HIGHTSTOWN, N.J.-The New Jersey Credit Union League and the New Jersey CU Foundation reported the state's credit unions have now provided Reality Fairs for six high schools in the state, with some 825 students having attended. The fairs, which are designed to be interactive financial literacy tools, are being underwritten by a grant from the National Credit Union Foundation's REAL Solutions program. One school even asked that the Reality Fair be repeated so that the entire freshman class could participate.

ONTARIO, Calif.-Seven credit unions were recognized by FSCC (Financial Service Centers Cooperative, Inc.) for their individual contributions to shared branching in 2010.

MANSFIELD, Ohio-The $7.8-million GROhio Community CU expects to generate 75 basis points ROA this year after assessments, and it is crediting much of that to collaboration.

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.-The limited supply of Japanese vehicles that's affecting car prices and incentives demands credit unions pay close attention to the auto loan market and be ready to move if opportunities arise.

WALL, N.J.-First Financial FCU here has launched Jersey First Auto Connection, a turn-key CUSO designed to help credit unions across the state expand their indirect auto lending portfolios.

LAS VEGAS-As is the case with any start-up business, launching a CUSO is rife with challenges-including many that cannot be foreseen when the idea is being jotted down on a cocktail napkin.

MADISON, Wis.-Heartland CU here wrapped up its "Go Local" campaign by awarding $10,000 to a non-profit organization selected by members of the community the credit union serves.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.-The Marketing Association of Credit Unions has released its 2011 Salary Survey and found that most CU marketing employees are happy with their jobs, even if they are making less than they were five years ago.

Debit Interchange Insights Shared

WASHINGTON-The schizophrenic relationship between credit unions and banks was on display last week with the two sides lobbying members of the House hand in hand to roll back parts of last year's Wall Street reform bill-while simultaneously bashing each other before the Senate over the proposed increase in member business loans for credit unions.

Landmark Member Wins $25K TurboTax Sweepstakes

Go Green Sweepstakes Nears End

LIVONIA, Mich.-Not all state legislatures and regulators have been content to let the federal government push through new debit interchange rules established by the Durbin amendment.

DALLAS-More than 10 states recently made legislative and/or regulatory changes related to real estate loans and foreclosures, according to MRG Document Technologies, which regularly tracks such compliance changes.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Average 30-year fixed mortgage rates fell to 4.71%, the lowest level in over six months, according to the LendingTree Weekly Mortgage Rate Pulse.

WASHINGTON-A drop in mortgage lending volumes to the lowest level in over a decade is forcing lenders to consider new cost cuts and staff reductions.

SAN ANSELMO, Calif.-A new analysis suggests that the current landscape of business deposits is likely to change as a result of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and in particular, Section 627, which repeals Section 19(i) of the Federal Reserve Act.

WASHINGTON-NCUA Deputy Director Larry Fazio said last week that the agency is continuing to review credit union interest in its proposal to allow credit unions to prepay some of their corporate credit union stabilization fund assessments, and added that whether a credit union chooses to participate or not will not be an issue during examinations.

DENVER-A new study has found that 59% of parents are still financially supporting adult children when they are no longer in school.

NEW YORK-NerdWallet, which bills itself as the "first .org credit card search site," has expanded its card search tool to include credit unions. The site had previously included 500 bank issuers of cards, and has now added cards from 1,200 credit unions.