AUGUSTA, Maine – Commercials for Maine’s credit unions are airing on local television during the Olympic Games.

ARLINGTON, Va. - When examiners visit state-chartered credit unions in the coming months management should expect tougher scrutiny of member business lending, vendor relationships, indirect lending, and HELOC portfolios, according to the trade group representing state agencies.

WASHINGTON - Bankers called on both national parties last week to include provisions in their platforms that would strengthen the nation's banks and, among other things, to direct credit unions to focus on what they say is the credit union mission of serving the underserved.

Calif. CU Stands Ready To Assist State Employees

APPLE VALLEY, Calif. - The figure is as staggering as it was eye-catching: 20.45% of loans were delinquent at High Desert FCU as of June 30.

MADISON, Wis. - The Credit Union Journal hosted an evening out at a Madison Mallards baseball game for representatives of CUNA Mutual, CUES, CUNA and the World Council. More than 60 people attended the pregame festivities and the game itself. The Mallards play in the Northwoods League, a summer collegiate league.(c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved.http://www.cujournal.com/ http://www.sourcemedia.com/

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Human Rights Commission last week found that Rainbow FCU discriminated against a disabled job applicant when it refused to consider her for a teller job last year because of her physical condition.

Operation Best Wishes Wins Award

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Consumers across the country are seeing the headlines and TV news reports about bank failures and wondering about the safety of their deposits at your credit union.

WASHINGTON - For only the third time in the 21-year history of the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards, the National Credit Union Foundation has named two winners in a single category, with Rita Haynes and Tom Sargent both winning the individual achievement award.

MADISON, Wis. - Salaries for 2008 for credit unions CEOs rose 7%, despite the current shaky economy, according to the 2008 CUES Executive Compensation Survey.

I have, in just the past year alone, won the British National Lottery twice, inherited enormous sums of money from relatives at least two forests removed from my own family tree, and, like many of you, been the fortunate recipient of the generosity of an African prince/government official who just needs a small downpayment in order to share with me the millions of dollars/Euros that await me.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Technology budgets stick out like a sore thumb, especially during a tight economy-so managers better have good analytical tools and make sure IT spending is in line with the CU's strategic plan, information technology execs were told last week.

CardWizard 4.0 Is Released

Given the stressed economic environment, the failure of some financial institutions and the troubled mortgage market, it is natural that policymakers are reassessing the nation's regulatory structure in an attempt to prevent future crises.

AUGUST

Editor's note: this letter is in response to previous letters to the editor about the size of CUNA CEO Dan Mica's salary and an NCUA proposal to make all credit union CEOs' salaries public record.

I understand if you have chosen to quit opening the newspaper. Overall net membership growth is declining. Net interest margins are not covering operating expenses. CEO and board leadership is in transition. The economy is bordering on recession. Interest rates are fluctuating daily. For many, the housing market has gone south. Fuel and food prices are rising faster than our raises and pundits are forecasting a gloomy picture for this election year into 2009.

TUKWILA, Wash. - After revamping its pricing structure and keeping its focus OFF of growth, Boeing Employees CU is enjoying results that not only put it at the top of national peer rankings but also is allowing the CU to do the one thing it isn't focusing on-grow.

In one quarter of 2005, AOL lost approximately 300 members per hour while sending out millions of free "Try AOL" disks.