BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-Even with the CARD Act set to take effect. today, expect major credit card issuers to continue to seek to make consumers pay more this year.

Industry wide, credit unions last year enjoyed over a 35% increase in annual membership growth over 2008, according to data from CUNA. For the short-term at least, that should be good news. But what are the prospects for turning those "refugees" into full-fledged credit union citizens?

OSHTEMO, Mich.-Consumers CU is focusing on ways to retain members long-term, and has started to survey inactive account-holders as part of that strategy.

LAKE BLUFF, Ill.-Before rushing to sign up more members and then working to retain them, credit unions should first make sure costs are in line, recommends one industry analyst.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas-Wayne Vann says it's doesn't require rocket science to figure out how a credit union can effectively retain members - great service.

PEORIA, Ill.-A $7-million bonus dividend can go a long way toward retaining members, attests CEFCU, which plans to emphasize its year-end payout in promotions to potential and existing members.

GAINESVILLE, Fla.-In a sand state economy, cross selling services to drive deeper relationships takes on a much different flavor, according to Florida Credit Union.

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BATTLE CREEK, Mich.-Kellogg Community FCU plans to work even harder to maintain its image of a financial partner that delivers fast decisions and helps members make the right choices with their money.

WYOMISSING, Penn.-Discovery FCU has experience handling new members who simply park hot money, having run a 10% six-month CD a few years ago that still has the credit union weeding out dormant accounts today.

CINCINNATI-A new, high-rate checking account is helping Kemba CU sign up new members and retain them.

WASHINGTON-Dan Mica has always been an optimistic guy. Even with half of all credit unions reporting losses for 2009 - many of them because of costs accrued from the corporate credit union bailout - Mica maintains his positive outlook, seeing this hard time in America as one bursting with opportunity for credit unions.

MASSILLON, Ohio-Massillon Area CU is keeping its foot on the gas, tripling its marketing budget, to retain members after a year in which the credit union grew net new members by 28%.

END, Ore.-Include MidOregon CU among those that believe 2010 is the year to add services to keep members.

WASHINGTON-It's no secret that over the past decade many credit unions have rapidly expanded their fields of membership, and continue to look to do so.

MIAMISBURG, Ohio-To cross sell and retain members, a credit union must first have an offer that gets attention.

WICHITA, Kans.-Thanks to its strategy of not chasing hot money, Meritrust Credit Union expects much of its member-retention efforts this year will focus on those who have joined via indirect lending.

WICHITA, Kan.-After catching its breath following an onslaught of new deposits and members last year, Mid American CU has changed its staff incentive structure to drive deeper relationships.

LIMA, Ohio-Retaining members comes down to showing them that the credit union is different than any other financial in the market, according to Superior FCU here.

BALTIMORE, Md.-A number of credit unions in this state are once again participating in the annual "Roll in The Dough" campaign, the fourth year the program aimed at developing good savings habits has been offered.