HARRISBURG, Penn. – Pennsylvania State Employees CU said it will provide cash-strapped members with interest free loans up to $1,000 if the state fails to pass a budget.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Altura CU said Coachella city officials have convinced them to keep their branch there open, at least until the end of the year.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA reported said last week it has granted broader community charters to two Pennsylvania credit unions rebuffed by a federal court last year–but less than half of what a federal court turned down last year.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Corporate One FCU said Friday that charges related to the corporate credit union bailout erased $21.6 million of net income reported earlier for 2008 and created a $18.2 million loss instead.

WASHINGTON – A move from the Chairman’s office at NCUA would not only be a fall in prestige for Michael Fryzel, if nominee Deborah Matz is confirmed, but would be costly as well.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – As many as a dozen credit unions may have fallen victim to a scheme that effectively cleansed credit records and enabled more than two dozen people with blemished credit histories to qualify for membership and for loans.

ST PETERSBURG, Fla. — Does the new credit card law put more pressure on CUs to consider selling their credit card portfolios? Not necessarily, according to those contacted by Credit Union Journal.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — While more powerful financial planning tools and new mobile banking applications loom on the e-services horizon, the most important change coming, asserts one technology provider, is that more CUs will incorporate technology goals into their strategic plans.

ASHEBORO, N.C.-A local bank has filed a trademark infringement suit against Truliant FCU and asked a federal court to bar the CU from using its "Yes you can" service mark on billboards and other advertisements.

WASHINGTON — NCUA's upcoming symposium celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Federal Credit Union Act will be more about getting past the here and now than looking back on past laurels.

CU Journal Issues Call For Best Practices Entries

NEW YORK — Not only are far fewer offers for credit cards being made, more often those solicitations are for cards carrying an annual fee, according to Mail Monitor, a direct mail tracking service from Synovate.

INDIANAPOLIS — Eli Lilly FCU added a new group to its field of membership as part of an effort to launch the new student lending CUSO called Student CU Connect.

CLEARWATER, Fla.-Having had time to digest some of the language in the just-enacted Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009, analysts see opportunities, but also issues related to effectively pricing for risk and having operations in order.

VICTORVILLE, Calif. — If NCUA chooses to level the land rather than pay the tab to maintain all the homes it owns in Florida's depressed real estate market, it wouldn't be the first to tear down rather than maintain homes.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Having convenient electronic access channels won't be enough in the coming years to compete for members' business, suggests EPL, which contends that credit unions must take the offensive.

SAN DIEGO — Symitar's John San Filippo recalls that just 10 years ago digital convergence meant having a PC hooked up to a TV. Today, he associates the term with the rapidly expanding capabilities within handheld devices.

iPhone Apps

LAKE MARY, Fla. — Personalization, customization and integration of e-services will be necessary for credit unions to remain ahead of competitors in the technology race, according to Harland Financial Solutions.

FRISCO, Texas — Giving credit unions an "A" for their delivery of e-services-so far, Fiserv insists that for CUs to keep that grade they'll have to be even more aggressive with technology plans in the future.