ROSEVILLE, Calif. - While one company reports marketing budgets are still intact this year (see related story), Matrix Manager here says many of its clients are feeling a budget squeeze and being more focused as a means of getting the most out of their marketing budgets.

FRISCO, Texas - With marketing budgets tightening due to shrinking margins, leveraging CRM solutions to drive organic growth should be high among CU priorities, says technology giant Fiserv.

DALLAS - TNB Card Services has seen a slowdown in credit unions selling credit card portfolios and expects that trend to continue as CUs seek to offset poor performing auto and mortgage loan portfolios, the card processor says.

ATLANTA - Rising unemployment will make account access more important to members in the second half of 2008, predicts a shared branching expert who also recommends two solutions to extend CUs’ reach.

SAN DIMAS - Spikes in commodity prices, rising consumer debt, and little or no wage growth have WesCorp predicting a tougher economy in the second half of 2008. And while the corporate CU here is cautioning that market conditions will challenge balance sheets, it also foresees opportunity for lending growth.

ORLANDO, Fla.–During Credit Union Journal’s recent Grow Show, companies that had partnered with the show and who were on hand were asked what solutions and suggestions they would offer to help credit unions grow during the remainder of the year. Here’s a look at some of what they had to say:

What are you looking for from your vendors

FAIRFAX, Va. - Thanks to Apple FCU, two high schools here recently added a new competition: attempting to out-save one another.

FORT BRAGG, N.C.–The CEO of $261-million Fort Bragg FCU has three words for Navy FCU as the world’s largest credit union expands to serve all members of the military: “bring it on!”

SUITLAND, Md. - Andrews FCU has launched an ad campaign aimed at helping it penetrate the competitive Washington, D.C. market. Themed “Imagine the Possibilities,” the campaign includes spots on cable TV, transit, and print with three different ads highlighting auto loans, home equity loans, and general membership.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Affinity FCU has launched the Affinity Education Resource Center (AERC) at www.affinityfcu.org/education “to help both college-bound students and their parents better understand savings options, borrowing for college, and financial aid.” AFCU cited a recent Bankrate/GfK Roper study that found that 62% of parents with household incomes less than $50,000 cannot afford college for their children. Among higher-income groups, that number is still a significant 35%, the same study found.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Piedmont Aviation Credit Union CEO Judy Tharp is featured on the cover of the June issue of Forsyth Woman Magazine and is featured inside in an article headlined, “One Woman’s Leadership Journey.” The article encompasses highlights of Tharp's career in credit unions beginning in Wil-mington in 1979, when she helped to start Cape Fear ECU, to her current role today. Forsyth Woman distributes 50,000 copies a month in multiple locations throughout the Triad area of the state. (c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

MADISON, Wis. - The Credit Union Executives Society has introduced “CUES in CUs,” which it says is aimed at helping to cut staff training costs by bringing a CUES trainer to the credit union.

DALLAS — Due to rising gas prices, City Credit Union has restructured its branch employees to work at the branch closest to their home. In addition, several back-office employees are working four 10-hour days. Senior management and some back-office associates also have the opportunity to telecommute.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – ESL FCU is preparing to break ground on its new $50 million headquarters, one of two major projects aimed at changing the face of this decaying upstate New York city.

JACKSON, Mich. – A former teller at what is now Jackson Community CU who admitted she stole more than $36,000 from the accounts of mostly elderly credit union members will spend 90 days in jail.

WEST JORDAN, Utah – Two-and-a-half years after its inception, the students at Grainger High School have constructed their own airplane – thanks to the state’s credit union foundation.

DENVER – First Data Corp. this week said it will terminate its lucrative merchant payments venture with JP Morgan Chase, known as Chase Paymentech Solutions, by year end and will bring the operation in house.

McLEAN, Va. – Long-term mortgage rates continued to move up this week, to their highest levels in almost three months, according to Freddie Mac.

BOWIE, Md. – NASA FCU yesterday announced it has added the Tire Industry Association to its field of membership.