ATLANTA — The CRM system that Georgia Central CU built is delivering corporate-friendly data that helps it carefully watch members.

PORT NECHES, Texas — More members are using mobile banking, even as national reports show that consumers are quickly shedding extra layers from their expensive cell phone contracts, a number of credit unions told Credit Union Journal.

Security Service FCU, San Antonio, Texas, named Eli Nurse manager of its asset recovery call center and Cynthia Lasky service center manager.

WASHINGTON-The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund awarded 27 organizations, including three credit unions, almost $2.4 million of technical assistance grants.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-An analysis by NCUA of the investments held by U.S. Central FCU and WesCorp FCU prior to the March 20 takeover of the troubled corporate credit union giants shows a vast exposure to risky subprime, Alt-A and Option ARM mortgage securities held by the two institutions.

WASHINGTON-NAFCU called on Senate leaders last week add to proposed funding for NCUA's corporate bailout, saying the current $5.9-billion estimate by NCUA may not be enough.

ST. PAUL, Minn.-Two more troubled credit unions have found merger partners.

KIMBERLY, Wis.-Capital CU said it will use a $437,000 settlement as part of a class-action lawsuit to create a $500,000 charitable fund.

PHILADELPHIA-The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania announced the launch of a custom loan program with Digital FCU that will provide financial assistance from to international MBA students.

GAITHERSBURG, Md.-This Washington, D.C., suburb and seven other cities are looking for credit unions and banks to offer unbanked residents lifeline savings accounts as part of a new National League of Cities campaign to encourage low-income families to begin banking with mainstream financial institutions.

WASHINGTON — Three small credit unions have given up trying to manage IT themselves, handing it over to managed services provider RedZone Technologies-at about half the cost of hiring a CIO.

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. — Maxed-out members are getting personal calls from financial advisors at North Shore Credit Union here, who are acting on daily alerts issued by the CU's Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.

APRIL

ORLANDO, Fla.-The Central Florida Chapter of Credit Unions in partnership with Clear Channel Outdoor unveiled a cooperative advertising campaign to increase public awareness of the benefits of choosing a CU as their primary financial institution.

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Meriwest CU has developed a special program aimed at helping troubled homeowners and other borrowers navigate their way financial restructuring.

GOLDSBORO, N.C. — After years of successfully staving off Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regs for credit unions, there is growing concern that push may finally come to shove on this issue now that Democrats hold both the House and the White House.

Collectors often balk at the idea of Collateral Protection Insurance (CPI) because they believe it will make their job more difficult despite the significant financial benefits to the credit union. They fear that adding the cost of force-placed insurance to loan balances and monthly payments will make collecting more difficult and increase delinquency.

Perusing the trade press recently, I've concluded that I'm the only person in credit union land who thinks relaxing mark-to-market (MTM) accounting rules was a bad idea. But I have plenty of company in the international accounting and investing communities; the IASB, the AICPA and the CFA Institute (of which I'm a charter holder) adamantly opposed FASB's move.

There are certain words you never hear used together in the same sentence. "France" and "ideal call center location" is one example. "Bank" and "consumer benefit" is another. And then there are classics such as "economist" and "A-List party invitee."

Like all other financial institutions, credit unions are required by the Real Estate Settlement Procedure's Act (RESPA) to make complex organizational changes in 2010 related to the way revenue is disclosed to borrowers. At first glance, this may seem like a fairly simple adjustment, however, if not handled properly it could cause a painful transition that impacts the quality of member service.