ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA said federal credit unions are not required to send a notice each time a member incurs an insufficient funds, or overdraft fee, but the charge must be recorded in the subsequent periodic statement.

WASHINGTON – Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd said last week he is drafting a bill that will set new limits on overdraft protection programs that are lucrative for credit unions and banks.

WASHINGTON – The FDIC on Friday seized the two banking subsidiaries of Irwin Financial Corp., the Columbus , Ind. holding company that once operated more than 75 mortgage subsidiaries inside of credit unions.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA continues to look to the nation’s largest credit unions to resolve the growing number of troubled institutions, approving several more mergers into credit union giants, the agency reported Friday.

This week's special report looks at a host of topics, including: why now is a good time for a core conversion, "edutaining" Gen Y, the danger that lurks on Twitter, and much more.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — The tailgate on "Steve P's" old truck is rusted shut, the frame is bent, and he can drive it without keys-and that might win this CU member $500 from Centra CU.

ORLANDO, Fla. — A group of borrowers from all over the country filed suit in federal court last week claiming a massive membership fraud at Huron River Area CU, the Michigan credit union that financed speculative real estate deals in south Florida that helped cause the failure of that and two other CUs.

The CUNA Board is joined by CU leaders from throughout the movement to recreate the founding of CUNA 75 years ago at Estes Park, Colo., where a similar portrait was taken in 1934. Among the groups represented: state leagues, America's CU Museum, CO-OP Financial Services CO-OP Shared Branching, CUNA Mutual Group, Defense CU Council, Filene Research Institute, NASCUS, NCBA, NCB, NCUA, NCUF, the Federation and WOCCU.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — As part of its pending merger into SchoolsFirst FCU, Service Plus Credit Union will close approximately 200 accounts held by student groups at the local University of California campus - and Altura CU has stepped into the breech.

MADISON, Wis. — Sixty percent of credit unions have indicated in a new study that they expect to be in merger talks over the next two years.

WEST CHESTER, Penn. — Banner ads are delivering up to 2000% return on investment (ROI) at two credit union websites, keeping rates and relationships at the top of members' minds.

ALEXANDRIA, VA. — Deborah Matz has become the first person to serve a second term on the NCUA board, this time as chairman. Matz has returned to the board during one of the most arduous times for the NCUA in recent memory, with CUs' confidence in the agency tested. The new NCUA chairman recently spent time with Credit Union Journal to discuss many of the issues on the minds of CU leaders and the challenges ahead.

RIVERDALE, Utah — America First CU here hopes Gen Y members will open up a little bit more at the credit union's new social media website — a site that aims to educate through entertainment.

GOSHEN, Ind. — Vendor management is moving out of homegrown spreadsheets and into an intranet-based compliance solution at Interra CU here, easing due diligence, file sharing and knowledge retention.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A $34-million credit union here has turned around interest-rate risk (IRR) in one year by taking action suggested by risk models-models that some CUs may produce only to satisfy the NCUA.

Question: Is it possible, beyond just vendor claims, to track technologies that contribute most to member, savings, and/or loan growth and retention?

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The APWG, a global, independent coalition combating electronic crime, said it is making available a new advisory that examines the "abuse" of subdomain registries by criminals engaged in phishing attacks.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — "Veronica" is complaining to more than 50 Twitter followers that her job at the credit union is "appalling" and "worthless."

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — About two years ago CEO Pat Ahern asked his credit union's board if they could live with the possibility that 73% of the membership might walk out the door with $13 million in assets.