COMPTON, Calif.-The two concepts don't naturally go together: a low-income neighborhood and business lending.

PACOIMA, Calif.-Despite sometimes feeling pressured by regulators and a difficult economy, Pacoima Development FCU continues its slow but steady growth.

COVINA, Calif.-John Meeks does not want to offer excuses, he wants to offer his members the services they expect.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.-One common refrain is credit unions are the best-kept secret in the financial services world, and that's exactly where $32.6-million SLO Credit Union was before Suzanne Leedale took over as CEO in January 2008.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.--Up the Pacific Coast Highway in San Luis Obispo, CEO Suzanne Leedale said $32.6-million SLO Credit Union, said it has found success by stressing differentiation.

LAS VEGAS-Stage Employees Credit Union is fighting hard to stay alive as it nears its 50th birthday.

LAS VEGAS-If small credit unions did not have the same regulations imposed on them as large credit unions and banks, they would have a better chance to survive.

DOWNEY, Calif.-Every week the NCUA or the state regulator release the names of another two, three or four small credit unions that have held their last board meeting, having been merged into a larger credit union or liquidated altogether.

PETERBOROUGH, N.H.-Through the middle of 2011, five credit unions with card programs with balances of $1 million or more sold those portfolios. Four of those sales came in Q2, according to analysis from TRK Advisors.

Consumer Trust In FIsContinues its DeclineCHICAGO-A new poll of Americans shows trust in financial institutions continues to slide, but credit unions were ranked highest in trust among all financial institutions. The Chicago Booth/Kellogg School Financial Trust Index, released released last week, found nearly 60% of consumers said they are angry or very angry about the current economic situation, which is the highest level of dissatisfaction recorded since the financial markets began collapsing. Overall, trust in banks declined to 33% from 39% in June. Credit unions received the highest trust score-56%, just ahead of local banks at 55%. National banks and those banks in which the government has a stake were rated at 26% and 22% respectively.ORNL FCU Lays Off 19In Cost-Cutting MoveOAK RIDGE, Tenn.-ORNL FCU announced last week it had laid off 19 employees in a cost-cutting move. Officials with the $1.3-billion credit union said this was an economic decision and employees were offered severance and resources to help find other work. The jobs eliminated were mostly corporate level jobs and no branches will be closed, the credit union said.ORNL reported a $1.4 million net for the first six months of the year and a $10.6 million net for 2010.1st Advantage Marking 60thWith Giveaway of $60,000YORKTOWN, Va.-In celebration of its 60th anniversary, 1st Advantage FCU is contributing a total of $60,000 to six local organizations that make a difference in the community. The recipients are: Habitat for Humanity Peninsula, Operation Homefront Hampton Roads, Relay for Life, The Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula, The Fisher House Foundation (Richmond Fisher House), and Boys and Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula.Members of the credit union helped vote on their favorite organization to decide how the $60,000 would be divided amongst the organizations.Periera Named CEO At RCUEAU CLAIRE, Wis.-Royal CU has named Rudy Periera, SVP at Alliant Credit Union in Chicago, as its new CEO. Periera will succeed Charles Grossklaus, who is retiring after 40 years with the $1.1-billion RCU, the last 27 as CEO. Pereira is a 25-year veteran of credit unions. Man Steals Cop's IdentityNEW PORT RICHEY, Fla.-A man has been charged here with stealing the identity of a Texas police officer and using it to take out a car loan at Achieva CU, according to police. Police said Sergio Esquivel used the victim's name, date of birth and Social Security number to open up an account at the credit union, then used the account to buy a 2008 Toyota Rav 4 from a New Port Richey dealership.The victim said his identification and Social Security card were stolen from his car more than a decade ago.Detectives say Esquivel's wife told them she had been married to him for six years, but she knew him only by the fraudulent name.$10K Offered As Grand PrizeNASHUA, N.H. - Triangle CU members who download one of TCU's mobile device services will be entered to win a $10,000 grand prize or one of five $1,000 prizes. The winner will be notified in January. The $475-million credit union is now offering free, secure web mobile and text banking to Android and iPhone owners.Hicks To Perform At GAChave mug shot of Hicks WASHINGTON-Tayor Hicks, who won the fifth season of American Idol, will perform as the opening concert at CUNA's 2012 GAC. The event is sponsored by the CUNA Councils. Hicks will perform on Sunday night, March 18, at 8:30 p.m. after the grand opening of the Exhibit Hall.GTE FCU In Data Center DealTAMPA, Fla.-GTE FCU has entered into a strategic arrangement with Physicians Independent Management Services, a nationwide medical billing service, to allow PIMS to utilize GTE's state-of-the-art data center for secure patient record keeping in the event of a disaster. The partnership will bring a new level of security to PIMS' clients, the two parties said. The data center, which is contained within a Homeland Security-protected building, serves as the disaster recovery site for a government municipality and other credit unions across the state of Florida. Fed by two separate power grids, the site also is powered with two 1,000 megawatt generators, 6,000 gallons of fuel, and first access to fuel in the event of a disaster.PIMS' disaster recovery initiative is aimed at ensuring physician clients are compliant with both the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and with the recently enacted Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Carolina Postal CU is giving members a "Dime Every Time" they swipe their debit card over 12 times a month, significantly increasing signature debit transaction volume and revenue.

ATLANTA-As Delta Community CU here holds its second annual "Switch Day," it's getting a big boost from the big banks.

WASHINGTON-The recent announcement by Bank of America that it will implement a $5 monthly fee to use its debit cards has prompted a renewed effort in Congress to repeal the Durbin Amendment, which sets caps on debit fees for large banks such as BofA.

It's nearly Halloween, so it seems a fitting time to mention a ghoulish story from the Golden State: the plan by Technology Credit Union to convert to a bank.

The University of Southern California Credit Union's experience is a textbook case study of creating value and differentiation with private student loans.

The recent public exchange between the Wisconsin Bankers Association and the Wisconsin Credit Union League over member business lending sounds a lot like what has been going on in our nation's capital for months. A stalemate between two parties who argue they can do it better, yet no one gets the job done.

CHAMBERSBURG, Penn. – A Maryland couple last week was indicted for their alleged roles in robbing more than $50,000 from four credit unions in south-central Pennsylvania and are believed to have committed at least three other credit union heists.

GROTON, Conn. – Charter Oak FCU has awarded Norwich-based Martin House and Thames River Community Service organizations with $7,500 in grant funding to support housing and employment-placement programs for formerly homeless individuals.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – CommonWealth One FCU is promoting rates as low as 2.99% on its “Turbo Charged Auto Loans” and the ability of borrowers to delay their first payment for up to 90 days on new cars and trucks.

EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Employees FCU, the city’s fourth-largest credit union, will grow with a new name starting Jan. 1, Evolve CU.