LAKE BLUFF, Ill.-The July 1 and Aug. 15 Reg. E deadlines for consumers to opt-in to overdraft protection services are huge marketing opportunities for credit unions, one person is stressing.

ATLANTA-Dual chartering must be preserved to prevent the homogenization of corporate credit unions one state regulator says, and the current language in NCUA's proposed rule could jeopardize the system, one regulator is stressing.

TOPKEA, Kan.-The proposed rule to reform the corporate system is a bit too one-size-fits-all for some state supervisors.

SEC: 'Skin In The Game' Required For MBSs

LANSING, Mich.-Chrysler has again suspended its participation in Invest in America's Affiliate Rewards Program, meaning that credit union members will no longer be eligible for special discounts on Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep vehicles.

SAN ANSELMO, Calif.-A new analysis from Market Rates Insight suggests the tax on the wholesale funding of "big banks" proposed by the Obama administration will increase the cost of funds for all other financial institutions.

GRAPEVINE, Texas-Texas CUs have approved a plan to shrink the league board to 12 members, a move it projects will save at least $50,000 annually. The vote came during the league's annual meeting here.

FORT MYERS, Fla.-NCUA has entered the local real estate market here in a big way as it struggles to sell hundreds of properties it ended up holding from three large credit union failures: Norlarco FCU, Huron River Area FCU and New Horizons Community FCU.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-Pending regulations and a new economic environment will force many corporate credit unions to change their business models. With so-called "legacy assets" still clogging the ledgers of many institutions, the future of the corporate credit unions is still uncertain.

In at least one instance credit unions are finding themselves being lumped in with banks, and it's good. That's because in this case it's not the universe of "Banks," with a capital "B" that is typically preceded by "Big" and "Bad," but just the smaller, community banks that have a lot more in common with their not-for-profit brethren than they do the too-big-to-fail but not too-big-to-bail operations that belong to the same trade association.

If credit unions are a better deal financially, they offer better service, and you can make transactions nationwide, why are big bank branches springing up on street corners faster than Starbucks? Simple. While credit unions excel at service, big banks excel at sales.

AMES, Iowa – A former branch manager for River Valley CU last week was arrested and charged with stealing more than $10,000 from the credit union’s branch in Maxwell, Nev., where she worked.

ENFIELD, Conn. – A man wanted in three robberies here, including two at 360 FCU last fall, was extradited from Maryland by local detectives Friday.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – ArCUSO, which is owned by 28 Arkansas credit unions, will implement Teledata Communications’ Decisionlender loan origination solution.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – KeyPoint CU said it has signed with AppraisalWorld to implement the company’s Collateral Valuation Report property valuation product.

FAIRFAX, Va. – Dozens of students at Forest Park High School in nearby Woodbridge found themselves financially strapped last week during a financial simulation game called “Make It Real,” sponsored by Apple FCU.

NEWARK, N.J. – A federal court last week agreed to consolidate suits brought by three credit unions asking for the return of more than $35 million of mortgages fraudulently sold to Fannie Mae by U.S. Mortgage/CU National Mortgage.

HARTFORD, Conn. – A one-time $4 million credit union that was liquidated by regulators last week was known locally in the 1980s and 1990s as the “piggy bank” of local gangsters who controlled the multi-million dollar illegal gambling business.

ATLANTA – Six Georgia banks last week filed suit against the FDIC to prevent the federal regulator from selling a loan it seized from failed Silverton Bank in which they own participation interests, for development of a W Hotel in downtown Atlanta.

GRAPEVINE, Texas – Credit unions in Texas have approved a plan to shrink the league board to 12 members from 15, a move it projects will save at least $50,000 annually. The vote came during the league’s annual meeting here.