PLYMOUTH, Minn.-A credit union can certainly invest in the most sophisticated of tools to drive deeper relationships and cross sales. But what really makes the branch environment work remains hiring the right employees.

AUSTIN, Texas-Effective branch managers today aren't in the trenches. They focus less on day-to-day activities and more on doing what needs to be done to run the branch as its own book of business.

ENGLEWOOD, Ohio-When marketing tactics or even rates aren't enough in a tough lending environment, sometimes extra effort from branch staff does the job.

The seven CUs that comprise Yakima County Credit Unions, Yakima, Wash., held a special event to assemble backpacks and school supplies for 5,000 area students.

NCUA Presses Congress To

WASHINGTON-With optimism waning, hundreds of credit union executives and directors hit Capitol Hill again last week, pushing to finally move the bill to raise the limit on member business loans that has been before Congress for a decade or more.

MADISON, Wis.-America (or at least its credit unions) has voted on Idea Idol, and the winner is HomeTrak.

WASHINGTON-NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz proposed several regulatory measures last week, including new rules on loan participations that would require originators to retain some of the loans they participate out.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.-CO-OP Financial Services and Financial Service Centers Cooperative (FSCC) have entered into an agreement to combine operations and unify the two dominant credit union shared branch networks.

ARVADA, Colo.-Sooper CU here has found some success selling mortgages to Gen Y members.

WASHINGTON-Credit union executives and directors are broadly dubious of the NCUA initiative Chairman Debbie Matz says reduces regulation.

Spire FCU Selects Member Loyalty

CALRKSVILLE, Tenn.-Fort Campbell FCU says it has increased overdraft revenue and member service by using an automated tool that sets overdraft limits and adjusts them as members' behaviors change.

Tommy Cobb, CEO of the $50-million Tuscaloosa FCU; Jeff Disterhoft, CEO of the $1.3-billion University of Iowa Community CU; Dale Verderano, CEO of the $128-million Matadors Community CU; Cecilia Homison, CEO of $340-million Florida Commerce CU; Ron Summerall, CEO of the $210-million Alabama Teachers CU.

During NASCUS' annual meeting in Chicago, Credit Union Journal asked: What is your relationship with your state regulator and are there any places where you disagree?

NEW YORK-A "Credit Union Foreclosure Intervention Toolkit" has been released by the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions.

WASHINGTON-While many credit union CEOs are expressing concerns with NCUA's new Regulatory Modernization Initiative, CUNA and NAFCU are indicating support for the program, but said they want to carefully work with the agency as the effort takes shape.

Three State Pages Are Released

LAKE BLUFF, Ill.-After falling for six straight quarters, overdraft revenue for banks and credit unions is rising again, and one economist predicts credit unions will have a record year for overdraft income.

Although financial institutions have been developing and implementing Anti-Money Laundering programs for at least a decade, many still seek to develop more effective practices for identifying and minimizing risk.