After having had so much go wrong in the past year, it just seems fitting that so many folks are letting go with a sigh of relief that the "decade is over." without realizing they've got that wrong, too.

President Obama promised to change the culture in Washington. Yet, in this entire financial crisis, the Administration has made only one effort to appoint a new depository institution regulator: Deborah Matz.

While we must adhere to our fundamental values, we can find new ways to promote them. Social media or other new technology may afford many credit unions the perfect way to reach out to existing and new members.

WHITTIER, Calif.–Two robbers who confronted at gunpoint an employee of Whittier Municipal Employees CU here has he arrived at work were foiled when the credit union’s value would not open.

SAN JOSE, Calif.– The $1.2-billion Technology Credit Union has named Barbara B. Kamm as its new CEO, effective Jan. 6. Kam replaces Ken Burns, who left in May of 2009 to take over San Francisco-based Patelco Credit Union.

MEQUON, Wis.–Home equity-secured loans have plunged as a portion of overall consumer loans over the past year, although HELCs have rebounded slightly, according to new data. Mortgagebot reported that in November 2009, home equity loans made up approximately 5% of the overall loan market, down from 13.3% from one year earlier, but up slightly from the 3.2% of loan share HELCs held in April 2009.

ATLANTA–In remarks over the weekend Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said it was regulatory failure and not lax monetary policy that led to the bursting of the housing bubble and the resulting deep recession.

SAN JOSE, Calif.–In the new year credit union members should prepare themselves for watching commercials when making payments at point-of-sale terminals. Verifone Holdings a key developer of interactive card-acceptance systems used in taxis, is seeking to roll out the same technology in retail outlets as part of a program it calls “payment-enabled media,” which is what it calls terminals with video screens that can stream news programs or other entertainment, support online features and deliver advertising.

SAN FRANCISCO–Anyone who has seen advertisements from Visa Inc.'s "Currency of Progress" campaign can't help noticing a stark contrast in its corporate message.

WASHINGTON–Passing a regulatory reform bill through the House was a bruising, months-long fight that appeared ready to spin out of control. That battle may pale in comparison to the legislation's progress through the Senate.

TOOELE, Utah–NCUA continued its policy of reaching across multiple state lines to find merger partners for troubled credit unions, announcing on New Years Eve that Virginia Beach, Va.-based Chartway FCU would purchase and assume the assets of Heritage West FCU here.

GREENVILLE, N.C.–An off-duty sheriff’s deputy killed a suspect during an attempted robbery at an ATM of State Employees Credit Union here.

GLENDALE, Calif.–A group of credit unions that filed a lawsuit against Western Corporate FCU are suggesting NCUA’s request that it instead be named lead plaintiff proves their case has merit, but several of the CUs involved claim NCUA has not shown it can adequately represent the interests of CUs when it comes to WesCorp.

DALLAS–CU Members Mortgage and Avista Solutions have entered into a partnership to offer what they said is an all-in-one mortgage origination software for CUs.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas–Security Service FCU said it is partnering with Stripes stores and Town & Country convenience stores for ATM access, providing members with another 500 in-store locations in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. There is a 50-cent surcharge for using the machines.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–Has the current recession had enough of a lasting impression that it is turning younger Americans into savers? A new report by the National Bureau of Economic Research has found as much.

WASHINGTON–The start of the New Year meant the end of a U.S. Treasury short-term credit facility as well as the end of a GSE mortgage-purchasing program. The Treasury ceased purchasing mortgage-backed securities from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHLBs on Dec. 31; the government agency bought about $220 billion in assets from those entities.

WASHINGTON–Non-federally insured institutions, including state-chartered CUs, that have been certified as CDFI’s by the U.S. Treasury’s CDFI Fund are now eligible to become Federal Home Loan Banks under a final rule that will take effect near the end of this month.

WETHERSFIELD, Conn.–Connecticut Labor Department FCU has begun offering “furlough loans” to members who are state employees.

HANSCOM AFB, Mass.–Hanscom FCU said it will pay a $600,000 “loyalty dividend” to its members, representing a 2% bonus on dividends earned and loan interest paid during 2009.