KENSINGTON, Md. - The narrow vote to approve Lafayette FCU's conversion to a mutual savings bank appeared in jeopardy last week after the auditor of the ballot rescinded its certification of the vote-count, based on questions raised by members and NCUA.

KENSINGTON, Md. - The narrow vote to approve Lafayette FCU's conversion to a mutual savings bank appeared in jeopardy last week after the auditor of the ballot rescinded its certification of the vote-count, based on questions raised by members and NCUA.

Tranax Releases ATM Software

If you have attended a recent national conference, or have read from credit union trade periodicals, it is no surprise to you that business services and loans have captured the attention of credit unions nationwide. I consider these products the greatest opportunity since home banking/bill payment services were launched many years ago.

* Grossmont Schools FCU CEO Julie Givens is attacked by a shark while on vacation in Maui. Her arm and shoulder are badly mauled, but she survives, later noting that she no longer "sweats the small stuff."

DAYTONA, Fla. - A convicted bank robber missed prison so bad that he robbed Kennedy Space Center FCU so he could go back. Forty-four-year-old Danny Villegas walked into the CU and announced he was robbing it, then sat down and told employees to call 911 while he sat on a couch and waited for police. Villegas, reportedly out of work and homeless, told police he preferred prison to finding a job. Villegas served five years in prison for robbing a bank 10 years ago.

WASHINGTON - The wording of provisions written by the Department of Defense (DoD) aimed at stemming the financial damage to soldiers who take out payday loans is worrisome to CUNA, NAFCU, bank lobbyists and payday lender representatives.

The Toledo Blade featured Toledo Area Community Credit Union and it's soon-to-retire CEO Pat McGrady, noting its growth and that of other area-CUs in the area in the last decade. McGrady said that the credit union had absorbed nine other, smaller credit unions over the years and predicted that the 40-area CUs would shrink to half that number within five years.

ONE: NCUA passes expansive FOM rules, approving the concept of "reasonable proximity" and creating the TIP (or Trade, Industry, Profession) charter. Not surprisingly, the bank trade groups are sharply critical of the new interpretation. NCUA approves the largest FOM in Utah for Tooele FCU and OKs international branches. Saying NCUA has "gone too far" banks in Utah file a lawsuit against the agency.

The credit union movement is not going to roll over and play dead; not in Utah and not anywhere else in the country.

WASHINGTON - The wording of provisions written by the Department of Defense (DoD) aimed at stemming the financial damage to soldiers who take out payday loans is worrisome to CUNA, NAFCU, bank lobbyists and payday lender representatives.

WASHINGTON - CUNA made its annual contributions to the two major political parties this month, including the senate and congressional campaign committees, a total of $90,000 to both the Democrats and Republicans.

ATLANTA - John H. Harland Co. has agreed to be acquired by M&F Worldwide Corp. for $52.75 a share, or $1.7 billion. M&F Worldwide is the parent of well-known check printer Clarke American, a strategic partner for more than 3,200 credit unions and banks. The transaction follows recent acquisitions of Open Solutions Inc. and Digital Insight, two of the largest CU outsourcers.

JANUARY

In our planning sessions we hear, We can't be all things to all people.' And then Monday morning comes and it's "All things to all people."

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The former president and manager of Nor-Car FCU is scheduled to plead guilty to embezzling almost $2 million from the now-defunct institution in one of the biggest credit union corruption cases in years.

United Teletech Financial CU, Tinton Falls, N.J., named John Schwamberger indirect lending manager.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The good news? In 2003, Americans said that losing their job wasn't a primary concern. The bad news? More Americans said losing their identity was.

DAYTON, Ohio - NCR Corp. plans to spin-off its successful Teradata data storage operations to shareholders. The spin-off will leave two publicly traded companies, including Teradata and its core automated financial services operations.

OLYMPIA, Washington - The state Department of Financial Institutions here announced a settlement with payday lender Check 'N Go of Washington Inc., following an investigation and charges filed by the department last August.