SALT LAKE CITY - Member Business Lending LLC, the nation's biggest business loan CUSO, said last week it is teaming up with WesCorp FCU to buy member business loans from credit unions for eventual sale on the secondary market.

LANSING, Mich. - In a major coup for credit unions, the Office of Financial and Insurance Services, which regulates 225 state chartered credit unions, has named Ken Ross, a former executive with the Michigan league, its new commissioner. Ross, who was VP-regulatory affairs for the league through 2003, will succeed Linda Watters, who resigned last week. Watters will be joining the financial risk-management practice of KPMG LLP, in Chicago. Ross joined OFIS as Watters' chief of staff in 2003, then was named deputy commissioner earlier this year. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - USERS Inc. hosted more than 400 attendees at its 24th annual educational conference, EdCon 2007, at the Hyatt Grand Champions here.

WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of 13 House members from Georgia called on leaders of the Financial Services Committee last week to hold a hearing on the CU Regulatory Improvements Act, better known as CURIA.

MANCHESTER, N.H. - For St. Mary's Bank, it has been business as usual, despite current market conditions in the mortgage industry.

STAMFORD, Conn. - Five major discontinuities are combining and will force IT organizations to change long-standing practices for procuring and managing IT, according to a new study from Gartner Inc. The intensity of these trends will grow through 2011, the consulting firm added.

WASHINGTON - Legislation introduced in Congress last week would set new standards for mortgage escrow accounts, independent of real estate appraisals and mortgage servicing.

CMG Enhances Workers Comp

As our CU grows, what are your panel's thoughts on suppliers/vendors getting involved or giving feedback on candidates a CU is considering for an IT position?

EUGENE, Ore. - "Alandra," a SELCO Community Credit Union member, is browsing the Net for an opportunity as a volunteer in her community. Meanwhile, the Department of Human Services here is looking for helpers to drive foster children to visit their parents.

NEW YORK - The so-called "Green Revolution" is expanding into IT services, one of the biggest consumers of electricity and other resources.

The past 10 years have seen an unprecedented wave of branching by financial institutions. With several thousand branches being opened each year at an average cost of more than $2 million, the industry is collectively wagering billions of dollars on the likelihood that consumers will continue to visit physical branches to fulfill their financial needs. But are the investments delivering the returns necessary to justify their capital investments?

BINGHAMPTON, N.Y. - Credit unions around the country found any number of ways to celebrate International Credit Union Day and Week last week. At GHS FCU, it was with reptiles and a clothing drive. The credit union had representatives from the Reptile Co. on hand at its Upper Front St. office, with local morning radio host Glenn Pitcher broadcasting from the facility. Every GHS Branch collected winter clothing for charity. Each GHS location also had a prize drawing for a gift basket. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

I was attending a local charity event last night. It was on the 24th floor of the SunTrust Bank Building with one of the most beautiful views of our beloved city.

MELBOURNE, Fla. - The $1.5-billion Space Coast Credit Union has added a Platinum Visa card with a points reward program to its product menu. The rewards are earned through the Scorecard Rewards program that provides one point for every dollar and offers a catalog of products and travel where members can spend their earned points.

BRANDON, Vt. - Heritage Family CU has acquired the historic fire station in downtown and plans to turn it into a full service branch. HFCU plans to preserve the 119-year-old building's brick facade and renovate the two-story building as a state-of-the-art branch. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. - DealerTrack, the provider of online solutions for indirect auto lending, said it plans to raise up to $100 million with an offering of two-million common shares. Funds raised may help underwrite acquisitions. DealerTrack said it is facing intense competition from CU Direct Corp. (CUDL) and from RouteOne, which is owned by the financing arms of Chrysler, Ford, GM and Toyota. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

WESTBROOK, Maine - The Maine credit unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger, in partnership with Good Shepherd Food-Bank, celebrated the second anniversary of the state's first and only "Food Mobile" by presenting a check in the amount of $7,000 (a symbol of the 7,000 pounds of food the Food Mobile can carry in one trip).

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Days after California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation designed to hold retailers responsible for protecting consumer information, representatives from the California league said the governor's decision misses the point.

WASHOUGAL, Wash. - Officials of Columbia CU will join local dignitaries later this week to break ground on the area's first financial institution built to LEED "Green" standards. The facility, the first of three green branches planned by the $800-million credit union for 2008, will incorporate environmentally friendly aspects and be rated under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.