BLOOMFIELD, N.J. — It's great to be named one of the best places to work in New Jersey for the last four years, but what XCEL FCU likes even better is the business that satisfied employees drive.

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University FCU here is the dominant credit union in the local market, and one of the biggest financial services players in town, but one person says that its success comes from always acting like an underdog.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Bob Marquette, CEO of Members 1st FCU, is big on attitude and helping members better their financial situation.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — For Peter Lupi, being named NAFCU's Volunteer of the Year caps off a life-long involvement in the credit union community.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Just listening to Robin Brulé detail all the hats she wears on a daily and weekly basis is tiring.

Credit union executives converged on Las Vegas for NAFCU's convention last week where the trade group officially honored its Annual Award winners.

Over the years there have been NCUA board members whose terms were so unremarkable that their six years passed without even the agency's HR department knowing they were there. And then there's the term of Michael Fryzel.

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.

When it comes to improving credit union board diversity, performing a self-assessment is one of the best practices to consider, according to Jim This, president and co-founder of the Paragon Group, an Olympia, Wash.-based CUSO owned by $894 million TwinStar Credit Union that offers board effectiveness evaluations.

Achieving diversity among board members is difficult enough at most credit unions, but community development and low-income credit unions face special challenges of their own.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — If community development or low-income-designated credit unions are forced to hold board seats for people of certain income classes, it would be counterproductive.

LAKE BLUFF, Ill. — The fact that average consumer transaction balances are at $4,436 — a higher dollar amount than any time in the last 25 years — should be a big red flag for credit unions.

SAN FRANCISCO — It's time for credit unions to start talking a little SMAC.

SAN FRANCISCO — The flurry of regulations coming out of CFPB were expected to drive some credit unions right out of the mortgage business, but the "big dog" of mortgage regulation is yet to come, and that one might finally do the trick, according to one compliance expert.

SAN FRANCISCO — Credit unions need to continue to invest in technology — and use it well — if they expect to attract the elusive Millennial demographic.

Banks want to offer short-term consumer loans but regulatory constraints make it difficult. Credit unions are piling into this line of business. It all translates into a rare opportunity for traditional nemeses to cooperate.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Perhaps the third time really is the charm for NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz, who found the audience at the agency's final "listening session" more apprehensive than hostile toward the regulator's risk-based capital proposal.

LAS VEGAS — What should diversity look like on a credit union's board of directors?

What's in a name? Many payment companies have struggled with this question, finding out too late that the name they chose sent the wrong message or was rendered unusable by situations outside the brand's control.

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Tri-State Federal Credit Union has officially merged into Clearview Federal Credit Union.