Operations

You don't have to pay employees huge salaries to earn their loyalty. But because staff can make or break your credit union, you must find a way to keep the best ones around. READ MORE

Don't Be a 'Zombie Brander' October 1, 2007 By Susan Solomon Recently, a marketing student complained that her marketing materials didn't look alike. "The designs aren't similar enough. We don't look like a real brand," she said. Oh really? Is a "real brand" about conformity? Consider what your members encounter... READ MORE

A WOCCU initiative helps CUs reach the world’s poorest. By Bill Merrick Sebazungo Bonaventure scoots nimbly on his hands across Kigali, Rwanda’s rocky side streets. A birth defect keeps him from walking, but not from running a shoe repair business where a typical day’s work yields 500 Rwandan francs—about 91... READ MORE

Phishers Feast on Financial Firms October 1, 2007 By Carolyn James & John LaCour After years of focusing primarily on auction sites, phishers now target credit unions and other financial institutions more than any other industry, according to research from brand protection firm MarkMonitor , San Francisco. In a typical... READ MORE

Practice 'Pre-Emptive Compliance' October 1, 2007 By Leonard Ryan One of the most effective military strategies is the pre-emptive strike, because it almost always provides the advantage to the forces taking the initiative. The same is true for credit unions that practice "pre-emptive compliance" to avoid risks and enhance member... READ MORE

Reach, Teach Young Adults October 1, 2007 Author and America's Credit Union Conference & Expo speaker Anya Kamenetz describes three key economic problems plaguing young adults: 1. Student loan debt. Two-thirds of today's college students have federal loans for postsecondary education, she says, up from 35% in 1993-94. Graduates' average... READ MORE

Intelligent Video Surveillance Thwarts ID Theft October 1, 2007 By Dagan Sadeh A teller walks away from his desk briefly, leaving a short queue of customers to wait. One customer from the queue steps forward quickly, grabbing a handful of new credit cards ready to be mailed to customers with... READ MORE

Member Growth South of the Border October 1, 2007 Slow membership growth isn't a problem just for U.S. credit unions. Susana Len, marketing manager for Caja Libertad, shares how the Quertaro, Mexico, credit union addresses this issue. What challenges does Caja Libertad face when acquiring new members? 1. Loss of... READ MORE

Take the Compliance Challenge October 1, 2007 By Valerie Moss Q Does the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) permit a servicemember to automatically suspend loan payments to the credit union without a court order? A No. A servicemember can't discontinue loan payments unilaterally without a court's authorization. If a servicemember... READ MORE

Members Go For Gift Cards October 1, 2007 By Cathy Fleming Gift cards might not be big money-makers for credit unions. But members like the convenience the cards provide, and credit union executives find value in adding the cards to their product lineup. Sarah Canepa Bang, CEO of Financial Service... READ MORE