WASHINGTON—NCUA plans to focus on five areas of regulatory relief in 2015, according to remarks Monday from Chairman Debbie Matz at CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference here.

For small credit unions it's a chilling reality: grow, merge or die trying. So it should come as no surprise that CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference kicked off with a standing-room-only session on small CUs.

WASHINGTON — A group of representatives from across the credit union spectrum has banded together as Credit Union Voices and will be hosting a booth at CUNA's GAC here next week allowing guests to comment on and submit letters regarding NCUA's revised risk-based capital proposal.

Members of Chemical Credit Union in Clinton, Iowa, overwhelmingly voted to approve a proposed merger with DuTrac Community Credit Union, Dubuque, Iowa.

Three individuals and one organization will receive the credit union community's highest honors.

Madison, Wis. — Summit Credit Union announced that its chief executive officer, Kim Sponem, has been appointed to a three-year term on an advisory council that reports to the Chicago Federal Reserve System.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — NCUA's Office of the Inspector General has given the regulator a pass on its handling of the data breach last fall caused by examiner error.

EL CENTRO, Calif. — Palm Springs Federal Credit Union said it intends to merge into Sun Community Federal Credit Union, here, which would create a combined credit union with $325 million in assets, $36 million in capital and more than 36,000 members.

Credit Union Journal asked the state leagues what their top priorities will be when their member credit unions descend on Capitol Hill to lobby their lawmakers during CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference this week.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Faced with soon-to-be non-existent investment income in 2009, Greenville Heritage FCU had two choices: hike fee income, or completely rebuild its loan program.

DES MOINES — For the Iowa Credit Union League, it all comes down to alignment.

Editor's note: this letter to the editor was written in response to a previous letter written by Thomas Pinnow, CEO of $24 million County City CU, Jefferson, Wis.

Banks, investment companies and corporate credit unions were engaged in speculative investments and had ventured into risky markets without proper safeguards in place.

While NAFCU hopes the NCUA Board's unanimous support for exploring ways of strengthening the federal credit union charter will help expedite the review process, we firmly believe that credit unions need action now.

These examples are just a small sampling of the work we do for you and the movement. The Foundation's mission is to be a catalyst to improve people's financial lives through credit unions. Our work centers around helping you — credit unions — help your members be financially capable.

As credit union flock to Washington this week for CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference, the focus will be on national politics. But there's plenty of internal politics to discuss, as well.

As the CEO of $1.2 million Issaquena County FCU, Clarence Hall Jr. knows that being small doesn't define how big of a difference a credit union — or even just one person — can make.

WASHINGTON—CUNA has filed an amicus brief in a Florida lawsuit the trade group believes could drive credit unions right out of the credit card business.

Community banks have long said they are the kings of customer service. But a new study shows technology may be the great equalizer for megabanks, as the quality of their mobile apps and online bank sites is prompting customers to say big banks' customer service has improved.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Greylock Federal Credit Union announced that it has been certified by the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund.