ALEXANDRIA, Va.-The NCUA Board last week approved a 12% increase in spending for next year, with most of the increased costs dedicated to additional examiner hires to cope with growing losses among CUs.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-NCUA finally released to Corporate America CU records related to the failure of U.S. Central FCU

ANAHEIM, Calif.-The search for an "enduring system solution" to the future of corporate credit unions remains ongoing, with some clarity only now beginning to take shape, according to numerous sources interviewed by Credit Union Journal during the California/Nevada leagues' annual meeting last week.

ONTARIO, Calif.-DU Direct Corp. said it has signed three more CUs to its CU Direct Lending platform. Oklahoma Central CU, Aloha Pacific FCU and Charter Oak FCU will be integrating their back-office processing and loan origination with CUDL's platform. Two others, Sandia Laboratory FCU and Franklin Mint FCU, have also signed a partnership agreement with CUDL to implement its AutoSMART program. Those two credit unions will employ the AutoSMART program to help extend their brand and member offerings by providing members with a wide-range of online vehicle research tools, as well as access to dealers and their inventories.

MADISON, Wis.-A "disturbing trend" in CU lending is just one fallout from the recession and slow recovery, according to a new report.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.-A core system built to handle commercial accounts for credit unions is helping Consumers CU quickly process and profit from business loan participations as well as mortgage loan sales.

SANFORD, Maine-BSA compliance was out of reach for York County FCU here-the process was so "overwhelming" that some activities fell through the cracks, said Peggy Gilman, VP-operations at the $190-million CU.

NCUA Approves Pilot To Aid Healthy CUs In Acquiring Sick CUs

LATHAM, N.Y.-Sunmark FCU here can offer more through its custom mobile banking product than credit unions that buy mobile banking from a vendor, according to Ryan Hickman, new media specialist at the $400-million CU.

William Haraf, commissioner of the California Department of Financial Institutions, predicted charge-off rates at credit unions and banks will continue at an elevated rate through 2013 or even 2014.

Mutual 1st To MeridianLink's Xpress

JERICHO, N.Y.-E-mail and a competent core vendor were the only technologies that two small credit unions needed recently to ensure mergers went smoothly.

Troy Nitcher has joined the Kansas Credit Union Association, Wichita, as VP of shared financial solutions.

ANAHEIM, Calif.-Credit Union Journal asked attendees of the California and Nevada CU Leagues' Annual Meeting and Convention, "What is your growth focus for 2011?"

NASCUS Presses FTC For Exemption For State CUs

VENTURA, Calif.-Some regulatory "heaviness" was lifted off Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU) here when it turned to a third party for detailed default risk analysis on its real estate portfolio.

According to two CEOs — Shruti Miyashiro and Eric Bruen — who said they interviewed more than 20 examiners, the following are upcoming "hot topics" when exams occur ...

ANAHEIM, Calif.-Preparing for an exam from NCUA or a state regulator? You should be, even if one isn't in the near future, according to two credit unions at opposite ends of the asset size spectrum.

SDCCU Intro's 'Live Chat'

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-It's been another tough year for credit unions and the country in general, but with Thanksgiving around the corner, Credit Union Journal asked credit union leaders what they are thankful for at their credit unions this year.