CAJA LIBERTAD, MEXICO - A delegation from Caja Libertad, the second largest credit union in Mexico, visited credit union foundations in the U.S. as part of the World Council of Credit Unions' International Partnership between Caja Libertad and the Arizona Credit Union System.

As part of an ongoing effort to offer strategies that help you make 2007 a success, the CU Journal has launched its "7 in 07" series, chock full of ideas for your CU to implement.

Vantage CU's Investment CUSO To Become Own Broker/ Dealer Page 3

The Atmore Advance, Alabama, noted the visit of U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, (R-AL) who talked about "concerns about credit unions operating under different rules and regulations as banks." He indicated that "credit unions are moving into areas that years ago they did not operate in."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - New research from the Brookings Institution Urban Markets Initiative found millions of Americans could benefit from the credit industry using new and readily available information such as utility payment history to calculate credit scores.

Credit Unions In The News:

LAS VEGAS — In an era of tepid member growth and flat yield curves, some credit unions have discovered innovative ways to bring people in their doors and get them to open accounts.

MOUNT KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA - A group of 32 people, including representatives of United Nations agencies, the United Nations FCU, and World Council of Credit Unions, scaled the heights of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and funds for UN-HABITAT, which supports urban safety projects for at-risk youth in East Africa.

CUPERTINO, CALIF. - According to information technology giants Symantec and Intel, "virtualization" technology will play a large role in the financial services sector this year.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - A new Credit Union Institute of New Zealand has been created here with a goal of promoting excellence and professionalism in credit union governance and management, ongoing education and a code of ethics.

HARRISBURG, PENN. - A joint effort between the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association and the Pennsylvania Department of Banking to position credit unions as a solution to the growing problem of payday lending practices is gaining momentum.

The top 100 credit unions in return on averge assets 4Q 2006

LA PAZ, BOLIVIA - The Bolivian credit union sector boasts eight new rural credit union branches, a shared branching network with 64 points of service, remittance distribution and several new savings and credit products thanks to the success of World Council of Credit Unions' Rural Credit Union Growth Program, which was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Has The Carl Icahn Era For CUs Begun?

Imagine volunteering to take over the local Little League baseball program with the best of intentions and plans to clean up the fields and make sure all the kids have fun, thinking your only real worry is that enough parents sign up for the after-game snacks. And then in your first month in the post you discover other leagues say they have dibs on the fields, some parents (the ones who never volunteer their time) are planning to sue because Johnny isn't getting enough innings, and oh, one of the coaches' names just showed up on a list of sexual predators.

In the first part of this series we noted that credit unions have become an industry in search of answers and not getting them.

CUNA Mutual Group is comprised of multiple companies, including both insurance and noninsurance companies, diverse product lines that serve both credit unions and their members, domestic and international operations, and a number of strategic partnerships we are engaged in with credit unions, corporate credit unions, and credit union service organizations (CUSOs).

The unsolicited merger proposal from Wings Financial FCU recently presented to Continental FCU is generating much news coverage and discussion. Regardless of one's opinion about that situation, there is no doubt that the credit union industry is experiencing a seismic paradigm shift. Not surprisingly, certain purists within the industry are convinced the sky is falling. However, credit union industry pragmatists believe there are compelling business factors that have created this new dynamic. To them, a change in the rules of engagement is long overdue.

ALTOONA, Pa. –A man already in jail and convicted for last year’s armed robbery at M&T Bank, was charged also with the July hold-up at A B FCU, where $16,000 was stolen. Police said Dwayne Harvey, 39, walked up to a teller and asked her if the credit union cashed checks. When the teller asked him he had an account with them, he put a billfold on the counter and pulled out a handgun and demanded cash. After getting money from the first teller he robbed a second teller and fled.

CHANTILLY, Va. – Online Resources Corp. reported Friday its auditor, Ernst & Young LLP, had resigned as the company’s accountants because of disagreements on the company’s accounting for certain transactions, including last year’s acquisition of Princeton eCom. Online Resources said it needed to correct certain errors related to the $180 million deal and the integration of Princeton eCom’s accounting systems and processes. In particular, Online Resources concluded it had not properly accounted for convertible shares is issued in conjunction for the deal, and there was also questions about the valuation of certain assets.