FARMERS BRANCH, Texas-For 2009, the Texas Credit Union Commission has voted to discontinue the Texas Credit Union Department's (TCUD) consolidated filing of IRS form 990.

APPLE VALLEY, Calif.-High Desert FCU was taken into conservatorship by NCUA, just one day after a credit union spokeperson told Credit Union Journal rumors of the impending move were unfounded.

NEW YORK-Fitch Ratings is projecting that some credit card issuers should prepare for record losses on their portfolios. Citing rising job losses and the absence of refinancing options such as low-rate balance transfers and home equity loans, Fitch said in a new report that it expects credit metrics will continue to deteriorate in the fourth quarter of 2008 and into 2009, "with some issuers surpassing historical loss peaks before 2009 is over."

MADISON, Wis.-Why do many large credit unions grow rapidly and thrive, while others produce much slower growth in assets, membership, and earnings?

RACINE, Wis.-Educators CU is exiting the auto sales business after reaching an agreement with this state's Office of Credit Unions.

FRANKFURT, Ky.-State-chartered credit unions were dealt a blow when the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled that state law does not allow for geographic fields of membership, jeopardizing community charters already granted at least six state credit unions.

MADISON, Wis.-Entries are now being accepted for the CUNA Marketing and Business Development Council's 2009 Diamond Awards, which will feature 34 categories. The CMBDC said judges evaluate entries based on strategy, creative concept, design and production, copy and communication, and results. All entries for these awards must be received by 5:00 p.m. (CST) Jan. 12, 2009. Entries received by Jan. 6 will receive a discounted rate. For anyone entering the website marketing category, all entries must be received no later than Dec. 18. For info: Bobbi Bischke, (800) 356-9655, ext. 4018, or e-mail bbischke@cuna.coop. For information pertaining to the award or award categories, contact Lesley Carrell, Fibre FCU, at (360) 414-4204, or by e-mail at lcarrell@fibrecu.com.

MADISON, Wis.-Two new white papers from the CUNA Councils hone in on serving baby boomers.

ROSEVILLE, Mich.-Christian Financial Credit Union is not only adding new members through its "Make a Gift Deposit" program, it's adding active new members.

A New Kind of Car Repair: Help With Subprime Loans

AUSTIN, Texas-Imagine a lending program so decentralized and "disjointed" that a member could walk into one CU facility and be denied, then simply go to another and be approved.

WOODBRIDGE, Va.-By improving awareness of eligibility, Belvoir Federal Credit Union here has significantly improved membership growth.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J.-Financial institutions across the country continue to work toward the paperless transaction envisioned in the Check 21 law, but Affinity FCU found a way to bring it all together so that not only does the program pay for itself, it's restored more than 6,000 hours of member service time.

SAN ANTONIO-When times are tough, collections get even tougher, making it all the more impressive that San Antonio FCU was able to shave 77 hours a month and save $35,000 in payroll by beefing up its collections efforts.

MANCHESTER, N.H.-Despite monthly meetings and chalkboard talks, Granite State CU staff still weren't all using the same playbook, so the credit union decided it needed to create a better scoreboard to make sure all the players could quickly see where their team stood.

LANSING, Mich.-Michigan State University FCU attributes its exceptional three-month summer loan promo results-which include reaching 168% of its mortgage lending goal-to candy bars and the human touch.

FAIRFAX, Va.-A treasure hunt launched by Apple Federal Credit Union here has led to a pot of "green."

BASKING RIDGE, N.J.-The good news for Affinity FCU and its CUSO, CUMAnet, was that by July 2007 it had grown to more than 6,000 mortgage loans in its servicing portfolio.

CAPITOLA, Calif.-How did Bay FCU grow deposits by $1 million a month for 10 months? Simple: they gave their members what they wanted. And what they wanted was business banking options.

PHILADELPHIA-Though members of Police and Fire Federal Credit Union have long been able to check balances, pay bills, apply for loans and basically conduct all of their banking business online, they and prospective members were still saddled with paperwork to open a new account.