MOLINE, Ill. - More than one year into enterprise instant messaging (IM), Mary Slonecker, PC specialist at $550-million IH Mississippi Valley CU here, provided Credit Union Journal with her "Top Three Tips" for implementing the tool:

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - CO-OP Shared Branching, a division of CO-OP Financial Services, reported it has developed "CO-OP Fast Branch," a self-service kiosk that supplies more services than a conventional ATM, including deposits by check (no envelopes, no deposit slips), withdrawals by check, loan payments and advances.

HOUSTON - Instant messaging (IM) is steadily overtaking e-mail as the primary means of communication between employees, according to some credit unions.

GREENVILLE, S.C. - A new service is offering a personalized URL for every member targeted in lending promotions as a means of boosting response rates. Credit unions that have launched the tool, called PURLS (Personal URL System) are seeing response rates of 1% or higher, said CU Exceed, which has designed the system.

PORTLAND, Ore. - The $1-billion Northwest Corporate Credit Union is reporting that after implementing VSoft Corp.'s Branch Item Capture it has achieved significant cost savings by eliminating transportation and equipment costs. The corporate said it spent nearly a year determining the best solution for its credit union members before deciding to implement VSoft's Branch Item Capture. VSoft currently has installations with 14 corporate credit unions and leagues, reaching more than 6,000 credit unions.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - USERS Inc. hosted more than 400 attendees at its 24th annual educational conference, EdCon 2007, at the Hyatt Grand Champions here.

NEW YORK - The so-called "Green Revolution" is expanding into IT services, one of the biggest consumers of electricity and other resources.

SECAUCUS, N.J. - NYCE Payments Network said it will begin offering mobile banking and payments services to financial institutions, saying it will be the first commercially available service from a U.S. debit card payments network.

NEEDHAM, Mass. - Is your credit union planning to implement technology solutions such as enterprise business rules management systems or specialized applications with embedded business rules engines?

As our CU grows, what are your panel's thoughts on suppliers/vendors getting involved or giving feedback on candidates a CU is considering for an IT position?

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Contactless payments are "fun" for members at Harvard University Employees CU (HUECU) here, and something that the credit union believes sets it apart.

BOISE, Idaho - Text-message banking will win the hearts of local teenagers, according to two small credit unions that launched the service this summer.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Look for biometric security to make its mark on credit unions within the next few years, from the branch to the Web to the payments industry-despite the fact that only about 1% of all CUs currently use some form of biometrics with employees or members.

LAS VEGAS - In the next generation, a credit union website will be a "hub" that helps members manage their important financial work, according to a technology industry insider.

LAS VEGAS - The next generation of technology can help credit unions reach the much-sought-after next generation.

CHICAGO - Geeks have their own version of Shopzilla.com.

CU Journal asked CUNA Technology Council Conference attendees: What is on your technology wish list? What technology would you add to your credit union and why?

Our CU is considering implementing mobile banking? What do you advise for success, or would we be wise to wait?

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - When it comes time to switch out the core-processing system, everyone in the credit union knows best.

RED DEER, Alberta - When "snail mail" is faster than e-mail you've got problems.