WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — When the going gets tough, the tough credit unions grow.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Meriwest CU Collections Department Manager Julie Jaquith put her career on the fast track and made the leap to the corner office in just one day.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Ditch the Microsoft Office suite in favor of open-source productivity software — that's just one tip from credit union technology managers who are bent on saving money as the economy flails.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Mobile banking at OnPoint Community CU will look a little different from mobile services at other credit unions, starting with a Facebook-style user community as well as access to mobile payments technologies.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Any doubts about advertising on Facebook were erased for Truliant FCU here, as its campaigns racked up nearly 9 million views in seven months-all at a cost of less than $5,000

WASHINGTON — NCUA Chairman Michael Fryzel told lawmakers contemplating the merger of all financial institution regulators into one that he believes if that plan comes about, Congress must maintain an independent office that would focus solely on credit union supervision.

WASHINGTON — Leaders of the credit union movement asked the Senate Banking Committee last week for help paying for the $5 billion corporate credit union bailout by allowing NCUA to stretch out the assessment for the bailout to as long as eight years and to give troubled corporate credit unions direct access to the $41 billion emergency loan fund known as the Central Liquidity Facility.

MADISON, Wis. — Financial counseling is no longer a "luxury" for credit unions — it's absolutely essential to continue growing in a recession economy.

MILWAUKIE, Ore. — Being a top-rated credit union isn't for the faint of heart.

Editor's note: the following letter to the editor was written in response to the story titled "CU Aversion To Government Bailout Dissipates" related to the corporate stabilization plan (CU Journal, March 13).

In talking with CEOs and board members it has been surprising to find that a significant number are not comfortable that the CEO incentive plan they have is either effective or appropriate. This is worrisome because it can contribute to poor performance and dissatisfaction by both board members and CEOs. Let me point out several features that an incentive plan should have that will effectively motivate the CEO.

The question of research in-house vs. outsourced implies an either-or answer. In truth, and with the "Five Ps" as a guide, this is more than an all-or-nothing question. The Five P's are a process for effective research results — Purpose (why), Plan (how), Performance (implementation), Processing (analysis), and Presentation (reporting) — and can be helpful in determining in-house vs. outsourcing of research, in part or whole.

Have you ever had a member sit across the desk from you because they're finances are a bloody mess thanks to self-inflicted wounds? What you really want to do is reach across the desk and slap them upside the head. How could they not see all this coming?

Editor's note: the following letter to the editor was written in response to news of a bill to impose the Community Reinvestment Act on CUs (CU Journal Daily, March 11) and a story on NCUA being sued over the Norlarco participations (CU Journal Daily, March 10)

HOUSTON — With a March 31 deadline looming, credit unions are struggling with how to account for the combined 62 basis point assessment and impairment NCUA is requiring to shore up U.S. Central Credit Union.

WASHINGTON — The National CU Foundation and the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions are trying to help credit unions understand the devastating effects of the mortgage crisis.

WASHINGTON — Banking and credit union leaders implored lawmakers yesterday to give regulators vast new financial resources to help stabilize the nation's depository system.

FOREST CITY, N.C. – The State Employees CU Foundation will present a check Monday for $300,000 to the Hospice of Rutherford County.

CARLSBAD, N.M. – A local man faces multiple forgery charges after allegedly posing as his grandfather and withdrawing more than $13,000 from the elderly man's account at Financial Security CU without permission.

RIVERWOODS, Ill. – Discover Financial Services yesterday reported a $177 million operating loss for its fiscal first quarter as its set aside more reserves to cover bad loans while credit defaults mounted.