CHICAGO - Chicago Patrolmen's CU has signed with LifeLock to help prevent and resolve cases of identity theft among its members. LifeLock enables members to "lock" their credit by setting and automatically renewing fraud alerts with the three major credit bureaus, removing member names from pre-approved credit card offers and junk mail lists, and providing a $1 million guarantee. LifeLock is based in Tempe, Ariz. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

MADISON, Wis. - The annual Pro and Blockbuster Awards, recognizing excellence in public relations, marketing and advertising by state credit union leagues and league service corporations, have been announced.

National Data Security Bill Now Looking Doubtful

APPLETON, Wis. - Prospera Credit Union's "GoodMoney Payday Loan" program received national coverage when featured in the New York Times. The story, a profile of payday lending practices, highlighted the cost of borrowing from a payday lender vs. payday lending alternatives. The story detailed how Prospera Credit Union launched its GoodMoney program in conjunction with the Darboy, Wis.-based Goodwill store, and noted that borrowers using the Goodmoney program pay less than half the cost of loan fees ($9.90 per $100) compared to a typical payday lender. The program has since been expanded to all five Prospera Credit Union locations throughout the Fox Valley, Wisconsin market. The Times reported that the GoodMoney program has saved borrowers $362,000 in loan fees and processed more than 6,545 loans for approximately $2.3 million. "We are excited to see GoodMoney gain momentum in our local market and earn the national spotlight. What we are doing with GoodMoney is offering consumers a chance to catch their breath financially by offering a low-cost solution as well as an opportunity for them to enter back into mainstream financial services," said CEO Ken Eiden. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

Dick Ensweiler's advice about CU's cooperating (CU Journal Daily Briefing, Sept. 10, see related story page XX) couldn't be more timely. From YouTube to the local news, the words "credit union" have been given a positive spin throughout 2007. And yet, no one has taken the lead to leverage this spin and public interest into a campaign that puts a fresh face on who and what we are as a "business group."

JACKSONVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas FCU said it will introduce a new low-cost payday loan product for the military Oct. 1, the day the new federal cap on interest rates for military personnel takes effect. The annual percent rate for the credit union's payday alternative loans will be 18%, half of the new 36% cap on payday loans for military personnel.

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PALO ALTO, Calif. - Internet search engine Google has filed an application for a patent for a text message payment system which would compete with the fledgling mobile payments systems being offered by dozens of credit unions and banks.

There are many misconceptions when it comes to self-service kiosks. A kiosk will not replace employees, end customer member service problems or automatically increase sales. But if kiosks are used properly, credit unions can significantly improve business operations and increase member satisfaction levels.

FHLB Regulator Urges On CUs

WASHINGTON - In the face of the broadening meltdown of the mortgage market, Congress is pushing for significant changes to the regulation and oversight of the market that would affect all mortgage lenders.

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.

MADISON, Wis. - Credit unions looking to sprout and nurture new ideas now have their very own greenhouse where they can cultivate something beyond the "garden-variety" products and services for their members.

Is your credit union seeing any fallout from the problems in the subprime mortgage market, and what are your expectations for your credit union in the fourth quarter?

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - In credit union members' minds, the most important institutions are neither the largest nor the smallest, but the ones that act as their primary financial institutions. That's according to officials at NCUA, and the agency counsels its examiners to keep the importance of that individuality in mind during any evaluation.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida CU League (FCUL) hosted 17 representatives from Brazil's SICREDI credit unions and the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) at its offices here. The visit was the first formal meeting of the two groups since their alliance was formed through WOCCU International Partnerships program in March.

Editor's note: these responses from Chris Barber of WesCorp to last month's reader questions were not available in time for inclusion and are being run here as an addendum to last month's special report.

NORTH CANTON, Ohio - Diebold said it was granted five U.S. patents that will allow consumers to use their cellphones to conduct ATM functions.

PONTIAC, Mich. - When Jim Henmueller logs on to his desktop to write his monthly "Letter from the President," he uses a version of Microsoft Word that is stored not on his computer at Chief Pontiac FCU here, but 10 miles away in Troy, Mich.

SAN ANTONIO - Credit unions differentiate themselves from other financial institutions by the human beings who work for them-which means those people need to meet high member expectations on a regular basis.