ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Y2K wasn't the only thing on the minds of credit unions during 1999. NCUA's implementation of the Credit Union Membership Access Act was like removing the cap from a hot radiator as credit unions scrambled to file pent-up proposals for expansion.

WASHINGTON - The landslide vote in Congress in favor of the Credit Union Membership Access Act would suggest to outsiders the bill was a slam-dunk. For credit unions, however, the bill's passage came only after the movement was slammed and dunked in the court system at both the state and federal level.

PLANO, Texas - This year, credit unions should resolve to take control of their balance sheets-they're going to have to, in order to cope with a challenging environment, several experts said.

Congress isn't just clueless. They are dynamically and robustly anti-clueful. A lot of Congress wants to fix a problem they are unsure of.

Southwest Gains 100 Clients

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If 1997 and 1998 proved nothing else it was that credit unions do their best creative work when their backs are against the wall.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Credit unions didn't really join the rest of the world in partying like it was 1999. That's because credit unions, like businesses around the world, were worried about bugs. In this case, the Y2K bug. Many were predicting if not a widescale meltdown of every system operated by a computer when the clock hit 2000, then certainly enough problems that some credit union members and bank customers would see their balances wiped out. Here's a look at our Top 10 stories from 1999:

BALTIMORE - Municipal Employees CU of Baltimore paid its members a year-end dividend of $4.25 million-the 25th year in a row it returned funds to members.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Remember these stories from the pages of The Credit Union Journal during 1999?

Call centers emerge as more members are willing to do business via the phone, or automated phone system * The California banker's legal challenge to NCUA's chartering authority is assigned to same judge who previously called NCUA a "rogue" federal agency * Ed Baranowski, CEO of Fairwinds FCU, proposes giving up the tax exemption for a truce on FOM * Michael Dusche of Microsoft tells NAFCU Technology Conference that all the discussion surrounding online security is misplaced, noting that no one has ever cracked 48-bit encryption, and certainly not come close to 128 bit * NAFCU rejects any talk of a merger with CUNA * CUNA holds its first elections following Renewal Project. One interesting result: no volunteers were elected to CUNA board, despite that being one goal * Texas CUs finally are permitted to make home equity loans * Bankruptcy reform bill debuts in Congress * CUNA Chairman and Motorola Employees CU-West CEO Pete DiSylvester dies at age 62 * Legislation is proposed to ban ATM surcharges * George LaChappelle of the Michigan league, on hand in 1966 to help build time capsule, is on hand in 1997 to open it. * Kansas CUs charge that Dodge City-based Landmark BancShares is sending $1,000 checks to various CUs seeking to open CDs to prove CUs are illegally opening accounts * The New York Times, in an editorial, criticizes the CU tax exemption * Michigan's CUs roll out a program to teach computer skills to new hires who lack them * NCUA's Asset Liquidation Management Center earns $5.3 million when it sells livestock it had acquired as part of a liquidation * Eight small CUs in Indiana form "Small Credit Union Managers" group, or "SCUM" * Federal Employees CU, whose offices were destroyed in the 1995 Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City, breaks ground on a new office * Richmond Savings CU, Canada, creates humorous campaign around "Humungous Bank" theme. One ad reads, "We're not just interested in money. We're interested in people with money." * Alabama's largest newspaper gives front page treatment to a story on ACUL CEO Gary Wolter's pay * 1st Advantage Credit Union hires Howard Stern as a spokesperson * Y2K planning begins. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-The world didn't end. That may be 2000's lead story.

DEARBORN, Mich. - With no decision in sight from the judge on members' lawsuit against DFCU Financial, the members' group formed to oppose the CU's attempted conversion is trying to consolidate support for three of its candidates in the upcoming board election.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A website featuring several videos that take a playful jab at the banking industry's perceived greed and self-interest is up and running at www.bankerspank.com.

To mark our 10th Anniversary, we have several very special offers for readers.

* A man in Kentucky was arrested after robbing a local bank and then taking a cab to a hotel in Cincinnati, where he had the cabbie book him a room in his own name.

PLANO, Texas - This year, credit unions should resolve to take control of their balance sheets-they're going to have to, in order to cope with a challenging environment, several experts said.

AHOSKIE, N.C. - State Employees CU joined local school representatives to break ground on a 24-unit affordable housing project aimed at attracting more teachers to this low-income rural county in the northeastern corner of the state.

Often, what motivates people, is convenience rather than half a percentage point.

Often, what motivates people, is convenience rather than half a percentage point.

WASHINGTON - The House Financial Services Committee, where almost all major legislation concerning credit unions begins, is expected to name the chairpersons of its five subcommittee next week, and all of them are considered strong credit union supporters.