DUBLIN, Calif. - Ellie Mae is launching ePASS Network, the mortgage industry's most-used Internet-based transaction platform, paving the way for users to bypass the use of the industry's customary 500-page loan files.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - TJX Companies, still coping with the aftermath of one of the biggest data security breaches ever, got a bill in the mail last week from one of its victims-a $590,000 invoice from HarborOne CU.

PROFILES OF PEER GROUP LEADERS

'Untapped' Tapped For Recognition

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - When predatory lending cases and foreclosure rates started soaring here, Memphis Area Teachers CU knew it had to take action, so it created a new position dedicated teaching consumers how to buy-and keep-their own homes.

SAN DIEGO - The speculative rush that drove up housing prices in many parts of the country has created a hangover effect where the challenge now for credit unions isn't simply to help members finance a new home, but also to keep it once they're in it.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - When predatory lending cases and foreclosure rates started soaring here, Memphis Area Teachers CU knew it had to take action, so it created a new position dedicated teaching consumers how to buy-and keep-their own homes.

EWING, N.J. - Prime Alliance Loan Servicing, powered by Cenlar, is offering Private Label Subservicing, a private label, branded loan servicing program for CUs. Services include a member call center, escrow administration, default administration, loss mitigation, and others.

SALEM, Ore. - The state Senate last week approved a 36% cap on all consumer loans, reinstating a state usury law and completing a package of bills that eliminate triple-digit interest rates charged by payday and car title lenders.

VANCOUVER, Wash. - The tensions surrounding the attempted conversion of Columbia Credit Union here to a bank two years ago are apparently not settled, after a former board member at the credit union had her home vandalized with the letters "CCU" written on nearly every window.

Hearings

BROCKTON, Mass. - In the midst of the state's worst home foreclosure storm, HarborOne CU launched a project last week to help turn the area's low-income homeowners and immigrants away from predatory loans.

MINNEAPOLIS - Wolters Kluwer Financial Services announced the company is expanding its comprehensive suite of consumer education materials for the mortgage industry to include interest-only and payment option adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) education materials.

PHILADEPHIA - The big question for many credit union lenders? If real estate values continue to cool-and consumer interest in home equity-secured loans cools with them-what steps should credit unions take to keep a healthy loan portfolio?

CUs See Devastation, Progress In 9th Ward Tour

PHILADEPHIA - The big question for many credit union lenders? If real estate values continue to cool-and consumer interest in home equity-secured loans cools with them-what steps should credit unions take to keep a healthy loan portfolio?

SALEM, Ore. - The state Senate last week approved a 36% cap on all consumer loans, reinstating a state usury law and completing a package of bills that eliminate triple-digit interest rates charged by payday and car title lenders.

Editor's note: the following are excerpts from Vancouver, Wash.-based iQ CU CEO Roger Michaelis' comment letter to NCUA on the disclosure of merger-related compensation arrangements.

ALBANY, N.Y. - A long-shot attempt to tax federally chartered credit unions in New York died a quick death-just two weeks after it was introduced. The bill was withdrawn by its sponsor, Sen. Thomas Morahan. The bill was a long-shot because state legislatures can only tax state-chartered credit union and are not authorized to tax federal credit unions-only Congress can do that. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

Hearings