MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Going "green" is red hot, which is why MAX CU created the EcoMAX Home Expo, an inititiative that not only created buzz for the CU but has become part of its overall growth strategy.

NORWALK, Conn. — The Financial Accounting Standards Board voted several changes to its mark-to-market rules last Thursday to ease the strain on CUs and other financial institutions-but rejected requests to allow the entities to apply the changes retroactively to their 2008 financials.

SAN DIEGO — With his studded collar and fierce name, Spike is not about to back down just because the economy's in flux-just one of the reasons USA FCU chose the 59-pound bulldog to be its official "spokesdog" for the credit union.

The decision by the NCUA to place U.S. Central Corporate FCU and WesCorp FCU into conservatorship will result in an even higher loss compared to what was announced at the end of January.

I met (former NCUA Chairman) Ed Callahan very briefly at a credit union conference in California several years ago — he was recognized from the podium and then asked to speak for a few minutes by the organizers of the conference — just a couple of friendly random comments.

I don't believe any of this was part of the grand plan.

Editor's Note: the following letter was written in response to NCUA's announcement that it will allow CUs to spread the cost of the corporate stabilization plan over seven years.

Editor's Note: Below are excerpts from a letter that appeared in the Providence Journal and authored by Erbin Crowell, a member of the board of the National Cooperative Business Association, about the proposed conversion to mutual savings bank charter by Coastway Credit Union in Rhode Island, of which Crowell is also a member.

FARGO, N.D. and MOORHEAD, Minn. — Credit unions here largely escaped damage from a flooding Red River, which crested more than 20 feet above flood stage.

MADISON, Wis. — Entering the second quarter of a year many expect to be a low point in a recession, demand for loans and the ability of credit unions to fund them is in large part dependent upon regional factors.

The March 31 edition of Credit Union Journal's Daily Briefing indicated Members United Corporate FCU's has unrealized losses of $3 billion. The most recent numbers available from the corporate report unrealized losses at $2 billion as of December 31, 2008. Updated numbers are not yet available from Members United.

HANFORD, Calif. – FAST FCU said yesterday it has signed with TRC Interactive for the company’s online instruction through CreditUnionTrainingOnline for its credit union-wide training needs.

ABILENE, Texas – Abilene Teachers FCU said it will pledge $100,000 to support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Abilene.

TACOMA, Wash. – Harborstone CU said Phil Jones, its president and chief operating officer was promoted to CEO, filling the void left by the retirement of long-time CEO Rick Schmidtke.

PITTSBURGH – Riverset CU, which converted to a community charter less than two years ago, has applied to state regulators to expand to a three-county community encompassing almost two million people.

PHOENIX – Arizona State CU has created a social networking website designed to assist Arizona state employees, university employees and others who have been impacted by the economy, layoffs and furloughs.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Tech CU has rolled out a new savings campaign that is creating an online community to support and exchange ideas for saving.

RALEIGH, N.C. – State Employees CU announced yesterday it has renovated more than 100 of its branches across the state to offer handicap accessible teller windows.

McLEAN, Va. – Home mortgage rates continued to fall toward record lows this week, as the government pumps vast new sums into the housing market, according to Freddie Mac.

BOSTON – Two suspects were arrested yesterday in connection with Wednesday’s armed robbery of $200,000 from Tremont CU after police found $100,000 of the stolen loot in a nearby home they were called to because of a domestic disturbance.