FAIRFAX, Va.-Credit Union Mortgage Association (CUMA) has closed its first HarmonyLoan, a mortgage that allows consumers to reset their interest rate with the click of a mouse, foregoing additional closing costs and lengthy processing.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. and LANSING, Mich.-The Michigan and Illinois CU leagues have entered into a strategic alliance to expand collaboration opportunities for both the trade associations and their business units.

MASSENA, N.Y.-The same, simple business philosophy in place 38-years ago, when 10 GM workers each threw $5 into a toolbox to form what would eventually become SeaComm FCU, is behind SFCU's outstanding performance today.

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.-In upstate New York, CU auto leasing made a comeback in the fourth quarter, according to one vendor who predicts leasing will be stronger in 2011.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-Credit unions should prepare in 2011 for continued marketshare growth in mortgages, regardless of where rates go, according to one analyst.

PEORIA, Ill.-This year should offer opportunities for credit unions to make money in subprime auto lending, according to Keith Reynolds.

LOWELL, Mass. - Local credit unions and banks are leveraging federal stimulus money to create an $8 million fund to provide energy-efficient retrofitting to historic buildings in this historic mill town.

ALM First's Institute is Back

DALLAS - Those select employee groups (SEGs) credit unions have been so eager to shed as they expand to community charters have started to look pretty enticing-to banks.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-JM Associates FCU has introduced a smart-chip payment system it expects will pay several dividends.

BILL CALLS FOR GAO TO REVIEW NCUA, TAXPAYERS' TAB

COLUMBUS-A man with a remarkable voice who has been living on the streets here and who became a viral Internet sensation last week has had his fortunes reversed-and Ohio credit unions are playing a role.

Industry's Net Worth Up Just A Bit

A few months ago at the California and Nevada league's annual meeting at Disneyland, keynoter William Taylor was giving such a good presentation he managed to pull off two great big ironies without anyone in the audience even noticing.

NCUA's enhanced supervision program is designed to ensure that the credit union industry will get through these tough times stronger and more resilient. Unfortunately, some credit unions will not make it through. But our goal is to keep the costs of resolving those failing CUs as low as possible.

For those within credit unions who are charged with driving growth and expansion, there are plenty of concerns ahead, but also opportunities. So here is my Top 7 in 2011 List of challenges and ways to meet them.

While I do agree that it is not usually productive for employees to compete for rewards, I also am confident that executive incentive plans, with appropriate and relevant performance linkages, can be very effective reward systems that keep the executives' eyes on the target.

What was that saying in France by the queen? "Let them eat cake?" With this mindset coming from the NCUA it would be, in my opinion, asking for trouble to be critical of the NCUA and then sign your name to it.

Why should NCUA change their position on anything if our own political water boys are painting the pigskin with lipstick and keeping CEOs reasonably calm?

TUCSON, Ariz. – A 71-year-old woman and her daughter were arrested Friday on suspicion of robbing Tucson FCU and a local bank last summer.