NEW YORK — Hamburgers, fries, and a 99-cent surcharge ATM transaction are on the menu at many McDonald's restaurants throughout New York City, generating more than $4.7 million in annual gross revenue for Actors FCU.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The reasons behind Mutual Savings CU's dramatic one-year turnaround-going from a $5.8-million loss in 2009 to a $724,000 profit last year-face Doug Key every day.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Amid widespread opposition, the NCUA Board last week voted amendments to its corporate credit union rule that eliminates the controversial provisions limiting credit unions to one corporate and encouraging corporates to assess charges for the corporate bailout on privately insured credit unions and CUSOs.

LAS VEGAS — One credit union's branch closure can sometimes be another CU's opportunity, and Honolulu-based Aloha Pacific FCU said it has found success 2,700 miles from home.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Realizing margin management is not enough anymore to drive the bottom line, First New England FCU has made changes so that 58% of its revenue is derived from non-interest income.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It is not Floyd Manley's first choice, but courtesy pay is generating $40,000 per month for Kansas City Credit Union.

WILMINGTON, N.C. — One analyst believes CUs should create a new checking account to grab a segment of consumers who are shifting to prepaid cards.

MIAMI — Financial FCU CEO Judith Brown said that her credit union is a non-interest income leader thanks to members' acceptance of limited use of the "F" word: fees.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Credit unions should not stress over adding or increasing fees when they compare their pricing to that of banks.

ST. LOUIS — No one had to tell Patrick Adams that the $193.5-million St. Louis Community Credit Union is among the top 10 CUs nationally when it comes to non-interest income as a percentage of total income.

MEMPHIS — Methodist Healthcare FCU President Kristi Vick has a special name for her CU's non-interest income strategy: "We just call it doing everyday business."

LOMBARD, Ill. — Credit unions must look at ways to limit reliance on fee income and expand investment and insurance offerings.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — At New Haven County CU, success in the realm of non-interest income comes at a price: $25.

VIENNA, Va. — When calculating the biggest losers of the Durbin amendment's cap on debit fee count among them Navy FCU, the nation's largest credit union and seventh-largest issuer of Visa debit cards.

RICHARDSON, Texas — NCUA reached into its stable of available credit union managers and hired Kay Woods, a workout specialist, to manage the conservatorship of Texans CU.

RICHMOND — First there was "American Idol." Then "Glee." And now … Virginia Credit Union?

ST. PAUL, Minn. — When it comes to advertising, many credit unions play it safe. Not Affinity Plus FCU here, which has unveiled a new TV spot that seeks to "expose" banks.

MADISON, Wis. — CUNA Mutual Group has launched a new website to share credit union insurance information on a broader scale than it has done in the past.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Counting on tellers to drive long-term income is a short-term mistake with long-term consequences, according to one person.

I am a board member of a mid-sized credit union with a net-worth ratio hovering between 7% and 8%. Our board is considering merging into a similarly sized credit union. When does it make sense to merge?