CUBC, NEFCU Offer Training Programs

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Affinity Federal Credit Union (AFCU) has turned to Integrated Media Management to develop a new “teller capture” capability whereby checks are immediately scanned at the teller station. AFCU said it expects to save an estimated $100,000 on courier fees within the first year using the new technology.

CHICAGO - In November 1955, Morgan Park Cooperative CU was the first Windy City credit union to erect its own building. The 1,500-square-foot facility, located at 11043 S. Vincennes Ave., cost $33,000 to build. Prior to the new facility, credit union treasurer E.M. May, seen behind the counter serving members, and assistant Carl Carter operated out of the backroom of a grocery store and then the basement of a church. “We used to pedal around the neighborhood on bicycles collecting quarters and half-dollars from members to build-up the assets,” said May. Those assets totaled $245,000, having grown by $50,000 in the first two weeks the building was open. (c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

If you’ve carefully avoided newspapers, radio, TV, the Internet, other people and billboards for the past few months then you may not be aware we’re in the middle of an interminable presidential primary season.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - St. Paul FCU said it is waiving the transfer fee on funds being wired to Mexico by members and non-members through Feb. 29. SPFCU rolled out Directo A México in July as an alternative to more costly money transfer organizations.

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

LOS ANGELES - Not much has changed at the credit union online branch in the past few years, but that’s about to change.

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - A sophisticated identity theft scheme was making its way around the country last week, enabling thieves to steal millions from home equity lines of credit at credit unions and banks.

ATLANTA - Technology workers spend too much time patching holes in software and sifting through network logs at Atlanta Postal Credit Union (APCU) here. And, as they’re only human, their efforts are subject to error.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - NCUA dismissed a call from CUNA to train examiners and set guidelines on subprime mortgage work outs.

The following are members of Credit Union Journal’s Technology Panel.

WASHINGTON - Congressional Republicans lost another one of their leaders last week when Rep. Richard Baker, the leading critic of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, said he is resigning his seat to become president and CEO of the Managed Funds Association, a leading hedge fund lobby group.

SAN DIEGO - First Future CU awarded two families $5,000 each as part of its “Refer a Friend and Win” sweepstakes. One winner, a member of 13 years, referred her entire family, including neighbors and co-workers. The campaign started in April when First Future began entering members who referred potential members who joined the CU in a monthly drawing to win $100. (c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

SEATTLE - A consortium of local community economic development organizations, credit unions and philanthropic foundations has been working quietly for the past two years to start a new low-income credit union (LICU) in an impoverished area of King County.

Back in the day, choosing ancillary technology products was easy. Core systems were “closed,” so you either chose the core processor’s product, or you chose not to offer that service. Easy.

BRIDGETON, Mo. - In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Credit Union Journal surveyed the CU leaders for their views on diversity within the movement.

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. - Credit unions will use the web this year to satisfy members’ need for speed, to bring new members into the fold, to save money, and wrestle eyeballs away from the big banks, according to an exclusive Credit Union Journal roundtable with the CUNA Technology Council (CTC).

HOUSTON - A federal court ordered the family of the former manager of ILA24 FCU to pay NCUA $2.8 million they stole from the now-defunct credit union after the manager, Esther Pelton, was incapacitated by Alzheimer’s disease.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It was 10 years ago President Clinton culminated an extraordinary effort by CUs when he signed HR 1151 into law. We want to know about your memories: meeting with representatives, getting petitions signed, and so much more. You’ve got 200 words to do it. Take a moment and click on the Letters to the Editor tab in the left-hand nav bar on cujournal.com and share your thoughts. (c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

MADISON, Wis. - The steps and strategies of building a credit union disaster communications plan are featured in a new white paper from the CUNA Marketing and Business Development Council. Titled “Disaster Communications: The Importance of and Strategies for Implementing a Disaster Communications Plan - Before You Need It,” the paper the importance of and strategies for implementing, testing, and continuously improving the communications portions of disaster preparedness and recovery plans and business continuity plans.