SAN FRANCISCO - Wells Fargo Merchant Services LLC and Discover Financial Services announced an agreement to offer full-service processing for all Discover transactions through Wells Fargo Merchant Services. Wells Fargo customers will have seamless card payment processing for a broader range of payment options at the point of sale.

HOUSTON - PULSE launched its new neural network-based fraud detection system across its entire network last week, following a three-month beta development program involving 14 financial institutions. DebitProtect provides risk-scoring for all PULSE PIN, signature and PINless debit transactions on the PULSE network, and notifies designated financial institution personnel via e-mail of possible fraudulent transactions.

Oxford Federal Credit Union, Mexico, Maine, promoted Wendy Martin to mortgage lender, named Kim Driscoll, Audra Skillen and Carrie Phelps financial service representatives and Steven Hildebrand marketing coordinator.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - The six CUNA Councils collectively will sponsor the kickoff event featuring the band America at the 2008 Government Affairs Conference in Washington, the head of one council said.

SAN FRANCISCO - The credit union movement is headed for one of its biggest paydays ever-as much as $1 billion worth of stock in Visa Inc.-when the cards giant goes public later this year.

LATHAM, N.Y. - Representatives from the New York State CU League recently met with the New York State Banking Department and its newly appointed superintendent, Richard Neiman, in New York City to talk about regulatory and legislatives issues.

MISSOULA, Mont. - While some businesses may be accused of having a glass ceiling, one Montana credit union will be among the first to install a glass floor, and it will require the help of its members to do so.

Buyout Group Lowers Offer For Sallie Mae

SAN DIEGO - The future holds a growing unwillingness by consumers to accept additional fees, resulting pressures to reduce even more costs, and potential new niches for smaller players such as credit unions, according to a one group of experts.

LAS VEGAS - The American Credit Union Mortgage Association is headquartered in the home of the World Series of Poker, and ACUMA's president used a poker analogy to advise CUs of the opportunity offered them by the current mortgage market.

Throughout 2007, the Credit Union Journal is profiling the credit unions of each U.S. state and D.C. Rather than appear in alphabetical order, the states are being featured in the order they became states.

ROANOKE, Va. - Brad Boothe sees saving for college as one more step on the road to financial literacy, a road Member One Federal Credit Union is committed to making available to as many of its members as possible.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Beacon Federal Bancorp, a conglomeration of five converted credit unions, plans to raise as much $100 million in an initial public offering, one of the biggest offerings ever for a former credit union.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Although recently released stats for the second quarter revealed some real strength in the economy, NAFCU Economist Tun Wai suggested the troubled housing and financial markets still are taking a toll.

Does your credit union have various programs in place to help members with the various "steps" in their lives? Chances are you do. But does your CU also let those same members do your marketing for you by offering in-branch testimonials on how the credit union has helped them move from one step to the next? It's just as likely you do not.

In recent months credit unions have found it difficult to improve their margin position - the difference between what is earned on loans and investments and what is paid on members' deposits.

OCTOBER

AUSTIN, Texas - There are a number of compelling reasons to offer business loans-diversification of asset and member base, potential fee income and the like-but perhaps the most compelling reason of all: members want them.

In a story on local financial institutions and the advice they provide, the Harrisburg Patriot-News included Belco Community CU and Pennsylvania State Employees CU, along with PNC Bank. The story focused on helping consumers distinguish between financial "advice" and a financial "sales pitch." The story noted that PSECU has expanded its financial services division from three people to 11, and that members of BCCU can contact a counselor by phone to receive information about budgeting, home buying, and debt management. Free one-hour counseling sessions are also available through a contracted third party company.

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. - Power Financial CU is offering a "360-degree transformation, including financial, physical, emotional and lifestyle counseling" to one local woman. It is valuing the services being offered at $4,000. The CU, in conjunction with the Women's Business Mastermind Group, which says it is based on the CU-like premise of "women helping women," said it believes financial fitness is as important as all other aspects of life.