BOSTON — The significant amount of time that consumers spend using mobile applications demands that financial institutions develop new marketing techniques, according to research company Aite Group.

OGDEN, Utah — The thief who allegedly robbed ISU Credit Union at gunpoint last week used a fake bomb to rob a bank Thursday.

WASHINGTON — Although a new Federal Reserve Board study shows that many Americans have recovered from the "Great Recession," a significant number of consumers are still struggling.

LAS VEGAS — Without specifically being the conference theme, technology and the role it will play at CUs was a major component of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions recent annual convention here.

NEW YORK — Since his initial look at the risk-based capital proposal at the start of the year, Montauk Credit Union chief executive Louis Jimenez is breathing easier — but only a little.

SAINT JOSEPH, Mich. — Four years after launching its business lending program here, United Federal Credit Union has realized an asset under management per underwriter increase of more than 100%.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has withdrawn the names of two Indiana credit unions from a blog post that called out banks and CUs for a lack of transparency about their relationships with universities.

CARSON CITY, Nev. — After having its member business lending program sidelined by regulators in 2010, Greater Nevada CU is making a comeback, having increased its business lending portfolio by 115% over the past 18 months.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — As the NCUA mulls member business lending risk weights for its final risk-based capital rule, the head of one credit union service organization contends that the agency needs to consider weighting more by product type than percentage of the portfolio.

It took over a century for credit unions to reach the 100 million-member mark.

NEW YORK — We're breathing new life into an old favorite here at Credit Union Journal, and we need your help to make it happen.

Are you passionate about credit unions? Do you feel strongly about where the community is moving? Credit Union Journal wants to hear from you — and now it's easier than ever to be heard.

As access to credit tightened in recent years, many small businesses were forced to use personal credit for business. This trend has created demand for a small business credit card offering, providing credit unions with an important growth opportunity.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — American consumers are getting anxious again as news of a possible trade war between Russia and the United States is making headlines, according to new research.

Start your weekend off right with an advance peek of next week's Credit Union Journal's Community News photo slideshow. Enjoy!

A few quick news items from across the country, from the "in case you missed it" files:

Credit union executives are celebrating the movement reaching the 100 million-member milestone — but what does it really mean for the industry?

Credit unions are on alert but also taking a wait-and-see approach following news that a gang of Russian hackers have amassed 1.2 billion sets of user names and passwords.

LAS VEGAS — Credit unions must be aware of and adapt to fundamental changes in the world around them, such as a younger generation that would rather use financial applications than go to financial institutions.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The boards of Duval Federal Credit Union and 121 Financial Credit Union have agreed to merge late this year, subject to approval by their memberships and regulators, the FCUs jointly announced.