SAN DIEGO — Just 24 hours before kickoff, the field where the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl was to be played was more suitable for water polo than football, as flooding rains left approximately three feet of water on the floor of Qualcomm Stadium.

VACAVILLE, Calif. — The "Sand States" continue to lag behind the rest of the United States, meaning the credit unions in those markets will be more impacted by loss of income due to regulations than others.

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — One set of numbers the recession hasn't depressed? Regulations. The resulting compliance demands are only expected to grow in 2011.

SAN DIEGO — Showing how the credit union saves members money and turning members into CU evangelists will be among the top marketing tactics in 2011.

HAMPDEN, Maine — In 2011 it appears unlikely credit unions will be doing much hiring.

BAXTER, Minn. — With so many things beyond their control-NCUA assessments, increasing regulatory burden, interest rates and others-CFOs will continue to turn in 2011 to one of the few things they can control: costs.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The HR challenge for 2011? Ensuring employees are "engaged" and as productive as possible rather than just being happy to have a job.

NEW YORK — Cliff Rosenthal is hopeful that 2011will be a year in which NCUA examiners gain a better understanding of the unique operating characteristics of low-income and community development credit unions.

LAKE BLUFF, Ill. — According to one economist, CUs must do three things to grow and protect the bottom line: Put in place strong IRA and Keogh programs, price money market deposit accounts against money market mutual funds, and streamline checking offerings, including hanging onto a free account.

ARLINGTON, Va. — With all eyes on the massive federal deficit and Congress' struggle to put a real dent in it, NAFCU has made protecting the CU tax exemption its top priority for 2011.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Examination and compliance issues related to the SAFE Act, Dodd-Frank Act and others are at the top of NASCUS' priorities for 2011.

WASHINGTON — Credit union access to supplemental capital is going to be the No. 1 priority for CUNA in 2011.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — This year "weak" corporates will merge out and in 2012 those relying on providing pass-through services will fall by the wayside.

HARRISBURG, Penn. — The threat of a 70% reduction in debit interchange in 2011 has credit union CEOs already formulating plans to make up for lost revenue if in the proposed new interchange rules take effect.

HOUSTON — Unprecedented revenue pressure from increasing regulation will eliminate free checking at many credit unions this year. However, CUs should not charge a fee without giving members something extra in return.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A number of industry analysts are predicting that 2011 will finally be the year in which a large number of credit unions pull the plug on free checking.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As banks move quickly to add fees to recoup projected losses in debit interchange, industry analysts are mixed on how CUs will react.

LOMBARD, Ill. — A negative statistic will lead to more positive results for credit unions in 2011.

WASHINGTON — With a continued slow recovery and no signs of a bounce-back in lending, credit unions' number one job in 2011 will be to find ways to gain greater share of their current members' loan business.

SYDNEY, Australia — In what may offer a preview of what is to come in the U.S., the Australian payments industry expects to reduce card fraud losses through a continuing migration to chip technology on payment cards, but fraud losses are rising during the transition period.