HOUSTON — Smart Financial Credit Union reports it shrunk its delinquency ratio from three times above peer average to three times below by removing "rigid" collections policies and making them very flexible.

GCS FCU Signs With CRI Solutions

FDIC Charges 5BP Premium; More To Come

LAS VEGAS — Credit unions here got their first chance to meet with the acting CEO of WesCorp, which was placed into conservatorship by NCUA earlier this year, and to get an update on what the corporate is doing to right the ship.

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Generation Y is getting its opportunity to let its voice on the financial system be heard across the globe thanks to a new "guerrilla" marketing campaign put together by one credit union here.

RIDLEY PARK, Penn. — A pair of former Boeing Helicopters Credit Union executives, including the recently dismissed CEO, are suing the credit union alleging breach of contract.

The competitive advantage for credit unions has always centered on the strong personal relationship, loyalty and high member satisfaction rates. Increasingly, in order to maintain high levels of member satisfaction, credit unions are implementing more online-based financial services.

Margins are slim. Delinquencies are up. Profitability is down. And we're all wondering when the next shoe will drop.

Perhaps it's time to get a whole lot more enthusiastic about plastic.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Few developments have affected credit unions more over the past 15 years than the letter "E." The e-volution in product and service delivery via online applications has gone from innovation to mature market faster than anything in history. E-services. E-access. E-products. E-banking.

APPLE VALLEY, Calif. – At least three large credit unions, including New Jersey’s Affinity FCU, were in town over the past two weeks to review possible takeovers of High Desert FCU and The Members Own CU, two of the most troubled credit unions in the state.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Securian Financial said it is introducing a new debt protection program,

FITCHBURG, Mass. – Four local credit unions, Fitchburg FCU, GFA FCU, IC FCU, and Workers' CU, have partnered to sponsor a CU 4 Reality Financial Education Fair.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Team & Wheel FCU said it signed with Identity Theft 911 to offer the company’s identity theft protection and resolution services to its members.

BOULDER, Colo. – Premier Members FCU has implemented Diebold’s ImageWay portfolio, which includes all capture points including the ATM, the branch and remote business locations.

HACKENSACK, N.J. – First Bergen FCU, the first new credit union in New Jersey in more than a decade, will open for business Monday.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – As many as eight area credit unions may have fallen victim to a new identity theft scheme with which scamsters are using the powers to freeze credit reports to access loans and credit cards.

McLEAN, Va. – Long-term rates moved higher this week along with a rise in consumer confidence, according to Freddie Mac.

RALEIGH, N.C. – In one of the biggest credit union projects ever, State Employees' Credit Union is planning a 12-story office building, expanding its presence near the State House, where many of its 1.5 million members work.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – At least a half dozen credit union giants were approved to absorb ailing smaller credit unions last month, as NCUA struggles to keep the costs down to resolve troubled credit unions.