A credit union's brand is the place it holds in the minds of its members. In the same way, its internal brand, or culture, resides in the minds of its employees. Culture amounts to the written and unwritten rules that govern how employees behave, think and feel. The external and internal brand must be aligned because it's very difficult to deliver an exceptional member experience, without an exceptional staff experience.

Random thoughts while on-hold trying to make a room reservation for CUNA's 2008 Governmental Affairs Conference, and having this conversation:

I just read the Credit Union Journal article on the use of instant messaging (IM) (CU Journal, Oct. 22). We began using the AOL Instant Messenger approximately five to six years ago internally, precisely for the reasons cited in the article.

Editor's note: this letter was written in response to an article that appeared on www.cujournal.com Nov. 2.

How safe is your member data? Not nearly as safe as you might imagine-especially if you're blissfully unaware that many common assumptions about important data security matters are dangerously inaccurate.

I'm certain that I'm not the only Credit Union Journal reader who laughed out loud while reading Frank Diekmann's op/ed entitled, "Forget Room 1408: Far Scarier Hotel Room This Halloween" (CU Journal Oct. 29).

I've worked in the credit union industry for over 30 years. For the past 20 years I have been making this case about credit union accounting terminology. The reception for the ideas have been mixed-maybe it's that I'm talking about accounting or maybe it's my New York accent, but the general message has been "go away."

BILLINGS, Mont. – A former teller at McCone County FCU was sentenced Friday to one day in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to embezzling $12,300 from the credit union.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – An elderly bandit believed to have robbed as many as seven institutions over the past six weeks–including Tennessee Members 1st FCU twice in the last week–was arrested Saturday at a Georgia hotel.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – The Iowa Division of CUs said Friday it has taken over the Davenport Fire Department CU because of broad record-keeping deficiencies at the $10 million credit union. The state regulator said the deficiencies prevent them from determining the financial condition of the credit union.

DENVER – Bellco CU hired one of Colorado’s best known independent film makers to create a television commercial for its ‘No ATMs Fees, Anybody, Any Card’ ad campaign, which debuted Friday.

FREDERICK, Md. –A man who spent four months for an armed robbery at Spectrum FCU he didn’t commit filed a $15 million suit against police last week. James Jones was arrested and jailed for the August 2006 hold-up, but was eventually freed after a serial robber was captured and confessed to the credit union robbery.

SAN FRANCISCO – Visa Inc. said Friday it plans to raise as much as $10 billion with its previously announced initial public offering, making it one of the biggest U.S. IPOs ever.

SEATTLE – In one of the fastest sales of a credit union-convert, Sound Financial Inc., known until 2003 as Credit Union of the Pacific, said Friday it plans to raise up to $17 million with an initial offering of stock to depositors and the public.

DECATUR, Ga. – Refinancing costs surrounding the acquisition of John H. Harland Co. left what has become Harland Clarke Holdings, the nation’s largest check printer, in the red to the tune of almost $25 million for the first three quarters.

WASHINGTON – Fannie Mae's third-quarter loss more than doubled to $1.4 billion, the secondary mortgage market giant said Friday, while forecasting industry troubles through 2008 because of mounting home loan delinquencies.

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. – PHH Corp., operator of the largest mortgage bank for credit unions, said Friday third quarter losses widened to $38 million, or 69 cents a share.

HOUSTON – Cardtronics Inc., which is carving out a major stake in the electronic funds market through credit unions, reported sharply wider third quarter losses on Friday, as its prepares to go public in an initial public offering.

WEST PALM BEACH – Has your credit union found a particularly effective way of telling its story and communicating to members and prospective members just what a credit union is? If so, take a moment and make sure to enter the 2008 Frankie Awards.

FAIRHAVEN, Mass. – Soldiers are being offered a variety of rate discounts and other benefits this Veterans Day under a new ‘Hero Account’ unveiled by First Citizens FCU.