EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Charlie Grossklaus, the well-known CEO of Royal Credit Union here has announced plans to retire on Jan. 2, 2012. Grossklaus has been with RCU for 40 years, the last 26 as CEO (just RCU's second CEO since it was founded in 1964).

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Leaders representing the 10 largest credit union systems globally have assembled a list of five "mega-trends" that are affecting credit unions. The group met as part of the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) G-10 meeting.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Time for credit unions to "take their foot off the brake" and develop strategies to compensate for a loss of debit interchange revenue.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Bill Lehman, VP of portfolio consulting for CSCU, is offering these steps for credit unions to consider to address reduction in debit interchange revenue.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — BB&T Corp. is launching a prepaid card that costs slightly more per month than some competing products — but lacks many back-end fees that have caught the ire of advocacy groups.

WASHINGTON — A new report suggests that if the Federal Reserve proceeds with its proposed cap on debit card swipe fees, banks plan to eliminate a number of free products, cut jobs and make other reductions.

SAN FRANCISCO — A new Javelin Strategy Research report forecasts a decrease of $16.4 billion annually due to both Durbin and recent modifications to Reg E, with a loss of approximately $10.8-billion in FI revenue specifically associated with proposed Durbin revisions.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Credit unions are projecting a negative effect on their bottom lines of 35 basis points due to the Durbin Amendment and resulting lost interchange income, according to NAFCU's most recent Economic & CU Issues Monitor.

WASHINGTON — The FDIC proposed a rule last week that will require borrowers to make a down payment of at least 20% on their mortgages in order for the mortgages to be exempt from new "Skin in the Game" rules on securitizations.

VISTA, Calif. — Companies that provide item processing confirm they, too, are seeing a trend by CUs to look to providers beyond corporate CUs for the service.

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — One small credit union has shared its strategy for boosting lending by more than a third.

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — The Durbin amendment will kill free checking, but debit rewards programs will survive — and flourish at credit unions — if structured properly.

WILMINGTON, N.C. — In the face of looming interchange cuts, credit unions should develop strategies to keep free checking, urged Bob Giltner.

Consumers will continue to look for ways to be smarter borrowers in 2011. Credit unions can continue to be at the forefront of helping them achieve that goal.

A new definition: "Leadership is sustained followership toward a shared vision." Why followership? What is a leader without followers!

CLEVELAND — From tips on getting started with the Federal Reserve Bank on item processing to time-savings steps in the conversion process, three experts provided advice on working with the Fed.

BETHPAGE, N.Y. — Bethpage FCU has unveiled its new Bethpage Ballpark sign on the home ballpark of the minor league Bethpage Ducks.

HOUSTON — Working directly with the Federal Reserve Bank has given JSC FCU better control of its item processing, saved money, and eliminated worry over recapitalizing the corporates.

SAN ANTONIO — Indirect lending has its fans and its critics. Count Security Service FCU among the fans.

PITTSBURGH — Citing what he sees as a broad reluctance of low-income designated CDFIs to embrace Small Dollar, Small Denomination lending (STS), Mark McCormick, CFO of ACBA FCU, and his team are undertaking a plan to reach out to a vast untapped membership market.