ARLINGTON, Va.-In a time when credit unions may be hard-pressed to add staff, 2009 presents the opportunity to add talented members from the banking community who have been displaced, observed one person. But there are also risks.

Hiring to be flat, have budgeted for raises 43%

MADISON, Wis.-Credit union hiring is expected to be flat in 2009, and with a dismal economic outlook, this year could begin a trend to improve member-to-employee ratios as CUs seek to sustain growth with existing staff.

MADISON, Wis.-It's likely many members will be feeling increased debt-related stress in 2009. A new report offers suggestions on how such stress affects different members.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-Credit unions that hope to keep staff performance high in a year in which employees will be asked to do more, should beef up internal communications skills. Employees will have to cope with more mergers, the fear of layoffs, and reductions in incentive programs-all performance distractions.

ARLINGTON, Va.-Decisions regarding the function of capital are expected to get a lot tougher for credit unions in 2009 as many wrestle with shrinking net income, and others are content to keep that number flat.

MADISON, Wis.-Credit unions planning to expand into or do a better job of retaining the young consumer market in 2009 can leverage a new study to better understand what drives this market's behavior.

ORLANDO, Fla.-Acknowledging the dominant issue of heading into 2009 is the credit crisis and related credit risk, Harland Financial Solutions said it has identified seven trends that are affecting credit union decision-making.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-Banks are projecting a decline in IT spending and overall smaller IT budgets for 2009, according to a report by Financial Insights that suggests there may be some pricing bargains to be had by CUs on technology.

ATLANTA-In contrast to what the pessimism the housing market would seem to imply, a new study found that many people expect to purchase a home within the next two years. The data, from SYNERGISTICS Research and included in a report titled, "The Outlook for Mortgage Lending," found that one-quarter of consumers anticipate buying a home in that time frame. Of those, one-ffth are renters who are looking to purchase a home, while slightly less than one-tenth are current homeowners who anticipate doing so.

Bay FCU, Capitola, Calif., named Amy Ivey assistant vice president of marketing and development.

DURHAM, N.C.-For 2009, Latino Community CU (LCCU) has been awarded a $60,000 Innovation Grant from the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) to create a "Culture of Savings" throughout a state that has one of the fastest-growing Latino populations.

CHICAGO-Targeting the "underserved and underbanked" market in 2009? A new study has identified the preferences and attitudes about financial services among eight such consumer segments.

ATLANTA-Credit quality issues that continue to erode capital at underperforming institutions will significantly quicken the pace of credit union mergers in 2009, predicts one strategic planner who views the trend as an opportunity for well-performing CUs to increase size and services at a time when banks are retreating.

LOS ANGELES-One analyst is expressing concern that a second wave of home foreclosures could lead credit unions to start putting tactics before strategy and to make short-term decisions related to capital.

MILWAUKEE, Wis.-Credit unions considering tapping into capital this year to build new locations should like the price tag, said one strategic planner who suggested that timing of branch openings will be key to their long-term success.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-One credit union is starting off 2009 with an attempt to grab share before other financials follow suit, slashing its 36-month auto loan rate to 2.99%.

WASHINGTON-The Treasury Department is reporting that another 92 financial institutions have received $4.7 billion through its Capital Purchase Program. Of the 43 investments for which the Treasury provided details, the largest-$968 million-went to Synovus Financial Corp. of Columbus, Ga. With the latest investments, the Treasury has used $162 billion of the $250 billion allotted for the capital program.

McLEAN, Va.-Credit unions should start preparing for some potential big changes in the new year that could affect both indirect loan agreements and auto lending overall. The National Automobile Dealers Association is projecting that about 2,000 new vehicle dealerships in the U.S., about 10% of the overall total, will file for bankruptcy protection during 2009. And that does not take into account whether any of the Big Three manufacturers will do the same.

NEW YORK-2009 will continue the trend seen at the end of last year as the American economy speeds headlong into the trough of one of the nastiest recessions on record, according to one analyst's projections.