You've probably heard about the University of Iowa Community CU's recent attempt to change its name to Optiva. That story has been covered in this publication and others, and debated endlessly in blogs. Members were asked to vote on the name change and it barely passed. Then some members who hated the new name and didn't want to change the old one circulated a petition, got enough signatures for a new vote, and defeated the name change.

Acquistion Of Harland Shrinks Check Printers

ATLANTA - Although credit unions are lobbying Congress for a higher cap on member business lending, many remain relatively new to the market.

MONTEREY, Calif. - An economist who displayed a rare sense of humor for the profession nonetheless had some sobering messages for CUs here.

PONTIAC, Mich. - Three small Michigan credit unions are seeking to control their own destiny through a partnership with the aptly named Affinity Group CU here in the fulfillment of the "networked" credit union model.

APRIL

Let's hope it remains a conference name and not a metaphor.

DEARBORN - Two area credit unions have responded to a local legislator's call to help low income families make the best use of their tax refund money.

ATLANTA - Although credit unions are lobbying Congress for a higher cap on member business lending, many remain relatively new to the market.

The Honolulu Star Bulletin did a story on the Aloha State's residents' eighth-best credit score rank, based on an Equifax national survey for 2006. Credit for good credit was given to both banks and credit unions, which tend to be more conservative in lending than aggressive mainland lenders, noted Wendy Burkholder, executive director of Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Hawaii. The Asian population is also thrifty and saves more. The states with the highest credit scores were Wisconsin, Minnesota and Vermont. The lowest? Texas, Georgia and Mississippi.

WASHINGTON - The House Financial Services Committee turned away a proposal to have the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks, known as "Fhlubbies" distribute as much as $500 million a year in affordable housing funds collected from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under a pending reform of the secondary mortgage market.

JACKSONVILLE - Community First Credit Union of Florida hit the brakes on indirect auto lending, saying it will gladly forego up to $100 million in annual loan volume.

The Honolulu Star Bulletin did a story on the Aloha State's residents' eighth-best credit score rank, based on an Equifax national survey for 2006. Credit for good credit was given to both banks and credit unions, which tend to be more conservative in lending than aggressive mainland lenders, noted Wendy Burkholder, executive director of Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Hawaii. The Asian population is also thrifty and saves more. The states with the highest credit scores were Wisconsin, Minnesota and Vermont. The lowest? Texas, Georgia and Mississippi.

WASHINGTON - NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson told Congress last week that while credit unions have been expanding their services to low-income members, they have so far avoided the troubles spreading through the subprime mortgage market.

ATLANTA, Ga. - What is member relationship management?

Security Service FCU, San Antonio, Texas, promoted Natalie Garza to Culebra branch manager.

MANITOWOC, Wis. - Shoreline CU said it has hired La Macchia Group LLC to design and build a new headquarters for the $70-million credit union. Construction began recently and will be completed later this year. La Macchia Group is based in Milwaukee.

MONTEREY, Calif. - An economist who displayed a rare sense of humor for the profession nonetheless had some sobering messages for CUs here.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA), the chief sponsor of HR 1151 and the fledgling CU Regulatory Improvements Act, was discharged early last week from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, after undergoing successful triple bypass surgery on March 19.

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