SAN ANTONIO-People might think they know what motivates them, but a scientific examination of workplace dynamics reveals several surprises.

HELENA, Mont.-After an aggressive public awareness campaign in the latter half of 2010, a dozen CUs across Montana reported a 24% increase in small loans made during Q3 and a subsequent 26% increase in Q4.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-Alabama Telco CU here has seen significant increases in product sales and membership applications following the launch of a "Rate Your Rates Challenge."

MASSENA, N.Y.-SeaComm FCU is taking members back to the '60s-when people drove VW vans and spent 31 cents a gallon on gas.

WASHINGTON-The financial picture is improving a bit for some of the biggest credit card issuers.

ATLANTA-Credit unions still unsure whether or not to invest in social networking may find some direction in a new study. According to SYNERGISTICS Research, cardholders are beginning to connect with credit card issuers via social networks.

WASHINGTON-Credit unions considering private student lending should first determine if they have the staff, expertise, and risk tolerance to make the move-or work with a partner.

DETROIT-For members of Detroit Metropolitan CU, there's nothing like Easy Money.

WOODBRIDGE, Va.-Belvoir FCU here has instituted Loan Saver, a web-based tool to help prospective borrowers see how much they can save with a loan at BFCU.

Your article "Banks, CUs Join to Stamp Out Check 21 Patent Troll" dated June 27 discussed "patent trolls" and "meritless patent lawsuits brought by non-practicing entities looking for deep pockets and easy money." You referred to a patent infringement suit recently filed in Delaware by Serverside Group Limited & Serverside Graphics, Inc. Readers may come away with the false impression that the Serverside plaintiffs are "patent trolls" and/or "non-practicing entities."

During NAFCU's annual meeting in San Francisco last week there was some discussion about how long NCUA could hold out before it's swept up into the FDIC. Implicit in that scenario seems to be an assumption that the FDIC has its act together, while CUs see their regulator as just not up to the job.

COLLEGE PARK, Md.-An extensive new study from an unlikely source asserts that credit unions and banks aren't on a level playing field when it comes to capital requirements and Prompt Corrective Action.

SAN FRANCISCO-NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz last week compared the work done over the past year by NCUA with a massive overhaul project currently underway on the Golden Gate Bridge.

TALLAHASSEE-The League of Southeastern Credit Unions-which serves Alabama and Florida-is launching an image campaign that addresses a challenge in both states-credit unions don't have an image.

LOS ANGELES-Lawyers for NCUA told a federal judge here that the federal agency's June 20 suits against JP Morgan and RBS Securities should not exonerate officers and directors of WesCorp FCU in the 2009 failure of the one-time $34-billion corporate.

MADISON, Wis.-Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has signed into law a budget bill that includes a controversial provision on credit union charter conversions that was fought fiercely by the Wisconsin Credit Union League.

LAS VEGAS-It's a job some wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole, but Andrew Hunter is coming out of retirement and moving from the Golden State to the Silver State to take it: CEO of troubled Silver State Schools CU.

LAKE JACKSON, Texas-Bucking a growing trend by financial institutions to add checking fees due to expected interchange cuts, TDECU is giving away $1,000 a day for a year to attract consumers to its free checking account.

LOMBARD, Ill.-Don't be so sure consumers will flock to the credit union if it maintains free checking even as other providers add new fees, one person is cautioning.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.-While many credit union execs took some solace in the fact the Fed raised the proposed interchange cap, a majority of those interviewed by Credit Union Journal remain concerned that the two-tiered system will not work.