BATON ROUGE, La.-A single mom is taking her kids to soccer practice and a middle-aged man has a job thanks to Neighbors FCU.

WAYNESVILLE, N.C-Champion CU learned that giving away cash certainly attracts people to a branch grand opening-1,200 residents in one day.

Credit Union Journal is now accepting participants for one of its most popular annual traditions: A Day In The Life of Credit Unions.

SYLVANIA, Ohio-Thinking it's time to have a little fun-at the banks' expense-Directions CU has turned to three humorous TV commercials that have attracted young members and raised the credit union's name awareness.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.-Kinecta Federal Credit Union and NuVision FCU last week announced plans to merge and create a $4.6 billion credit union serving 300,000 members throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties. It would retain the Kinecta FCU name.

VISTA, Calif.-The landmark opportunity for credit unions to gain share from banks--and concerns over the future of the corporate system-are providing opportunities for Bluepoint Solutions as the second half of the year approaches.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The R&D dollars being spent by credit union suppliers offer a look back at trends from the first half of 2010 and insights into what the second half of the year--and beyond--might hold. In this issue Credit Union Journal offers readers a look-ahead at what Q3 and Q4 might hold for CUs, plus strategies for meeting challenges.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.-Much of the R&D at CO-OP Financial Services is being directed toward image-deposit services.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-With second-half revenue streams threatened by Reg E and proposed interchange legislation, CU24 is developing programs to persuade members to use their ATM card more.

ONTARIO, Calif.-Credit unions may have become more risk averse than banks when it comes to auto lending, observed one vendor that is helping CUs plan for a careful expansion of car lending portfolios in the second half of the year.

ATLANTA-Credit unions have seen a membership surge in the first half of 2010-now one company is offering a strategy to retain them in the second half-and beyond.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.-What do new Reg E and interchange rules portend?

BROOKFIELD, Wis.-Credit unions appear ready to step up again with investment in technology to meet strategic goals-including meeting a projecting increase in self-service.

PLEASANTON, Calif.-A credit union's ability to address five key business drivers will separate the successful from those that can't compete in the coming years, according to Harland Financial Solutions.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-From PSCU Financial Service's perspective, the coming year is about CUs saving money and gaining efficiencies to deal with revenue threats-but it's also about taking advantage of growth opportunity.

SAN ANTONIO-One of the best ways credit unions can offset decreasing revenue projections for Q3 and Q4 of 2010 is to increase cross sales of non-core products.

MCLEAN, Va.-SAGE Payment Solutions is putting R&D dollars toward technology that will allow credit unions to compete with big banks on payment processing.

SAN DIEGO-For nearly all CUs the second-half forecast will look similar to the first half's: find ways to reduce operating expenses and improve efficiency ratios by evaluating their IT systems.

SAN DIEGO-Despite tight budgets, credit unions will be opening purse strings for new core systems and considering outsourcing in Q3 and Q4.

DES MOINES, Iowa-Count The Members Group among those that believe the economy has presented CUs with more opportunities than problems for the second half of 2010, and is devising solutions to help credit unions capitalize.