* Instant messaging becomes the "more efficient mode of communication" for the 15 IT employees at MacDill FCU, who work mostly from home.

WASHINGTON - The new Democratic-controlled Congress last week began a series of hearings on the credit card industry that are expected to result in legislation to rein in credit card issuers, increase consumer disclosures and possibly regulate the multi-billion market for interchange fees.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Over protests from the Riverside City Council, Raincross Credit Union will merge with Visterra CU in approximately two months following a Jan. 18 membership vote.

ST. LOUIS - A Canadian software company has filed suit in federal court here against Fiserv and three client Federal Reserve Banks claiming that Fiserv is infringing on its patent for check fraud software.

When The Credit Union Journal produced the Aug. 5, 1998 edition of the newspaper, it's unlikely that anyone in the credit union movement recognized that the work to get the Credit Union Membership Access Act passed into law would lead to a brand new chapter in credit union politics, catapulting the movement into a whole new level of never-ceasing but always-changing political advocacy. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

New Design More 'User-Friendly'

Throughout 2007, the Credit Union Journal is profiling the credit unions of each U.S. state and D.C. Rather than appear in alphabetical order, the states are being featured in the order they became states.

Desert Schools Selects Elan

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - For its 10th anniversary issue, The Credit Union Journal asked credit union leaders for their predictions for the credit union landscape in another 10 years:

Credit Union Journal has a very special announcement. Thanks to the support of the CO-OP Network, as part of our Business Development & SEG Conference April 12-13 in Boston, the Journal has arranged for a tour and dinner at America's Credit Union Museum in Manchester, N.H.

NEW CASTLE, Del. - There's a serious numbers game being played at www.dcul.org, and you can get in on it.

WASHINGTON - The House voted overwhelmingly to allow credit unions and banks to handle large currency transactions from regular customers, so-called seasoned customers, without having to file reports aimed at tracing money laundering and terrorism.

Best quote of a quote: "The best way to sum up the opinions (was) made by a college professor of mine: 'Great companies are built. Not bought.'"

There's been a lot of change in the credit union industry over the past few years. Mergers, changes in charters, and the continued emergence of electronic banking options are all changing the way credit unions market, and to whom they're marketing to. But for a lot of credit unions their name and logo hold them back-the same way wearing a battered ten-year-old suit and shoes would hold you back at a big job interview.

Greeley, Colo. - Colorado State Employees Credit Union supervisor Heather Garraus, 37, was shot to death in the parking lot of the CU on Jan. 23 after leaving work for the evening. Local news reports identified Garraus as the wife of Greeley Police officer Ignacio Garraus and her alleged assailant as Shawna Louise McKay, 35, a former police dispatcher for the combined Greeley-Weld County communications center and the ex-wife of Weld County Sheriff's investigator Ken Nelson. She was held on suspicion of murder and will be charged with first degree murder. The motive for the shooting was believed to be an extramarital affair. Terry Leis, CSECU CEO told the Rocky Mountain News, "We are deeply saddened by this loss. We are trying to support the family."

PALM DESERT, Calif. - NCUA, which has been exploring new ways of deterring credit union conversions to mutual savings bank, or at least making it more difficult, is looking at having the federal regulator become the enforcer of credit union bylaws.

It makes me angry that that people in charge would betray the very institution they represent. If you don't like it, why don't you go to a mutual savings bank.

Credit Union Journal Subscribers can access all content from the print edition every Monday simultaneously with its publication at www.cujournal.com. Additional resources include:

ST. LOUIS - A Canadian software company has filed suit in federal court here against Fiserv and three client Federal Reserve Banks claiming that Fiserv is infringing on its patent for check fraud software.

League Report Cited