The company credit union land knows as "CUNA Mutual Group" is more than just an insurance company. In fact, that's not even the company's real name. Here's a primer on this complex organization.

PORTLAND, Ore. - The World Council of Credit Unions honored David Low, director of audit and compliance at OSU FCU, for his volunteer work in Uzbekistan. In a letter presented to the state conference of the Credit Union Association of Oregon, WOCCU CEO Pete Crear praised Low for his contributions to credit union members in the central Asian republic. (c) 2006 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

MADISON, Wis. - Credit unions are duking it out with a whole host of competitors, not just banks, so if you aren't selling insurance to your members, your competition down the street will be only too happy to do it for you.

Credit unions weathered one of their toughest quarters in recent memory between July 1 and Sept. 31, with virtually no growth in deposits or assets, and another 80 credit unions disappearing through merger or liquidation, NCUA reported.

MADISON, Wis. - With final briefs in hand, Madison Equal Opportunities Commission Hearing Officer Clifford Blackwell must now decide whether former CUNA SVP Mike Miller was an "immature" and "disgruntled" employee who lashed out at his new boss after being denied a promotion, or the target of retaliation for complaints against two senior employees for alleged racist, homophobic and sexist comments.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - The global economy is "doing very well," and, despite what people might have heard or read recently, the U.S. economy is in good shape, also.

NASHVILLE - The merger between Tennessee's VolCorp and San Dimas, Calif.-based WesCorp, temporarily abandoned when state regulators shunted the proposal back to the corporates, is back on track and slated for completion in the first quarter of 2007.

Dissident members of Lafayette FCU were racing to force a special meeting of the credit union for employees of US AID and several other federal agencies, as management was preparing a final vote to convert to a mutual savings bank.

CorePlus Federal Credit Union's President Warren P. Scholl admits that his intent was "a bit selfish," for embracing a different way of promoting diversity, but he had no idea that doing so would bring so many unexpected rewards.

CUNA Mutual Group is exploring a merger that would unite its CUNA Mutual Life Insurance Company (CUNA Mutual Life) in Waverly, Iowa, and its CUNA Mutual Insurance Society (CUMIS) here, and changing the company's state of domicile to Iowa.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - CUs know what their strengths are and the advantages over banks they have to offer to consumers. But they often keep it secret, even though telling that story can be a very effective strategy underpinning growth. Has your CU found an effective way to communicate what the credit union difference is? If so, The Credit Union Journal is back with its Second Annual Frankie Awards designed to recognize those credit unions who do the best job of telling their story. Entering is easy: just provide an example and a brief description, including marketing materials if available, and e-mail that to fdiekmann cujournal.com. (c) 2006 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

HUNTINGTON, W.V. - The sky was the limit-literally-for youth members who attended Universal Federal Credit Union's 7th Annual Club Education Day.

Another debit provider offering "big incentives" has just approached my credit union! What should I do?

Yodlee, Metavante Team Up

A suspect arrested and charged with the recent armed robbery at Carolina Postal CU may want to re-think his strategy next time.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A man who escaped from police after being treated at the hospital was arrested days later while his girlfriend was withdrawing cash from her New Mexico Educators FCU account.

Yodlee, Metavante Team Up

Though no new hearing date has been set in the DFCU Financial Credit Union lawsuit over the CU's ill-fated conversion, petitions were expected to be submitted to the CU late last week that could place seven new candidates on the February ballot for board seats.

MADISON, Wis. - CUNA Mutual Group is exploring a merger that would unite its CUNA Mutual Life Insurance Company (CUNA Mutual Life) in Waverly, Iowa, and its CUNA Mutual Insurance Society (CUMIS) here, and changing the company's state of domicile to Iowa.

Some of the key players responsible for the growing conversions of credit unions to mutual savings banks denied last week that top managers and directors were motivated by greed.