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MADISON, Wis. - Loans at credit unions increased during March, including fixed-rate mortgages, which were up 2.8%, according to analysis by CUNA. But auto loan balances saw their biggest declines in a decade. CUNA Senior Economist Steve Rick released a statement saying CUs are gaining loan volume as the result of competitors tightening loan standards.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Twenty-eight state regulatory agencies have signed a comment letter sent to NCUA expressing “serious concerns” about the agency’s Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to rules on mergers, charter conversions and termination of insurance for federally insured CUs.

At press time, the number of CURIA co-sponsors in the Senate. 51 are needed for a majority.

USA Today Personal Finance columnist Sandra Block said consumers disappointed in savings rates at banks should also consider credit unions, pointing to bankrate.com data showing CUs outpaying banks on some products. Block clarified that most credit unions have federal deposit insurance and explained what the NCUSIF is. The column included quotes from NAFCU CEO Fred Becker and CUNA CEO Dan Mica outlining the advantages of CUs. But Block also listed “drawbacks,” including “you must be a member,” limited services, and limited branch networks.

PASADENA, Calif. - Given the rapidly rising price of gasoline, not to mention the often mind-numbing commutes on Southern California freeways, interest in Wescom Credit Union’s vanpool program for its employees should be in the fast lane, right?

MAY

The Credit Union Journal is announcing its Call for Entries for its Best Practices awards. It's easy to enter!

Think of it as a Growth Spurt. In last week’s issue we featured some of the voluminous amounts of information shared during Credit Union Journals’ Grow Show. In this issue you’ll find coverage of the meeting beginning on page 22. And below you’ll find just a fraction of some of what else was shared at Grow Show:

Bull’s eye.

Continued credit union growth is predicated on the ability of credit unions to not only keep the members they have, but also attract new members. It is important for credit unions to focus on employees and business operations, but in order to grow and prosper they should concentrate on their members. Members serve as the conduit between the employees of the organization and any earnings potential that an organization may realize.

WASHINGTON - Able to add new members and open new accounts for existing members in a single bound, FedChoice FCU has put together one-day events that have had super results.

SFCU Deploys Small Biz Solution

LAS VEGAS - Several of the most successful companies in America had their roots in the simplest of business concepts: find a need and fulfill it.

The winner of the 2008 world series will come from:

LAS VEGAS - During NACUSO’s annual meeting here, the Credit Union Journal asked attendees: Is your CUSO making money for the credit union?

LAS VEGAS. - NACUSO elected its new boasrd of directors at its annual meeting here.

WASHINGTON - NCUA and banking regulators have proposed new rules barring certain unfair credit card practices and setting new requirements on overdraft protection programs, including allowing members to opt out of such programs, also known as bounce protection.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An effective lending program is a primary trait of thriving small and mid-sized credit unions, and the economic recession is an opportunity for CUs to improve portfolios, according to former Filene Research Institute Executive Director Robert Hoel.

WASHINGTON - Two years later, one of its biggest political expenditures paid off for CUNA with the introduction in the Senate of the CU Regulatory Improvements Act, better known as CURIA, by Sen. Joseph Lieberman.