LAS VEGAS - The "Perfect Storm" that is today's mortgage market is a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" for credit unions, according to two lending consultants.

HOUSTON - Strunk & Associates, a financial advisory service known for its implementation of the original Overdraft Privilege Service Program, expressed its concerns to its credit-union partners regarding to House Bill HR 946.

Frank Diekmann's column in the Sept. 17 issue of the Credit Union Journal referenced bloggers on the Internet who had written, "I hate my credit union." I'd like to add my own personal perspective. Apparently these individuals were incensed about having to stand in line waiting for what seemed to be an eternity to process their financial transaction because credit unions have failed to staff appropriately.

Ronkonkoma, N.Y. - People's Alliance FCU is trying to make sure that anyone eligible for membership knows it.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A former branch manager for The Golden 1 CU who admitted to stealing more than $73,000 through fake withdrawals was sentenced last week to 180 days in jail and ordered to pay restitution to the credit union.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Two more CUs are expanding into business services. The $979-million Eagle FCU here, through a partnership with CU Business Capital, LLC (CUBC), Miramar, Fla., has expanded its offerings to include business loans, leases and SBA loans, deposit products, business checking and MMAs, remote deposit capture, commercial insurance products and more. In the process American Eagle has also become a Tier II equity partner of CUBC, which is a CUSO, entitling it to pricing discounts on CUBC services.

A few months ago I had the pleasure of visiting Boston for the first time. Not having ever been to Boston, I chose to hit the streets and begin my aimless pursuit of a mug of Boston's finest.

WASHINGTON - A bill aimed at reforming abusive overdraft protection practices could reform the service right out of credit unions-eliminating an important source of non-interest income for many CUs.

CU Journal explored the advantages larger CUs have over their smaller brethren. Now, CUJ focuses on how some small CUs are not only surviving, but thriving.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - NCUA's Outreach Task Force, charged with evaluating the Member Service Assessment Pilot, is working on putting together its report now that all six of the group's "town hall meetings" in various locations throughout the country are complete. The topics addressed included: programs and processes to encourage outreach to underserved communities; value of low-income designation; and data collection on member income and executive compensation. "The town hall meetings are a critical component of the Task Force's mission of evaluating the MSAP in order to make recommendations aimed at enhancing service to credit union members," said NCUA Board Member Gigi Hyland, who chairs the task force. "As we facilitated these meetings across the country, the support the credit union community has given to the Task Force has been exemplary, and the insights shared will prove to be invaluable as the Task Force deliberates to produce the report." (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

SAN ANTONIO - The $4-billion Security Service Federal Credit Union (SSFCU) is absorbing via merger Harlingen-based Kilowatt Federal Credit Union (KFCU). The $9-million KFCU has 2,100 members and two locations in the Rio Grande Valley area, where SSFCU already has 2,500 members.

MADISON, Wis. - Members continued to turn to their credit unions for loans during August.

MERIDIAN, Miss. - Frank Besecke describes himself as a "hands-on CEO," a trait that may have been especially useful when he took over the reins of 1st Mississippi FCU four years ago.

WASHINGTON - The winners of the highest awards presented in the credit union community have been named. Bob Hoel, Harriet May and the State Employees Credit Union Foundation in North Carolina have been selected as the recipients of the 20th Annual Herb Wegner Memorial Awards, which are sponsored by the National Credit Union Foundation.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - CU Journal gives readers the opportunity to weigh in on a variety of issues. Below are the results of a recent online poll. To add your two cents or see past surveys, visit www.cujournal.com.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - The CUNA Operations, Sales and Service Council named Spokane Teachers CU and Ascend FCU winners of the OpSS Council's Best Practices Awards for sales and service management and branch design, respectively.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Credit unions in New Mexico are reporting that college students enticed with offers of free food discovered that the free food came with a price-they must apply for a credit card.

CUAO CEO Gene Poitras to Retire

Alexandria, Va. — Now that NCUA has enacted new rules to provide greater "transparency" in CU operations, just what will it mean in practice?

WASHINGTON - The Competitive Enterprise Institute has published a paper suggesting that credit unions are a potential remedy to small businesses feeling the current credit crunch. A paper authored by Eli Lehrer and titled, "Taxicab Medallions and Heirloom Tomatoes to the Rescue," suggests that restrictions on credit union business lending should be lifted in order to increase the supply of credit to the small business market.