WASHINGTON-Credit union lending has all but dried up, even with interest rates plunging to new lows, leaving new challenges for credit unions to attract borrowers.

FNC Addresses Appraisal Guidelines

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark.-The only way many small CUs will generate enough ROA to stay in business is to increase unrelated business income, according to one small credit union CEO.

PHOENIX, Ariz.-As the housing market continues to struggle, credit unions remain focused on avoiding defaults through various loan modification efforts.

PORTLAND, Ore.-OnPoint Community is crediting several new TV spots for boosting awareness it is also a mortgage lender.

CFE FCU, Lake Mary, Fla., appointed Mary Lynn Williams as chairman of the board and tapped Cary D'Ortona to its supervisory committee.

ATLANTA-Credit unions seeking a larger foothold in mortgage lending have by necessity also had to turn to third-parties to play a larger role.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y.-Flush with cash, Sunmark FCU here recently introduced a new product it hopes will provide steady returns while allowing borrowers throughout the capital region to use home equity to secure a 3.99% loan.

MEQUON, Wis.-Get ready for a surge of online competition in mortgage lending. A survey of 330 financial institutions conducted earlier this year showed that while only 18% of all FIs are using "smart" online mortgage application technology and 39% do not even provide PDF or HTML application forms, 71% of the institutions surveyed expect to provide advanced real estate lending platforms in the future. Banks and credit unions expect mortgage volume through their online channels to grow by a combined 157% in just three years.

WASHINGTON-The credit union trade groups have moved quickly in response to a small provision within a new report that examines the federal revenue implications from eliminating the credit union tax exemption.

CU LOBBY SEEKS WITHDRAWAL OF GOLDEN PARACHUTE REG

Deadline Approaches For NAFCU MDI

Let's be honest. By now, you'd think that faxing would be dead, a victim of all those killer apps, such as e-mail, texting and IM, that came after it. You would expect that the only place you'd see a fax or hear the screech of a fax transmission would be in a movie from the '80s, or at an exhibit at the Smithsonian. But you would be wrong.

What few in credit unions ever seem to notice is that they are as much a part of the employers-reluctant-to-hire picture as everyone else.

"Hey diddle, diddle" to the seven Western natural-person credit unions that got the lawsuit against WesCorp started in November 2009, naming the officers and directors, but clearly targeting NCUA in their complaint.

It is time to clean house so credit unions can move on. What makes some of these executives believe they are above this problem?

SAN DIEGO – USA FCU, the one-time $710 million credit union chartered to serve the area’s Navy personnel that has been severally wounded by the region’s real estate bust, announced it has agreed to be merged into Navy FCU, one of several bidders for the ailing institution.

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

STATESBORO, Ga. – A teller at Geovista CU arrested last week after police learned he was involved in Tuesday’s armed holdup at the credit union, one of two local credit unions robberies last week that police believe are connected.

DEARBORN, Mich. – DFCU Financial CU has funded the renovations of the playground at Kendon Elementary School in Lansing with a $10,000 donation.