GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-Lakes Area CU first stepped foot on the Internet more than eight years ago. Since then, the CU's "brochure-ware" has evolved into a Flash-driven, mobile-optimized virtual branch that soon will feature person-to-person payments.

HOUSTON-Companies that use Facebook and its "fan" page module to market themselves to customers can increase sales, word-of-mouth marketing and customer loyalty significantly among a subset of their customers, according to new research from Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business.

GARDNER, Mass.-GFA FCU here has twice as many branches as it did five years ago, yet the $300-million CU has stayed with the same core processor for more than 20 years and has never employed an in-house IT specialist.

WHITE OAK, Penn.-Four small credit unions didn't know how good they had it with their original data processing vendors-until they converted systems, went through experiences that shook them to the core, then gratefully returned to their original vendors years later.

OLYMPIA, Wash.-Which should you be most grateful for in a core system-great cost or great functionality?

BROOKLYN, N.Y.-At all costs, avoid converting core systems if you have a good relationship with your current data processing vendor-even if the system itself needs some work, recommends Gene Brody, president at Bay Ridge FCU.

CHICAGO-Slick features such as Personal Financial Management (PFM) and mobile banking won't debut at Alliant Credit Union here until this summer, but the giant CU's well-equipped Internet channel already handles 65% of its monetary transactions-up from only 34% in 2005.

LANCASTER, Penn.-Mortgage-bot "does it all" when it comes to the loan origination process, but it may take a while for some credit unions to profit from the capabilities.

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash.-Online members have been quick to size up their spending habits but seem less inclined to pay their bills at Horizon Credit Union's website here.

WASHINGTON-One year after unveiling a consolidation of its seven credit union brands and a new corporate image, Fiserv is reporting strong results across a number of platforms and business lines.

WASHINGTON-What the future of service delivery holds for CUs is anyone's guess. But some are seeking to remove some of the guesswork.

WASHINGTON-Credit unions seeking to lower the average age of their membership need to consider adding an online account opening and funding solution.

WASHINGTON-A company that invested $80 million and then gave away its product before ever seeing a return may know a thing or two about the new world of business models to which credit unions must adapt.

SEATTLE – Prevail CU has selected TRC Interactive to deliver First Line of Defense Fraud Detection and Loss Prevention Challenge, an online interactive experiential exercise for credit unions that helps keep their staff sharp, focused and alert to the latest scams.

The four organizations representing the nation’s accounts receivables management industry are calling on Congress to keep the Federal Trade Commission as the exclusive regulator of debt purchasers and collectors. The unprecedented action by the trade groups to come together is a response to proposed legislation that would strip the FTC of its powers and place the industry under a new authority.

HONOLULU – Hickam FCU said yesterday it has signed with Open Solutions Inc.’s Imaged Payment Technologies Group’s outsourced services to integrate with its existing core platform, Open Solutions’ DNA.

TransUnion reported that during the fourth quarter of 2009 its Credit Risk Index (CRI) indicated that risk conditions in the U.S. are beginning to moderate. The CRI is a statistic developed to measure the changes in average consumer credit risk within various geographies across the nation.

Citigroup Inc. is learning many consumers today do not share its enthusiasm for mobile payments.

PayPal Inc.'s new iPhone application is more than a payment system — the company is also trying to make it easier for people to use the app as a cash replacement.

MECHANICSBURG, Penn. – Members 1st FCU said it is rolling out a service that will offer customized websites for small businesses through Newtek Business Services.