What will we remember most when we reflect on 2006?

Clarke American Wins Award

Members of DFCU Financial who filed suit against the credit union suffered a big blow when the judge denied their request for access to records related to DFCU's ill-fated conversion attempt.

BISMARCK, N.D. - Board members of the combined organization are: Chair Doug Thompson, CEO, Aberdeen (S.D.) FCU; First Vice Chair Darla Schafer, manager, Flasher (N.D.) Community CU; Second Vice Chair Tim Brown, CEO, Dakota Plains CU, Edgeley, N.D.; Secretary Guy Trenhaile, CEO, HealthCare Plus FCU, Aberdeen; Treasurer Roger Peters, CEO, Service First FCU, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Jerry Peterson, director, Consumer's FCU, Gregory, S.D.; Floyd Rummel, CEO, Dakota Territory FCU, Deadwood, S.D., and Marietta Wahl, manager, Northland Educators FCU, Fargo, N.D. (c) 2006 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

Prior Retires From Power Financial

SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio FCU has opened a new branch opposite the new Toyota truck manufacturing plant, abandoning a plan to operate the branch jointly with Toyota FCU in California.

The CU Associations of Colorado and Wyoming have bought new headquarters in an historic area of Denver not far from the state capitol.

On the heels of a $1.3-billion deal for Internet services provider Digital Insight, financial software giant Intuit Inc., is acquiring Electronic Clearing House Inc., a check and card processor for credit unions, banks and retailers, for $142 million.

Wisconsin credit unions were warning consumers to beware of a new short-term loan being marketed that often carries high fees and rates. So-called Holiday Refund Anticipation Loans are short-term loans that are secured by a taxpayer's expected tax refund and marketed by tax preparation firms. The loans, warned the Wisconsin CU League, can carry excessive fees that translate into triple-digit annualized interest rates, with the consumer often unaware of the total cost. "If your refund is smaller than expected, you may not have the funds to pay back the loan, which could lead to more fees and eventually damage your credit," said Brett Thompson, president of the Wisconsin league. He suggested that consumers consider one of the many credit union alternatives being developed through the REAL Solutions programs.

While most CUs are struggling with stagnant membership growth, they might want to look to their community development credit union brethren for advice.

Harland Takeover To Eliminate Competition

* Smart Financial CU, Houston, Texas, raised more than $13,000 at its Annual Ruby Sue Clifton Scholarship Golf Classic.

NCUA reported it made more than $1.2 million in low-interest loans from its Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.

The year 2006 may well be remembered as the year of the underserved, under represented and under siege.

A patron wearing a dark suit and fedora and smoking a pipe while he waits for a teller, may not be a gentleman after all, but a serial robber who has stumped investigators over the past two months.

Members of Lafayette FCU voted to approve the conversion of the $330-million credit union to mutual savings bank, the credit union announced last week, setting up what promises to be another prolonged fight with members who oppose the charter switch.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Just as credit unions do more than just provide financial services, Jackie Ryan does more than just design software for credit unions.

Two credit union volunteers have won President Bush's "Call To Service Award" recognizing lifetime volunteer service.

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota and South Dakota Credit Union Leagues will finalize their long-planned consolidation into one trade association for credit unions in both states named the Mid-America Credit Union Association (MACUA) effective Jan. 1.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - NCUA reported it made more than $1.2 million in low-interest loans from its Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.