KANSAS CITY, Mo. – CommunityAmerica CU has committed $5 million in private financing for street light retrofits, under a federal program that will install energy efficient street lights in 20 area communities.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Auditors for NCUA criticized the federal regulator yesterday for its financial reporting documenting the corporate bailout, which resulted in a year-long delay in completion of the agency’s 2008 financial audit.

MADISON, Wis. – Royal CU said it expects to open the 11 branches it is acquiring from troubled Anchor Bank as credit union branches by the end of the month.

WASHINGTON – The Treasury Department reported yesterday that the federal government, the nation’s biggest purveyor of credit and debit cards, would be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the interchange amendment to the bank bill, saving taxpayers as much as $40 million a year.

WASHINGTON – The chief Senate sponsor of the bank bill amendment that would create federal oversight of debit card interchange is expected to continue his campaign to open the market for credit card interchange to greater competition.

LANSING, Mich.-Credit unions are doing anything but taking the summer off when it comes to advertising, especially on the airwaves.

SHREVEPORT, La.--To fill a void created by financials that have backed away from small-to-medium size business loans in this state, and to gain economies of scale, seven Louisiana credit unions have formed a business lending CUSO.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-CU Journal is accepting nominations for its 2010 Best Practices Awards. We've deliberately made it very easy to enter. Nominations may be submitted by credit unions themselves, a CUSO, a trade association and suppliers to the CU community that have clients they believe exemplify the best practice in implementing a particular product or service. Go to www.cujournal.com for details.

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.-Credit unions scrambling to fill the income void being created by the CARD Act's limits on overdraft fees should look to deposit-based payment products, according to one analyst.

CEO STEPS DOWN DURING PROBE

SEATTLE - A short film documenting last September's "Kites Over Washington" viral ad featuring 131 man-sized kites representing each of the state's credit unions won a regional Emmy award in the special event category.

June

DENVER-The CU Association of Colorado has identified the five members of a search committee that will find a replacement for former president and CEO John Dill, who stepped down May 24.

WESTBURY, N.Y.-The key to satisfying the changing consumer is to stay in constant contact and provide an online experience that mimics a branch but with greater convenience.

CALABASAS, Calif.-To effectively use online banking, credit unions must also be flexible and adapt to constantly evolving consumers who are demanding more and more out of their financial institutions.

SAN DIEGO-Credit unions have plunged into social media, but many lack any strategic plan to do so effectively, according to several analysts.

GLASTONBURY, Conn.-It is critical to reach out to the next generation online, as they are nearly four times more likely to solicit financial advice from a social networking site or a blog compared to the national average, according to a 2009 Raddon Financial Group study.

SHREVEPORT, La.-To help address risk, BAFS has hired a Seattle firm experienced with business lending to train all of the seven credit unions' MBL committee members, 35 in total.

PANAMA CITY, Fla.-Innovations CU has been taking a page from its namesake, promoting itself with a pair of "flash mobs" designed to get the attention of Generation Y.

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.-The pending CARD Act is a nuisance, acknowledges one analyst. But it's also something else: "An opportunity for credit unions to drive a truck through."