SEATTLE - Don't think for a moment the U.S. Treasury Department's proposal to eliminate dual chartering for credit unions is going to quietly pass by the attention of NASCUS.

WASHINGTON - The Comptroller of the Currency is urging NCUA, the Federal Reserve Board, and the Office of Thrift Supervision, to make significant changes to a proposal to define unfair and deceptive credit card practices.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - For the second week in a row, credit unions will be seeking to raise their profile and advance their interests at a political convention.

MORA, Minn. - When Steve Ahlness opened the July 14 issue of Credit Union Journal, he noticed something familiar about the 54-year-old photo that was published as part of this newspaper's Postcards from the Past series.

CHICAGO - Credit unions in all regions of the country should be revisiting and thoroughly documenting the thinking behind all policies and procedures as state and federal regulators toughen the examination process, according to one CPA firm.

MEDFORD, Ore. - With a big increase in auto repossessions, Rogue Federal Credit Union is auctioning off its returned or repossessed vehicles on the Internet. A surge in the number of people turning in their cars because they can no longer make the payments, coupled with overloaded dealerships that cannot get rid of inventory, made it impossible for the $402-million credit union to stick with its previous storage and auction plans.

Southern Calif. Proposed Merger Is Called Off

WASHINGTON - The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) boosted reserves more than 2,000% during the second quarter to cover the costs of bank failures. FDIC said it was reserving $10-billion during the second quarter after the number of banks and thrifts on its "problem list" increased by more than 30% to 117. As a result of the enormous loan loss provision the FDIC's reserve ratio declined 18 points to 1.01%. That, in turn, should mean higher premiums in 2009 for banks and thrifts insured by the FDIC.

RALEIGH, N.C. - Truliant Federal Credit Union has launched a new program that provides funding to local non-profits. Called the "Truliant Community Mini-Grant Program," it provides grants to nonprofits can use to support operational costs.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Credit union members continue to save more than they are borrowing as the economy stifles economic activity. Mid-year data released by NCUA shows savings were up significantly during the first half of the year at 7%, compared to 3.7% for loans. Overall assets grew 6.5%.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Just what the heck is a credit union? And how safe are they?

DAWSON, Minn.-Despite the tough conditions in rural Minnesota and the shrinking population in the counties Dawson Co-op CU serves, the $53-million credit union has deployed strategies to keep going strong.

CFO Council Releases White Papers

TMG Adds Reloadable Cards

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Social media and a clever publicity stunt have given UT FCU more hits in a month on its youth website than it had received in a year.

SEPTEMBER

Your disaster plan has no doubt gotten much more detailed and sophisticated in a post 9/11 and Katrina World. Those run-of-the-mill disasters, fires and floods and tornadoes? You're ready. The slightly more exotic but increasingly common internal threats? You've put new procedures in place and updated your insurance. And those supposedly once-a-century disasters and terrorist attacks? You aren't waiting 100 years to get your act together.

With financial service trends driving towards mobility and efficiency, we need to invest in and examine how we can extend our products and services through new e-channels and challenge ourselves on product differentiation.

LAS VEGAS - Bob Hoel reminded that the Filene Research Institute has uncovered the eight secrets of high-growth CUs, those it calls "stars":

LAS VEGAS-The gloomy news in the financial sector does not mean there are no bright spots for credit unions, according to one person.