ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA last week called corporate credit unions representatives to a meeting at its headquarters to discuss the continuing diminishment of capital in the corporate network.

DALLAS – Heavy investment losses and exposure to losses at U.S. Central FCU is forcing Southwest Corporate FCU to deplete approximately 40% of its member capital shares according to the 2008 audited financial statement the $9 billion corporate credit union released Friday.

PITTSBURGH – A well-known local investment broker was arrested Friday and charged with a long-running Ponzi scheme that sold three local credit unions $2.1 million in fictitious CDs.

This week's special report on facilities delves into a variety of branch management strategies aimed at helping credit unions cut costs while maintaining strong service levels. It also includes a look at how social networking can impact your branches.

SAN DIEGO — For chief operating officers at credit unions, there are so many issues and potential issues to be dealt with that picking which is the most "urgent" may be impossible.

WARRENVILLE, Ill. — Members United Corporate FCU depleted all of its member paid-in capital and more than 40% of its membership shares to eliminate its deficit according to recently released financial statements.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Pancakes, '50s wigs, and a lot of team spirit have helped Security Service FCU cut its delinquency rate.

WASHINGTON — Concerns over the safety of their money prompted consumers to deposit $1 million in three days at the $220-million Department of Commerce FCU.

WALLINGFORD, Conn. — Steep losses last year, which have continued through 2009, have caused the independent auditor for Constitution Corporate FCU to question the ongoing viability of the $1.3-billion corporate credit union.

TOTOWA, N.J. — Thousands of credit union members in northern New Jersey are paying less for everything from restaurant meals to haircuts to clothing and even insurance and automobiles thanks to a new program from Northern Jersey FCU.

DULUTH, Minn. — Unexpected expenses hit consumers harder than ever in a down economy, which is why a credit union here is launching an effort to keep "life emergencies from becoming their financial emergencies."

SPOKANE, Wash. — Numerica Credit Union here believes it has hit upon the right balance in managing and eve cutting facilities-related expenses and still delivering service that drives growth.

MADISON, Wis. — A physical branch would seem to be the antithesis of social networking applications, yet one new analysis suggests the two can actually go hand in hand.

PHOENIX — The path to positive numbers is clear: members simply need to be able to make their loan payments.

SEATTLE — Paul Seibert said there are many rational ways to cut costs, but stresses the importance of looking at both the short- and long-term effects. Among his suggestions:

FOREST GROVE, Ore. — The face of CU mergers is changing, moving away from those simply focused on creating size to unions that are more strategic, according to David Bartoo, president of Merger Solutions Group.

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — The financial similarities between First Resource FCU and United FCU made the two good merger partners back in late 2006. But what's really contributed to the merger's success, says United's CEO, Gary Easterling, is the attention to building a common culture.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Members who spent the better part of a year fighting against the possible conversion and merger of KV Federal Credit Union here are basking in their victory after a successful campaign.

SEATTLE — The credit union grip squeezing more efficiencies out of branches could get even tighter as a new threat to income looms.

WASHINGTON — The credit union lobby declined to support an amendment offered last week to the bill creating a Consumer Financial Protection Agency exempting small institutions, saying the bid would split the industry.