SAN JOSE, Calif. — Perhaps the biggest question swirling around last month's Finovate conference is: why are mobile payments still more hope than reality?

It's about to get a lot harder for credit unions to reach their members on Facebook.

SAN DIEGO — Credit unions have vastly expanded their online footprint in recent years by establishing a social media presence, but the social media landscape for CUSOs is less clear.

LAS VEGAS — Silver State Schools Credit Union continued its remarkable turnaround in the first quarter, posting $2.5 million in net income as it reported "steady progress."

Let's face it: Thanks to the politics associated with reform of the government-sponsored enterprises since Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac entered conservatorship in 2008, major structural change in the secondary mortgage market is unlikely to occur anytime soon.

FAIRFAX, Va. — As financial institutions begin to shift their marketing dollars from traditional media to digital, analysts say online spending can be good for credit unions — but only if they wisely allocate budgets in this marketplace.

WASHINGTON — As a bill that could bring monumental changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac works its way through the Senate, some credit union executives are concerned that larger players would have too many advantages at the expense of small lenders.

WASHINGTON — The indications from Congress are clear: there will be reforms made to the secondary mortgage system that long has relied on government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — but the $9.4-trillion question is: what will the new system look like?

Up until about a year ago if you were a CU marketer and you were in need of a campaign idea, if all else failed you could always fall back on Mr. Dependable, the refi campaign.

DENVER — The Colorado state legislature could decide soon if a new type of financial services co-operative — though not a credit union — will be created to serve the marijuana industry in the state.

HOBBS, N.M. — After 18 months of heading two New Mexico credit unions 18 miles apart, CEO Mark Roddenberry is delighted $45 million Lea Community Federal Credit Union and $13 million Estacado Credit Union have officially merged.

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed several changes to its biggest mortgage rules on Wednesday which would effectively allow lenders to get more loans defined as "qualified mortgages."

MADISON, Wis. — Anita Rauch has been promoted to CEO/president at the $265 million Heritage Credit Union, making her the first woman to head the organization in its 80-year history.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — NCUA issued five prohibition orders Wednesday, banning the following people from participating in the business of any federally insured financial institution:

WASHINGTON — The future of housing finance reform remains in limbo after Senate Banking Committee leaders postponed a key vote on legislation to unwind Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Altura Credit Union reported $3 million in net income during the first quarter of 2014, marking 12 straight quarters of positive earnings, as its assets climbed to $730 million.

Following Microsoft's announcement that a security flaw in its widely used Internet Explorer browser could put online banking users at risk, credit unions are scrambling to ensure that their IT systems are protected.

WASHINGTON — The Senate Banking Committee voted Tuesday to advance the nomination of J. Mark McWatters to join the board of the National Credit Union Administration.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Vantage West Credit Union is acquiring Tombstone FCU.

The Senate Banking Committee will delay a vote on its highly anticipated legislation to overhaul the housing finance market, a Senate aide confirmed Tuesday morning, just hours before the markup was scheduled to begin.