LENEXA, Kan. – U.S. Central FCU on Friday said it has been approved to access the Federal Reserve’s credit facilities, including intraday credit and the discount window.

PHOENIX - As the government prepares to send out economic stimulus payouts and tax refunds, credit unions are trying to motivate their members on the most beneficial ways to spend–or save–their “found” money.

WASHINGTON — A withering lobby by the bankers last week killed an effort to bring the credit union regulatory relief bill, known as CURRA, to a vote in Congress, sending the credit union lobbyists scurrying to regroup.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - In response to reader feedback, CU Journal offers 22 strategies and tips for improving your credit union’s bottom line. As CU decision-makers know all too well, vendors are always claiming their solution can improve performance or revenues. So CU Journal asked, “What one thing can CUs do right now to improve their bottom lines?” Check out their suggestions below.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Not surprisingly, “growth” dominated the discussion last week during Credit Union Journal’s Grow Show here. More surprisingly, perhaps, was that it was generally agreed by many of the fastest-growing credit unions in the country that growth as a strategy and growth for growth’s sake is a mistake that often leads to just the opposite.

CONCORD, Calif. - Members continued to draw their funds out of ailing Cal State 9 CU at an increasing rate in the first quarter, while losses at the one-time $465-million institution, another victim of the mortgage crisis, continued to grow.

WASHINGTON - When he speaks to credit union groups, House Financial Services Committee Chair Barney Frank, likes to tout the benefits of the CU masses, as opposed to campaign largesse, as the main reason Congress likes credit unions–but the Massachusetts Democrat and his colleagues also know that credit unions have grown into one of the most avid contributors to congressional campaigns.

Chartway To Offer Help To Any Victims Of Storm

PASADENA, Calif. - Just eight weeks after introducing its “IMAGINE THAT!” picture card program that allows members to personalize their plastic cards with their own photos, Wescom CU has seen more than 2,800 images submitted for plalcement on members’ Visa cards.

The Credit Union Journal is announcing its Call for Entries for its Best

Ohio CUL Launches MoneyAndStuff

WASHINGTON - The Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve dropped its overnight target rates by .25%, the seventh rate cut since September 2007.

ORLANDO - Fairwinds Credit Union has rolled out a campaign to capitalize on consumer skepticism about financial services and, in the process, pick up new, young members.

At press time, the number of co-sponsors on the CURIA bill. 218 are needed to have a majority. (c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

Thinking about growing your credit union? Have growth at the heart of your strategic plan? Do you, the board and the management team spend time talking about growth? Big mistake!

ORLANDO - Fairwinds Credit Union is running a series of innovative Flash Web companion ads as part of a broader effort to connect with a younger demographic and capitalize on social networking.

CANTON, N.Y. - Police are investigating hundreds of unauthorized Visa credit and debit card transactions at area financial institutions, the latest in a growing series of data breaches.

MAY

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - CU Journal gives readers the opportunity to weigh in on a variety of issues. To add your two cents or see past surveys, visit www.cujournal.com. (c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

INDIANAPOLIS - The former head teller at now-defunct Obelisk FCU pleaded guilty to stuffing her pockets with wads of $100 bills for four years–stealing a total of $7 million–to feed her gambling habit, pushing the 37-year-old credit union into bankruptcy.