PORTLAND, Ore. — A small credit union is making a big move in cross-promoting its business accounts to its members.

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan credit unions, doing business in one of the toughest economies in the U.S., showed a surprising 8.5% increase in new auto loans in the second quarter compared with the first three months of the year.

WASHINGTON — With other financial institutions pulling back on lending, many analysts have been stressing this is an opportunity for CUs to gain marketshare. But is it possible that in the rush to gain share credit unions have made loans that other lenders rejected for good reason?

AUGUSTA, Maine — After a contentious campaign, KV Federal Credit Union members last week rejected a proposed bank conversion and merger with nearby Kennebec Savings Bank.

MADISON, Wis. — The current economic climate is only putting more pressure on credit union boards and management teams to have a clear, consistent philosophy toward collections. That includes integrating the function with other credit union departments, according to a new white paper issued by the CUNA Lending Council.

CLINTON, Township, Mich. — The numbers at Central Macomb Community CU are a microcosm of the broader growth at the state level.

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Gwinnett FCU here is expanding its skip-a-pay program.

WASHINGTON — Though auto loan delinquency rates across the country continue to rise steeply, credit unions can avoid that pain by sticking to strong risk management practices.

HONOLULU-Hawaii Central CU's texting contest required contestants to type the following:

PALO ALTO, Calif. — One credit union here is publicly staging an intervention to help consumers "kick the bank habit."

HONOLULU — As part of an effort to reach younger members, Hawaii Central CU staged a contest to find the fastest texter in town.

LAKE JACKSON, Texas — After recently starting an indirect lending program for local merchants, Texas Dow Employees CU is expanding its loan staff by three to prepare for volume that's expected to reach $2-million a month from the businesses early next year.

BALTIMORE — Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore and seven local lenders kicked off a new program last week offering short-term loans to low-income residents of East Baltimore as an alternative to high-interest-rate "pay-day loans" and cash advances.

Addresses are often an undervalued and overlooked area of credit union operations. This critical piece of information is used for member identification and to send time-sensitive documents and marketing materials.

Employees of the continuing credit union (CCU) are often assigned to work temporarily at the merging credit union (MCU). The practice facilitates implementation of the CCU's processes and procedures, and it serves several other purposes in advancing the operational merger. The same is true of assigning employees of the MCU to work temporarily at the CCU.

LENEXA, Kansas — Reaction to James Nance's removal from the head of US Central and the installment of Francois Henriquez as interim CEO has been muted in the corporate CU community.

When developing or implementing a new or "refreshed" training program, much is said about what to do, but little is mentioned about what not to do.

Times change. Member needs and wants change. Staff perceptions change. How recently (and how well) has your credit union changed to adjust? Research can provide the answers.

MARSHFIELD, Wis. — A push by CUNA and NAFCU for member-only alternative (or supplemental) capital may be what's feasible today, but it could simply be a bridge to a solution to the capital dilemma that relies on many additional investment sources for CUs to thrive.

WASHINGTON — The strength of the credit union lobby in Washington was recognized last week during a brief exchange at a Senate Banking Committee hearing.