Halleck, president and CEO of San Diego County CU, has been elected as chair of the California CU League for 2012. Also elected were: Larry Palochick, president/CEO of Alta Vista CU, as first vice chairman, and Teresa Freeborn, president/CEO of Xceed Financial CU, as second vice chairman.Alternatives Wins $25K GrantITHACA, N.Y.-Alternatives FCU here was one of four community development financial institutions to win $25,000 grants as part of the fifth annual Wachovia Wells Fargo NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance. AFCU won in the Advocacy category, and was recognized for its work and leadership on Living Wages. The other three winners were the Neighborhood Development Center in St. Paul, Minn.; the Charter School Development Corp. in Hanover, Del., and the Genesis Community Loan Fund in Damariscotta, Maine.Bay FCU Earns CDFI StatusCAPITOLA, Calif.-Bay FCU has been certified as a Community Development Financial Institution by Treasury's Community Development Financial Institution Fund (CDFI Fund). CEO Carrie L. Birkhofer said the goal of the certification is to allow BFCU to "expand programs that make a difference in our member's lives and in the community." CDFI certification makes Bay Federal and other CDFIs eligible to apply for Technical and Financial Assistance grants for the purpose of increasing institutional capacity to provide access to affordable financial services and loans for low-income consumers and underserved communities.NCUA Makes 'Best Place To Work' ListALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA was ranked first among federal employees under age 40, and fourth among women, as the "best place to work" among small federal agencies, according to ratings released last week by the Partnership for Public Service. NCUA also improved its overall annual ranking from 23rd to 16th out of 35 small federal agencies. "We are especially gratified that women and young professionals, including many of our newest employees, view NCUA as a workplace where their careers can flourish," said NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz. More than 276,000 federal employees rated 14 different factors to create the composite scores and agency rankings.Astronaut Helps With LIFT OffMADISON, Wis.-Astronaut Janet Kavandi, Director of Flight Crew Operations at the Johnson Space Center, spoke to the Filene Research Institute and five partner credit unions during the launch of the i3 Project "LIFT," which provides incentives for timely loan payments. As part of the program, the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Financial Security will study automobile loans to 1,200 LMI consumers with subprime credit scores, with the results to be published in 2013.The five participating CUs are Del Norte CU, Industrial CU, Innovations CU, Public Service CU and Vermont FCU. CU Opens Community Resource CenterHILO, Hawaii-Hawaii First FCU has opened its second Community Resource Center on the Big Island, using funds from the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund and a loan from the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions to assist native communities. The new center, located next door to the a HFFCU branch, provides no-cost resources to any resident in the County of Hawaii, including financial education, credit repair, IDAs, and more.ICUF Launches Scholarship ProgrHAS ART: Moolah PDFamDES MOINES, Iowa-The Iowa Credit Union Foundation has started its 2012 Family Involvement Board Scholarship program, which will award $5,750 in scholarships to six Iowa students. Applicants must complete the entry form found on IowaCreditUnionFoundation.org.Amazing Savers Contest Winners AnnouncedSANTA ROSA, Calif.-A family who recently moved from Los Angeles so their infant son could grow up in rural Sonoma County won $10,000 in Redwood CU's inaugural Amazing Savers contest. The Jaworksis and four other families who are credit union members worked closely with financial coaches from Redwood to improve their finances by budgeting, refinancing, reducing debt and investing. Chosen from more than 100 applicants, the five teams have taken part in the reality entertainment-style contest since February and represented a range of financial situations. The other four competing families all won $1,000.Scholarship Honors FarHas art, Farver Photo.jpgver SAN ANTONIO-San Antonio Credit Union (SACU) has made a $100,000 contribution to endow a scholarship in the name of Jeff Farver, who is retiring as president of the credit union. The Jeffrey H. Farver Endowed Scholarship will benefit Alamo Colleges students. The scholarship was announced during a special dinner to honor Farver at which business colleagues, friends, local leaders and credit union leaders at both the state and national levels, including CUNA CEO Bill Cheney, were on hand.During his career Farver oversaw growth from $500 million in assets to $2.9 billion.Web Marketing Strategies ExploredMADISON, Wis.-The CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council has released a new white paper, "Online Marketing Tactics." Authored by Mark Arnold, the paper shares current technology trends. examines online marketing elements worth considering, discusses the essentials of an online marketing strategy, and more.For info: www.cunamarketingcouncil.org.

The credit union business model (is supposed to be) all about the sharing of Best Practices with other credit unions.

WORCESTER, Mass. — The nearly $600-million Webster First FCU here is absorbing via a merger Fitchburg Municipal Employees FCU.

SAN ANSELMO, Calif. — For the first time, the total deposits in FDIC-insured institutions has surpassed the $10-trillion threshold.

GWINNETT, Ga. — Gwinnett Federal Credit Union has made a $50,000 donation to the Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation Fund.

LAS VEGAS — A Clark County School District teacher here has a very nice new ride, after winning a brand new 2011 BMW 3 Series from Silver State Schools Credit Union.

WASHINGTON — Mortgage rates continue to hover just basis points above record lows, but the enticing APRs are doing little to boost home sales or refinancings.