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GLASTONBURY, Conn. - Open Solutions, Inc. has acquired Securian Financial Group and its subsidiary, IA Systems, Inc., which offers the StreamLend Velocity and StreamLend product line.

WATERLOO, Iowa - As a way to be more eco-friendly, while using its state's own natural resource, Veridian Credit Union is providing its members with credit and debit cards made out of corn.

LAS VEGAS - Increasingly, measuring "member satisfaction" is becoming Old School. While still important, how a credit union integrates what it learns in getting member satisfaction feedback into its operations, product offerings and member interaction is where the emerging focus is, according to several analysts.

PASADENA, Calif. - Economic trends are not looking good, especially in the housing and credit markets. But there is the one consolation, two credit union economists suggested, and that is that CUs tend to do well in tough times.

LAKEVIEW TERRACE, Calif. - NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson attended the grand opening of the main branch of Pacoima Development FCU, which was chartered to serve a largely underserved area. Also appearing were Alberto Alvarado, district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Richard Alarcon, Los Angeles city councilman. The upstart credit union has grown to 493 members and $2.4 million in assets, and operates in the Northeast San Fernando Valley.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Three foreign nationals who flew in from Los Angeles pleaded guilty last week to a scheme to alter the PIN-pads at point-of-sale machines in Stop & Shop supermarkets, which drained more than $130,000 from accounts at four area credit unions and banks.

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PASADENA, Calif. - Wescom Credit Union will acquire CU West Mortgage and merge it with CUSO Mortgage, which Wescom bought last year.

NEWARK, N.J. - Dozens of credit union CEOs can rest easier now that Everest National Insurance Co. has assured them they will continue to pay default protection insurance on failed subprime auto loans made through Centrix Financial Services, even though the company's legal obligation to make the payments is in dispute.

Loan Discounts For Hybrids

WASHINGTON - Lawmakers have begun an investigation into a new online scam in which banks and credit unions are being asked to process and accept unsigned checks created by criminals.

LANSING, Mich. - The credit union representing Michigan state workers is prepared to offer low-interest fixed-rate loans to its members who may be impacted by the state's current fiscal year budget crisis.

PASADENA, Calif. - Keith Erickson has enjoyed remarkable success in his life. He won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers and, after retirement from pro basketball, he served as a color commentator on television and radio broadcasts of Lakers games alongside legendary play-by-play man Chick Hearn.

SEATTLE - The producers of BizKids, the TV program aimed at kids that teaches financial lessons and which is a joint project of the National CU Foundation and Junior Achievement, said they should know within two weeks how many PBS stations will be picking the program up. Thirteen episodes have already been filmed, most in a Seattle studio by the same team that produced the acclaimed "Bill Nye The Science Guy," and two episodes are ready to go. The 10 kids who star in the show have also been taken to various locations for filming around the country. Producers told the Credit Union Journal they are confident the program will be picked up by PBS affiliates, and 26 episodes are in the process of being created in all. Unlike network television, local PBS stations use their own discretion to decide which programs to buy and air. The only mention of credit unions in the program is at the top and bottom of the program when the message, "America's Credit Unions: Where People Are Worth More Than Money" is aired. Credit unions have pledged more than $2.6-million through various sources to underwrite production of the program. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

Hearings

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LATHAM, N.Y. - Stagnant membership growth, continuing mergers and consolidation and margin squeeze are among the top issues-but we're not talking about credit unions.

The Minnesota Credit Union Network, elected to its board: Richard Nesvold, chairman; Harry Carter, vice chairman; Kyle Markland, secretary/treasurer; Doug Hallstrom, Karen Fleming, Jeff Hegna and Jeff Schwalen.

FORT WORTH, Texas - A member snaps back when a contact center agent offers her life insurance (again). Or, a contact center agent raises his voice when a member calls to complain about online account access.