BREMERTON, Wash. - Kitsap Credit Union put a modern twist on the hoary cliché "Necessity is the Mother of Invention," when it adapted its company intranet to create an automated, electronic accounts payable system.

DALLAS - Check cashing and verification solutions provider VALID Systems announced that KeyBank is expanding its check cashing program to additional markets across the United States.

ROCKVILLE, Md. - The best salesman is one who is sold on the product himself, so Montgomery County Teachers FCU started out selling its online bill payment product to its staff first.

WASHINGTON - A group of credit union economists has issued a new economic forecast that is more pessimistic than what was being projected earlier this year, cutting its 2008 CU loan growth outlook by nearly 100 basis points.

CUNA Political Communications Manager Joann Sordellini distributes mints during "CU Helper Day." to commuters emerging from the Capitol South Metro station on Capitol Hill. More than 1,500 mints were distributed. See related item, page 6. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.–Implementing ideas that are proven to work–that’s what Credit Union Journal readers have told us they want.

WASHINGTON - Credit union lobbyists are opposing a proposal to amend the bankruptcy code in a way that would allow bankruptcy court judges to restructure terms and values of outstanding mortgages that have been foreclosed on. The bill would allow bankruptcy judges to change some mortgage terms on a borrower's primary residence, potentially changing the interest rate and other features of a loan.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Ascend FCU's new branch design provides its employees with the tools they need to provide their members with the best service possible.

DUBLIN, Ohio - How do you know when a new product or service has been successful? When it nearly single-handedly allows you to build your first-ever headquarters.

HOUSTON - At the beginning of this year, Smart Financial Credit Union implemented a series of team challenges and incentives titled "Teaming up to Provide Superior Service."

TALLAHASSE, Fla. - In response to member credit unions asking for investment advice and management help, Southeast Corporate Credit Union has launched a CUSO called Accolade Investment Advisory LLC.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - CUs were pitched as an effective way to address racial disparities in lending during a public forum here.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The NCUA Board voted in closed meeting against approving the combination of WesCorp FCU and Volunteer Corporate CU, sending representatives of both corporates back to hammer out a new deal in the on-again, off-again merger.

Is your credit union good at telling the 'credit union' story? Have you found a unique and effective way to communicate to members and prospective members just what it is you are and why you're different? Then take a moment and enter the Frankie Awards. Just send an e-mail to fdiekmann cujournal.com and share what you've done and how it's worked, along with any related materials. For a look at what previous Frankie winners have done, go to www.cujournal.com and search 'Frankie' in the search box.

Meetings 2008

WASHINGTON - Lawmakers are expected to propose an amendment to pending legislation to rein in abuses in overdraft protection that would enable credit unions to continue to offer the popular programs.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - FirstMark Credit Union here is crediting the creation of a "Branch Operations Analyst" position for helping to streamline and create efficiencies within its branch network.

SEATTLE - So a guy with a million dollars walks into a credit union ...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Fighting the natural urge to run to technology vendors for help, Envision CU instead is taking a hard look in the mirror in order to get more out of its accounting software and business activities.

MADISON, Wis. - The challenges and possible solutions for managing four separate generational groups at credit unions is the subject of a new white paper from the CUNA Human Resources, Training, and Development (HR/TD) Council. The paper, "The Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. "Getting Along: Managing the Multi-Generational Workforce," discusses the impact that this phenomenon has on the workplace, and the factors that credit unions may want to consider if they are looking to recruit and retain the next generation of workers and leaders amid a tight labor market.