ARLINGTON, Va.-NAFCU is concerned about the process NCUA follows when facilitating mergers, and is asking the regulator to provide greater transparency in its approach and with how it determines merger partners.

LONGVIEW, Wash.-For those that can afford it, credit unions should bite the bullet and look toward branch expansion to capitalize on 2010 growth opportunities.

JERSEY CITY, N.J.-When it comes to growing by taking business from banks, nothing beats the old stand-by, great member service, contends Sean McDonald, director of business development and marketing at the $54-million Liberty Savings FCU.

ONTARIO, Calif.-Carol Payne, VP-communications and marketing at the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, said that for many CUs this year growth will hinge on finding ways to step up promotion without boosting the budget.

FOREST GROVE, Ore.-At Merger Solutions Group, which helps manage the merger process for credit unions and monitors the state of mergers within the industry, President David Bartoo suggested the current system is not broken.

GLENDALE, Calif.-Not everyone thinks NCUA is showing admirable restraint in the merger process.

TAMPA, Fla.-Transparency isn't always all it's cracked up to be, warned one credit union executive.

BOSTON-CUNA put campaign funds behind what looked like a sure bet in the Massachusetts Senate race as recently as two weeks ago: Democrat Martha Coakley, who was defeated in a huge upset last Tuesday by Rep. Scott Brown.

$25M Price Tag Put On NY's Municipal Deposits Bill

DAYTON, Ohio-Members of Dayton Firefighters FCU are donning fireman's helmets to drive member growth-and they're not firemen.

DALLAS-A federal bankruptcy court has confirmed an arbitrator's $6.3 million award against Texans CU's wholly owned CUSO to the former owner of the company, once known as Curley Insurance Group.

PHILADELPHIA-A U.S. Bankruptcy Court this week ordered Citadel Financial CU to return a 2002 Honda to a delinquent member who filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy a week after the credit union repossessed her car.

CUES Brings Magic, Leadership Of Disney

Noticed an ad recently that appeared in Enterprise, the magazine of Canada's credit union movement. The ad was from AIG and was headlined, "We can't predict the future..." Talk about living your message.

Are you overwhelmed with the regulations and requirements to keep your data secure? Are all the reports in the news of security breaches exposing sensitive information causing you, your senior management team and board serious concern about your ability to keep sensitive information private? If not, should you feel overwhelmed and concerned?

As I sat there listening to the Countess, my mind kept wandering into dangerous territory. After all, it's highly unwise to lose focus when $400 billion and the balance of power in our American Democracy are up for grabs! The Countess was earnest; this was really serious stuff-the 2010 U.S. Census!

PHOENIX – A man who robbed an Arizona FCU branch last week one day after hitting a US Bank branch is being dubbed by the FBI as the "Déjà vu Bandit" because he robbed two institutions on the same Phoenix street and wore the exact same clothes in each robbery.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – A man suspected of robbing Bay CU twice was charged last week with two counts armed robbery after police found him driving a 2005 Cadillac they believe he bought with the stolen money.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Members Group, the newest entry to the market for credit union card portfolios, is financing increasing numbers of cards purchases by loans from credit unions it is calling its collateralized advanced program.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Pioneer CU donated almost $20,000 to several local charities, as part of a fundraising with the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers.