Most of us in the process of managing credit unions or providing systems, services and advice to credit unions would agree this is the most challenging operating environment we have seen in a long time.

Smart Financial CU, Houston, Texas, named Corbin Wilson vice president of electronic member services.

ST. LOUIS - The Missouri Credit Union Association said a new bill may help end seven years of field of membership lawsuits in the Show Me State-providing bankers and/or legislators do not make major alterations.

WASHINGTON - Notes and quotes from CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference.

WASHINGTON - The National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) has accepted a $415,000 federal grant to help credit unions fund Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) that will help low-income families become first-time homebuyers.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Insight Financial Credit Union has opened its virtual doors to a wider audience with a new partnership and new technology that allows people to open and fund new accounts without ever having to leave their computers.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - A former branch manager of Advantage One Credit Union has been indicted on four counts of bank fraud and two counts of money laundering in federal court, according to local news reports.

Senate Panel Grills Banks On Credit Card Practices

10News.com in San Diego did a story about credit unions offering an alternative to high-interest payday loans. "Many community credit unions are doing it, and some big credit unions are doing it," Lily Lo of Northeast Community FCU was quoted as saying.

New Building Houses 4 CUSOs

MEDIA, Penn. - Is an Internet Credit Union Charter option a possibility? Might it be possible to create a completely online credit union field-of-membership?

LAS VEGAS - When credit union and CUSO representatives gather at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel on April 30-May 1 they will hear the trade association's new president, Tom Davis outline its plan to "solve tough industry problems" and help them "evolve together by turning innovative ideas into reality."

RICHMOND, Va. - Kelley Parks may be back to performing more traditional duties as VP of Marketing and Business Development at the $250-million asset Call Federal Credit Union here, but the memories of her superhero days are still lingering.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - A Savers Club Program launched by Teachers Credit Union in the third quarter of 2006 to help educate members to become better consumers has attracted a whopping 4,577 members, so far. Of those, 4,391 have taken advantage of a complementary Savers Club Money Market product that helps put that education to good use, said Becky Summers, VP of Marketing and Research at TCU at the $1.7 billion asset TCU.

BOULDER, Colo. - Elevations CU is moving forward with its conversion to state charter following a vote of its membership approving the proposal. Of those casting ballots, a whopping 81% favored converting to a state credit union charter. The credit union cited the need to expand its service areas as the high cost of housing in Boulder County has driven members to move to markets outside of the CU's area. "A state charter gives us the flexibility to locate new branch and ATM services in areas more convenient to where our members live," said Elevations Chair Lynn Walloch.

CUES Names Scholarship Winners

TAMPA - Of all the people credit union champion Lois Kitsch could have brought to an NCUA summit on short term lending, she picked a payday lender expert.

TAMPA - When was the last time you were happy to hear from the IRS?

WASHINGTON - Notes and quotes from CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference.

SALT LAKE CITY - The $177-million Beehive Credit Union has told members it is "considering a plan of conversion" to a federal mutual savings bank.