Wambach Honored By Pennsylvania

The Credit Union Journal is announcing its Call for Entries for its Best

ARCHER, Neb. - Steve Lamon remembers when the price of corn topped $5.50 per bushel-and what it meant for his credit union, Archer Cooperative Credit Union here.

For some reason in Credit Union Land we've decided to pick this moment in time to all figure out what we want to be when we grow up. I know here in the Richmond, Va. area, most, if not all, the credit unions have or are in the process of rebranding. It seems to be our magic eraser, a chance to start over, and make our old, stale brands fresh and new in the minds of our members and potential members.

WASHINGTON - Lawmakers and community activists unveiled plans for an Affordable Housing Trust Fund that would provide as much as $1 billion a year for affordable housing projects.

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BEAVER, Penn. - One credit union is taking an aggressive stand against scams and fraudulent checks.

SALEM, Ore. - A state judge refused to block enactment of a new 36% cap on consumer loan rates, which went into effect last Sunday.

WASHINGTON - Enterprise Rent-A-Car is designating its premier rental location in Washington D.C. as an official "E85/FlexFuel branch."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Kentucky Credit Union League has named the winners of its state 2007 Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility, Louise Herring Philosophy in Action, and Desjardins Youth Financial Education Awards. Maxwell award winners in their asset size categories are: Kentucky Employees CU, Frankfort; Autotruck FCU, Louisville; Park Community FCU, Louisville; and Fort Knox FCU, Radcliff. Herring winners in their asset groups were Kentucky Employees CU and Commonwealth CU, Frankfort. The winner of the Desjardins award was Park Community FCU. The winners will advance to the national competition sponsored by CUNA.

I am writing to suggest that the time has come for closer dialogue between our credit union trade associations, CUNA and NAFCU, to examine the possibilities of merger in order to better protect and defend the credit union charter from attacks from the newly forming American Bankers Association. From their letter to member banks:

Credit Union Journal Subscribers can access all content from the print edition every Monday simultaneously with its publication at www.cujournal.com. Additional resources include:

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Pentagon FCU is expanding its year-old real estate agency, called PenFed Realty, to Fayettesville, N.C., the first step in plans to take it national. The $10 billion credit union chose Fayettesville as a beginning to its expansion plans because it already has a major presence in that market. PenFed Realty, which currently operates in the credit union's main Washington, D.C., market, offers discounts to both home sellers and buyers, with sellers paying a 5% commission, and buyers 1%.

Wambach Honored By Pennsylvania

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Fidelity National Information Services revealed last Tuesday that a worker at its Certegy subsidiary, the biggest processor of credit union accounts, stole 2.3 million consumer records containing credit card, credit union and bank account information.

I read with interest your facilities feature articles (CUJ May 14). Good information.

Synergent, Westbrook, Maine, named Al Angus and Fred Barber account executive.

AUSTIN, Texas - Credit unions lacking a succession plan to respond to a planned or unplanned senior level vacancy can expect to endure a long period of turmoil, according to a new study.

Arlington, Va. - NASCUS announced that Colorado Division of Financial Services recently earned NASCUS re-accreditation.

GREENSBORO, N.C. - As is the case with several other corporate CUs, First Carolina Corporate Credit Union has seen a rise of nearly 54% in term and structured certificates over the past year after an extended period of low liquidity.