FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Framingham Municipal FCU is eliminating checking and Internet banking fees and changing its name to Metro-West Community FCU as part of a rebranding around its expanded field of membership serving almost 700,000 residents in communities west of Boston.

HARRISBURG, Penn. – Pennsylvania State Employees CU last week got the go ahead to build its new 235,500-square-foot headquarters in nearby Susquehanna Township.

WEST JORDAN, Utah – Mountain America CU has signed with Bluepoint Solutions to implement the company’s QwikDeposit ToGo as its mobile remote deposit capture platform.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama Central CU is suing CUNA Mutual’s CUMIS Insurance Society unit over a $3 million loss caused by improper lending by one of its former executives.

WASHINGTON – Regulators closed banks in California, Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan Friday, making a total of 18 bank failures so far in 2011.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA has rejected ongoing plans to combine two or more of the four failed corporate credit unions – surviving now as so-called bridge corporates – to create a single entity with a nationwide reach.

WASHINGTON – Traditional enemies credit unions and banks will mount a joint lobbying campaign this week as Congress weighs their pleas to save the lucrative revenues they earn from debit cards.

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MADISON, Wis. — When credit unions charge a fee to a consumer using a non-credit union ATM network card or debit card, here's what section 205.16 of Regulation E requires.

ROMULUS, Mich. — Browser privacy tools and recent FTC recommendations may threaten targeted marketing at credit unions. Credit Union Journal asked credit unions if members should be encouraged to use "Do Not Track" tools when browsing the Web.

For those credit unions moving forward with a charter conversion, their strategy is simple and compelling: Escape while you can.

ANTI-CONVERSION CONVERSION REALITY The slowdown in conversions in the past few years implies that conversion to a bank is no longer a strategic option being considered. The reasons to convert to a bank charter are still valid. What's more, they are amplified by current economic conditions and the problems plaguing the credit union industry. The economic meltdown of 2007-09 slowed all financial transactions such as mergers, IPOs, private equity capital issuance, and new bank organizations. During 2010, deals started to happen again. Conversions to the bank charter will also resume.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Personal financial management (PFM) just got profitable-and portable-at Unitus Community Credit Union here, as members pay $2 per month to use the online and mobile money-management tool.

ROSEVILLE, Mich. — Members are using Microsoft privacy tools to block credit unions from tracking them at the virtual branch and across the web, causing some e-commerce executives to rethink website and advertising strategy.

LATHAM, N.Y. — Boasting an unrivaled 45% of online banking members using mobile banking, Sunmark FCU here is well positioned to capture the mobile payments flag.

JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas FCU here is the only financial institution in the state offering remote deposits to consumers, and the technology is giving the CU wiggle room to compete under slim margins.

NORTH HIGHLANDS, Calif. — SAFE CU here slashed about 25% from online banking costs after bringing in a consultant to call the technology vendor's bluff.

YORKTOWN, Va. — Members calling into 1st Advantage FCU here used to wait an average of five minutes on hold until an agent picked up the call. At least 10% of them would give up.

Continually educating customers on the benefits of electronic billing solutions and increasing the adoption of online payment plays a large role in improving cash flow, ROI, and is a source for adding value.