AUSTIN, Texas-Businesses that want online services galore, including remote deposit and ACH, now have a second choice beyond the big banks here: Amplify Federal Credit Union.

Extreme Site Makeover

SALEM, Ore.-Oregon Employees FCU here is shedding the Microsoft mantle, opting for the "power of Google" for enterprise collaboration.

CUs Choose Symitar Solutions

SEATTLE-Fraud loss at School Employees CU here is "manageable, and significantly under the average for signature cards," after the credit union began talking with an outside risk expert.

FITCHBURG, Mass.-Mobile banking is secure, for now, according to credit unions participating in a Credit Union Journal mobile banking security roundtable. But that could change as CUs expand mobile banking capabilities — and if members become careless.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.-The ATM fraudsters who stole about $50,000 from TruWest Credit Union here last winter were "pretty clever."

LAWRENCE, Mass.-Prospects looked bleak when the core system crashed one day last year at Merrimack Valley FCU. But then they called on Westbrook, Maine-based credit union service provider Synergent Technology Services.

CHARLESTON, W.V.-Members use Square to make and receive payments at WV United FCU, and they "Skype" with employees, part of a history of technological innovation and playfulness at the $25-million CU.

NCUA RAISES OBJECTIONS

A story on the Credit Union Journal Web site (CUJournal.com) says a lot about the state of public discourse and it reveals a weakness in credit union advertising and leadership. It is one more example of polarity. The polarization in politics, in world affairs and in bank-credit union relations makes it much more difficult to solve problems and make this a better world.

ASI Announces New Premium

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-It's not easy to make the freshest news and best reporting in credit unions even fresher and better, but Credit Union Journal has just done that.

Last week, a group of credit unions found themselves face to face with a bunch of good people, stoic as they were, who are greatly uncertain of what lies ahead for them or where they might turn. And this is the tough part: there wasn't and isn't a whole lot that credit unions could or can do for them.

A brief review of the so-called "intermediate sanctions" rules and a refresher on the simple process that tax-exempt employers should follow.

Lifting the member business lending cap does not just benefit credit unions and their millions of members. It represents a positive, productive step that would go a long way to paving the way for small businesses to flourish and put many Americans back to work while not costing taxpayers one cent.

BROOKFIELD, Wis. – Fiserv said it will begin personalizing chip payment cards based on the Europay MasterCard Visa EMV standard.

SEATTLE – Puget Sound CU said it signed with eDOC Innovations to implement the company’s CheckLogic Branch Capture solution with forward collection direct to the Federal Reserve.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Insight CU has signed with FI-MOBILE to implement the company’s UniFI mobile app solution.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – SESLOC FCU announced Friday that its CEO Bertha Foxford is retiring after 48 years with the credit union and will be succeeded as head of the $530 million institution by Geri LaChance, chief operating officer at North Island CU in nearby San Diego.