BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - The president of Paraguayan credit union trade association, Central de Cooperativas del Area Nacional Ltda. (CENCOPAN), was on hand for the Minnesota Credit Union Network's (MnCUN's) Annual Meeting. This is the fourth year of partnership between CENCOPAN and MnCUN, with CENCOPAN President Dr. Modesto Segovia Boltes speaking to the meeting.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - NCUA's effort to open up the internal workings of credit unions to members appears to be running into some opposition, with several prominent credit union managers expressing their disapproval.

MOMBASA, Kenya - The final shipment of wheat that is part of a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) project aimed at mitigating the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on affected families in Kenya has arrived here. According to WOCCU, last year USDA's Food for Progress program awarded the World Council 26,610 metric tons of wheat to sell in Kenya to fund a three-year project based on the shores of Lake Victoria. The sale of the U.S. wheat to a local broker in Kenya provided World Council with $6.1 million to fund a new development program focused on offering much needed agricultural and financial services through credit unions (SACCOs) to HIV/AIDS-affected families in the most afflicted region of Kenya.

COSTA MESA, Calif. - For the second year in a row the national savings rate in the U.S. has been negative, yet a new survey finds 65% of consumers say they are regular savers.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Never in the past two decades have credit unions lived up to their not-for-profit structure so much as they did during the first quarter of 2007-as the industry's profitability plummeted to its lowest in many years.

ONTARIO, Calif. - With Americans making big plans to travel this summer, there will be plenty of competition to capture their little payments.

SOLOMON ISLANDS - Brian Branch, the chief operating officer for the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) in Madison, Wis., visited these islands to assess damage caused by a recent tsunami and to identify how WOCCU and the Credit Union Federation of Australia (CUFA) might help credit unions rebuild. Both WOCCU and CUFA have appealed for funds to help in the rebuilding.

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Although it viewed its credit card portfolio as central to its operations, a former credit union-turned-bank said the risks that portfolio faced outweighed other benefits, leading it to sell the cards.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Although it viewed its credit card portfolio as central to its operations, a former credit union-turned-bank said the risks that portfolio faced outweighed other benefits, leading it to sell the cards.

LINCOLN, Neb. - While credit unions are offering debit card reward programs as a means to both counter competitors and provide value to members, not every issuer has such altruistic intentions.

Nominations Are Now Open

America First Credit Union, named Janny Herron manager of its Sandy branch, and Jason Henrie manager of its Hope Avenue branch.

LAS VEGAS - The National Credit Union Foundation will host what it is calling a "Special Thought Leader" session during America's Credit Union Conference here this week titled, "Untapped: Creating Value in Underserved Markets." The session, scheduled for June 5 from 10:30-11:45 a.m., will focus on opportunities to attract new members and new revenue from underserved markets in ways that create benefits for credit unions and their communities.

HOUSTON - Debit card transactions grew 18% during 2006 among U.S.-based debit card-issuing institutions and is expected to see similar growth in 2007, according to a study commissioned by the PULSE EFT Association.

E-Mail Encryption Chosen

CUs Cautioned About New Internet Threat

HAMILTON, Ontario - Seven workers who have been on strike at First Ontario Credit Union have been fired. In a letter to the employees announcing the firings, the credit union cited harassment and intimidation of other employees and members, and the forcible confinement of First Ontario CU personnel.

COSTA MESA, Calif. - For the second year in a row the national savings rate in the U.S. has been negative, yet a new survey finds 65% of consumers say they are regular savers.

BOSTON - Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has directed Commissioner of Banks Steven L. Antonakes to seek delays from mortgage lenders, on a case-by-case basis, for any Massachusetts homeowner who has filed a complaint with the Division of Banks as part of their consumer assistance outreach efforts. The governor issued a statement saying the action is aimed at providing relief to people who find themselves in the later stages of a personal financial crisis. "All we seek is for individuals and families to have a little time to work with lenders and non-profits toward a solution that might just save their homes," the governor said. Attorney General Martha Coakley said she is concerned over the effect of subprime loans on homeowners, as well.

NEW YORK - Community development credit unions (CDCUs) significantly outpaced all other credit unions in membership growth during 2006 and showed strong performance in other categories, although the growth rate for assets has slowed.