LOS ALAMOS, N.M.-The cooperative nature of CUs was on display as this New Mexico town survived a six-day evacuation forced by the largest forest fire in the state's history.

DALLAS-A federal court has dismissed a bankruptcy court appeal from the developer of The Harbor at Rockwall, clearing ailing Texans CU to sell the mixed-use development it financed with a $28-million member business loan, which has grown to a $31 million debt after interest.

SAN ANTONIO-Just as the Federal Reserve's final rule on interchange came out, CUNA Board Chair Harriet May was ready to remind a certain Illinois senator of his promise.

SAN ANTONIO-Credit unions and their trade groups say their federal regulatory agency is over-reaching and "intruding."

SAN FRANCISCO-What can an airline executive teach credit union leaders? Plenty, it seems.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -Volunteer Corporate CU reported it has exceeded its $43.9 million goal for perpetual contributed capital (PPC). VolCorp said the $43.9-million goal was determined as part of its strategic plan in order to continue its current business model and not have to shrink assets, discontinue any services or raise member prices.

WARRENVILLE, Ill.-Without the emphasis on investment services within the new corporate system, John Fiore sees corporates eventually consolidating to five or six large organizations.

AUSTIN, Texas — Kerry Parker is clear about the key issue facing corporate CUs over the next few years — generating revenue.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-Shrinking the balance sheet and focusing primarily on item processing may not be a business model that helps corporates survive, and may likely lead to more consolidation.

COLUMBUS, Ohio-Having emerged from the recession in a strong capital position, Corporate One FCU believes corporates will be able to play key roles in helping natural-person credit unions reach their strategic objectives.

SAN DIMAS, Calif.-With plans to merge with Members United Bridge Corporate scuttled by NCUA, Western Bridge Corporate is moving closer to receiving its charter as a standalone CU.

SAN FRANCISCO — Visa and MasterCard have developed services for merchants to determine which cards cost more to accept — rekindling the debate over whether small banks will suffer under the Durbin amendment.

SAN FRANCISCO-NCUA has cleared the way for credit unions to prepay their corporate stabilization assessments, but they will have to follow a series of rapid-fire steps to participate in the program.

MADISON, Wis. — Lending grew at the nation's credit unions by a slight 0.4% in May, the second straight positive month for credit unionloan growth, after declining lending for the previous seven consecutive months, according to CUNA.

SAN FRANCISCO-Another sign that credit unions are getting healthy again: the median base salaries of top CU executives for 2011 are up 1% to 4% from 2010 across all asset sizes.

WASHINGTON - A group of mom-and-pop inventors, including the man who holds the patent on major Check 21 technology, is lobbying Congress in a last-ditch effort to knock a provision out of a pending patent reform bill that would re-engage the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in previously resolved patent disputes.

COLUMBIA, S.C.-Bad things happen to good people, but Carolina Collegiate FCU here is trying to make sure that if they do, they only happen once.

SAN ANTONIO-Credit Union Journal asked attendees at CUNA's America's Credit Union Conference, "What are your thoughts on NCUA's proposal to allow prepayment of corporate assessments."

SAN FRANCISCO-Credit Union Journal asked attendees at NAFCU's annual convention for their reaction to Fed's decision to set the interchange cap at 21 cents, plus an allowance for fraud costs.

CASPER, Wyo.-There may not be a way to illustrate how a positive member experience impacts growth and the bottom line, but one CEO claims that is precisely what has helped to drive her CU's growth over the past half decade.