Credit Union Journal Subscribers can access all content from the print edition every Monday simultaneously with its publication at www.cujournal.com. Additional resources include:

FORT COLLINS, Calif. - Credit unions are proving they are not immune to fallout from the crash in the mortgage markets, especially in Florida.

Over the last several years, CUNA Mutual Group has focused on plastic card fraud and the implications it has on the credit union marketplace. Below is a look at how one credit union, Alliant Credit Union in Chicago, took a serious, head-on approach to combating plastic card fraud for its organization and members.

WASHINGTON - The credit union lobby, which had built up close ties with Republican leaders in Congress for the past decade while the GOP controlled the legislative process, has been forced to change directions now that the Democrats hold the gavel in both the House and Senate.

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Even with some of the fires still burning out of control last week, Matadors Community Credit Union began offering a low-rate, no-fee Fire Relief Loan to victims of recent fires across Southern California. The Fire Relief Loan has a 12-month term, a 9.90$ APR and a maximum loan amount of $3,000. The credit union said that a 60-day deferment on payment is also being made available on the loan, which will be available through Nov. 30. CEO Dale Verderano said the loans can be used to pay for emergency expenses, including lodging, clothing and food. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

LAGOS, Nigeria - Receiving an e-mail from Nigeria with promises of wealth from an inheritance or gold mine brings merriment to bored cubicle dwellers, as well as "Who would be dumb enough to fall for that?"

Editor's note: CU Journal correspondent Jim Jerving has been on the board of the $137-million Heritage Credit Union for five years, and is currently its vice chair. Here is HCU's story.

NCUA Votes To Begin Enforcing FCU Bylaws

SALT LAKE CITY - Which state leads the nation in consumer complaints over fraud and scams?

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - NCUA said it has approved a charter for a low-income credit union to be run by tiny Beulah Church of the Nazarene, only the fifth new credit union chartered this year.

EL PASO, Texas - West Texas CU announced a unique partnership with the Mexican Consulate to offer free education programs to Mexican nationals living in the U.S. through the Mexican government's "Plaza Comunitaria" program. The credit union has agreed to offer a variety of educational programs including literacy, elementary and secondary education to the large Mexican immigrant population.

SAN DIEGO - Identity theft is growing fastest in America's smaller markets.

NOVEMBER

NEW YORK - The National Federation of Community Development CUs celebrated National Disability Employment Awareness Month with a new program aimed at expanding credit union services to disabled Americans. The program will try to try teach financial literacy to disabled Americans, help them to build financial assets and provide low-cost funding for special equipment to aid the disabled.

Minn. Effort Fights Lottery Fraud

PONTIAC, Mich. - There are several business models in operation that offer small credit unions the opportunity to act as "big dogs" in security and fraud prevention. The Affinity Group's friendly merger and the CU Resource Group CUSO are cases in point.

SAN FRANCISCO - What do consumers consider the perfect mix of security features when it comes to their plastic cards? A new survey from Javelin Strategy & Research has found, not surprisingly, that "Identity fraud is a major pain point for consumers and can damage the relationship between the consumer and the card issuer."

CALABASAS, Calif. - Helping members with common sense security tips is a means of securing home banking. Scott Mackelprang, vice president of security and compliance with Digital Insight developed the following guidelines:

WASHINGTON - CUNA continued to shower sponsors of its credit union bill with campaign contributions last month, paying out $55,000 to 25 of the 135 House sponsors of the legislation, known as the CU Regulatory Improvements Act.

Be afraid. Be very afraid. They're out there, walking among us. Well-organized hordes of fraudsters roaming your online banking channel like the undead, often unseen and unheard until it's too late. Their greatest advantage is invisibility-their uncanny ability to blend in among your honest online members as they consume credentials, identities and eventually assets. But what if you could shine the light of day on these phantom visitors and reveal their surreptitious, shadowy methods?