DAVENPORT, Iowa-As more members bank by mobile phone as well as by personal computer, Credit Union Journal asked CUs: which approach poses the greatest risk?

PORT NECHES, Texas-Mobile banking risk can be minimized: members should be reminded to use strong passwords on their mobile devices; refrain from leaving mobile devices and passwords unguarded; and be aware of the relative security of the network they use to transfer data, said Jason Duplant, marketing director at $286-million Neches FCU.

WASHINGTON-A bill that would eliminate the credit unions and banks role in the guaranteed student loans program that passed the House easily last year has hit roadblocks in the Senate and could be doomed.

WASHINGTON-CUNA reported its political action committee raised $227,000 in December and spent just $75,000, building its cash on hand to just over $1 million, one of its largest sums ever.

NEW LONDON, Conn.-NCUA filed suit in federal court Friday against Wells Fargo Investment Advisors seeking $10 million they believe a now-deceased investment advisor working for the brokerage stole from New London Security FCU, which the agency shut down in July 2008.

SAINT JOSEPH, Mo.-As lovers exchange gifts on Valentine's Day, one tiny credit union here with a unique name will continue its bachelor ways with no plans to find a mate.

WASHINGTON-The Federal Housing Administration is seeking congressional permission to raise the annual premium on FHA-single-family loans to 0.85%, up from the current 0.55% statutory limit, according to the President's fiscal year 2011 budget proposal.

WASHINGTON-Banking regulators closed six community banks, making a total of 15 failures already in 2010. The most recent failures are expected to cost the FDIC insurance fund a total of $1.9 billion. They include: $2.2-billion First Regional Bank of Los Angeles; $1.2-billion Community Bank and Trust in Cornelia, Ga. and $760-million First National Bank of Georgia, in Carrollton, Ga.; $880-million Florida Community Bank of Immokale, Fla.; $55-million Marshall Bank of Hallock, Minn. and $375-million American Marine Bank of Bainbridge Island, Wash. There have been two CU failures so far in 2010, that of Kern Central CU in California, and First Service CU in Wisconsin.

David Bellman was appointed to an open seat on the board of directors at St. Mary's Bank, Manchester, N.H.

COLUMBUS, Ohio-Corporate One FCU became the first corporate CU to report a loss for 2009, telling its members it lost another $3.5 million in December, bringing losses for the year to $42.3 million.

DALLAS-Southwest Corporate FCU on Friday reported a $103 million loss for December, creating a $226 million loss for 2009.

TOLEDO, Ohio-The $40-million ProMedica FCU here a has broken the shackles of a basic core system, embracing a "deluxe" data processing platform that offers all the built-in options, including mobile and Internet banking, said Rick Haas, president.

NEW YORK-Community development credit unions may play a larger role in the U.S. economic recovery, now that they will have access to TARP funds.

Comm. Charter Comment Extended

DALLAS- A federal bankruptcy court Monday awarded CU Liquidity Services LLC, a wholly owned CUSO of Texans CU, a $40 million verdict over a dispute concerning a multi-million member business loan the CUSO made to a troubled shopping mall in suburban Chicago.

OLYMPIA, Wash.-In a little-publicized series of hearings two weeks ago, state regulators, concerned about the growing number of troubled institutions, asked the legislature for new powers over credit unions and banks.

PEORIA, Ill.-Despite absorbing a large California credit union failure in 2009, CEFCU, the state's second-largest CU, announced it will be paying members a $7-million dividend this year, up from last year's $6 million.

If you've dismissed Apple's new iPad device because you identify with the PC in those PC vs. Mac commercials and further find Mac loyalists to be just plain annoying in their proselytizing, you're making a mistake.

GURNEE, Ill. – Two brothers arrested in a Jan. 29 attempted armed robbery at Community Trust CU allegedly tried to buy the same type of pistol used in the massacre at Fort Hood – where 13 were killed and 29 wounded – before embarking on the credit union heist.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Police are searching for a would-be robber who failed in her attempts to hold up two local credit unions on the same day last week because the tellers couldn’t understand her, one time stumbling outside as her gun clattered to the sidewalk.