NOVEMBER

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Pentagon Federal Credit Union is helping some of America's patriots realize their own dream with a grant program that helps soldiers to buy their first homes.

LATHRUP VILLAGE, Mich. - Michigan First Credit Union has closed its first official commercial loan. The loan recipient is a long-time Michigan First member, Robert Sneed, who is using the loan to repair and renovate a 17-unit apartment building in Detroit. Michigan First launched its full-line of business services earlier in 2007, and said it has attracted more than 400 business accounts. MFCU has partnered with Michigan Business Connection, LLC, for commercial services.

Reloadable Prepaid Card Coming

MADISON, Wis. - Credit union leaders from nine U.S. states have returned home from Mexico after participating in the first World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) Hispanic Marketing Immersion Program.

HIALEAH, Fla. - Barbaro Ramallo, who has been in the United States for just two years and who was borrowing money in order to become as U.S. citizen, has won a new Ford Edge from her credit union, American Airlines FCU. Ramallo won as part of the AAFCU's Road to Success Sweepstakes, an online promotion offering members the opportunity to win a new vehicle by opening one or multiple new accounts or products. Ramallo was randomly selected from more than 53,000 sweepstakes entries. A current employee of Sky Chefs in Miami, Ramallo, a Cuban native, opened her first share account in the AA Credit Union Blue Lagoon Branch in June.

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. - People's Alliance Federal Credit Union is trying to make sure that anyone eligible for membership knows it.

RIVERWOODS, Ill. - 1. Consumer Willingness To Spend Drops

SALT LAKE CITY - The $177-million Beehive Credit Union here has filed an application with the Office of Thrift Supervision to establish a new institution known as Beehive Bank.

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The $460-million Dupaco Community Credit Union became the first financial institution in the state of Iowa to approve a Patriot Express loan to a member of the military community. "The Patriot Express Loan" was developed to help veterans and members of the military community who want to establish or expand a small business. The Patriot Express is a terrific loan program for our members who are veterans and reservists," said Steve Baumhover, Dupaco's Vice President of Business Services. "The program allows Dupaco to make loans available at reasonable rates with flexible terms. SBA has also streamlined the application process, allowing it to be completed in just a few days." Dupaco's Patriot Express Loan was made to Asbury Family Chiropractic, owned and operated by Dr. Greg Crowley, a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

ALBANY, N.Y. - The $1.4-billion SEFCU has purchased a local insurance agency, and indicated other similar acquisitions may follow. The credit union purchased the Colonial Insurance Agency LLC and its subsidiary, Kenneth Fake Agency. Terms were not disclosed. Both will become part of the SEFCU Insurance Group. The credit union said all 34 Colonial employees will retain their jobs. According to local media reports, Colonial had $20 million in premium volume and $2.4 million in revenue and operates eight offices. SEFCU Insurance will now operate from those same offices, as well as the credit union's 24 branches. The credit union told a local newspaper that it will look at other similar acquisitions.

What are you doing to turn members gained through indirect loans into active, long-lasting members?

DES MOINES, Iowa - Joey Yaukovitz helped drive new employees to the Members Group. Now Youkovitz is driving a BMW Z4 Roadster as a reward.

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INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - Consumers and members have evolved to expect products to service their individual needs, meaning credit unions must adapt if they are to survive new challengers such as ING.

BOISE, Idaho - Three representatives from Idaho's credit unions will travel for two weeks to the Solomon Islands in October as part of a partnership agreement between the Idaho CU League and the Solomon Islands CU League.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - An investor in one of the speculative homes in Cape Coral filed a new suit against Norlarco Credit Union alleging the Colorado credit union engaged in a sophisticated fraud scheme to inflate real estate appraisals in order to qualify ineligible borrowers for Florida home loans.

DURHAM, N.C. - Latino Community CU (LCCU) has produced what it says is the first Latino feature-length independent film in the state to teach financial literacy. Called "Angelica's Dreams," the film will be screened Oct. 21 as part of a presentation sponsored by Duke University and the City of Durham.

DALLAS - The confidence credit union CEO have in their own institutions' current financial performance has declined from where it was just three months ago, and they're feeling even more pessimistic about their own members' financial status for the remainder of this year.

LLOYDMINSTER, Alberta - Common Wealth Credit Union has introduced a program called "Young & Free" that is says is the first free financial management service package for young Albertans. The Young & Free platform includes a package of free, unlimited financial services along with an online microsite that includes helpful financial hints, polls, blogs and trivia to "help them move towards financial independence," the credit union said. It is now seeking a spokesperson to represent 17- to 25-year-olds. The winner will be employed by Common Wealth CU and expected to regularly participate in numerous functions. Contestants and members can view, submit and vote on video entries online at www.youngfreealberta.com.