CLEVELAND-Peter H. Corrigan, long-time leader of Firefighters Community CU, has died. Corrigan opened his first account with FCCU in 1951. After 14 years with Cleveland Trust Bank, he began working part-time at the CU in 1966 when it had $2.7-million in assets, before being named the CU's first full-time manager and board treasurer in 1977. He retired in 1995, but remained Treasurer until 2008, and was also active in the Ohio CU movement.

PURCHASE, N.Y.-MasterCard Worldwide has released MasterCard MoneySend service for Blackberry smart phones. The application allows money transfers in the U.S. from person-to-person, allowing users to "Send," "Pay" or "Request Funds" by creating a virtual prepaid account through Bancorp Bank. Users can then link their existing debit or credit cards or checking account to the new virtual prepaid account.

EL PASO, Texas-Soon after venturing into the social media world, El Paso Employees FCU discovered that it was going to take more than one person to tackle the task of interacting with thousands of members. So the $284-million institution revamped its marketing department, with AVP of Marketing Tori Burton taking charge of the medium and adding social media specialist Elisa Terrazas. The CU talks about why it made the moves and dedicated one person just to social media.

DALLAS-The Texas Credit Union League has rolled out a new Facilities Assistance Program designed to provide credit unions a forum to discreetly obtain or dispose of a facility.

SAN DIMAS, Calif.-WesCorp FCU has launched a new investment tool it claims will help credit unions maximize earnings potential.

DALLAS-The rock-bottom returns available to credit unions on their investments combined with members who increasingly have become savers has CUs, corporates, and investment advisors across the country experimenting with different strategies to resolve the liquidity challenge.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-Credit unions are becoming increasingly concerned about the fledgling Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection as the federal government prepares to get the new agency up and running.

MADISON, Wis.-CUNA Mutual will expand its car insurance options in the first quarter of 2011 through a new partnership with Esurance.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.-CO-OP Financial Services is adding credit card processing to its debit card transaction processing business line.

CU CEO Compensation Falls 3.5%, Study Says

DENVER-Necessity is the mother of invention, and for Denver Community CU here, it has helped to mother a new way of producing and distributing commercials.

MADISON, Wis.-Credit union board members do a poor job of judging their own efficacy, according to a new study.

BROOKFIELD, Wis.-A new analysis of the 375 U.S. markets in the Fiserv Case-Shiller Index found that during the fourth quarter of 2009, U.S. home prices were up in 155 out of 384 metro areas, including markets in California, Ohio, Michigan and Washington.

MADISON, Wis.-Heartland CU is marking its 75th anniversary by donating more than $75,000 in cash and in-kind services to local non-profits and community events.

In a spot from Public Service Credit Union, Romulus, Mich., stop-action photography is used to show how one individual (represented by a grape) is no match for the big banks (represented by a watermelon).

SOUTHFIELD, Mich.-A new government program, coupled with the cooperation of private lenders that include scores of credit unions, is taking aim at filling the gap left by the Home Affordable Modification Program to help keep consumers in their homes.

CHARLESTON, S.C.-Credit union CFOs admit extending investment maturity to chase yield is a consideration due to earnings pressure.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-At a time when many credit unions are resigned to riding out the low-rate investment market, there remains a very real challenge in how to price both loans and deposits in a record low environment.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-Most credit unions are flush with cash right now, thanks to a confounding combination of low loan growth and rapid deposit growth. Adding to the conundrum is an investment market in which yields are lagging and returns approaching historical lows.

LOMBARD, Ill.-While CFOs told Credit Union Journal they are not going long on investments to chase yield, Raddon Financial Group fears many are, and recommends fundamental changes in how CUs do business as better alternatives to improve earnings.