Operations

Why do CUs Fail? August 1, 2007 Build assets, boost your ROA (return on assets) and you'll improve your chances of survival. So says a Filene Research Institute report, "Determinants of Credit Union and Commercial Bank Failures: Similarities and Differences, 1981-2005." The report, authored by James A. Wilcox , Filene... READ MORE

Tools of the Trade August 1, 2007 Credit union vendors introduce new Check 21, card services, and fraud management offerings. CUs Cash in with Check 21 As transportation costs continue to rise and courier fees increase, more credit unions are looking to branch capture to ease the mounting cost. Branch... READ MORE

Fight Check Forgery With New Technologies July 1, 2007 By Yuri Prizemin CUNA Mutual Group , Madison, Wis., reports it paid credit union check fraud claims in 2006 totaling $16.9 million—down from approximately $21 million in both 2004 and 2005 due to improved loss controls and tighter underwriting standards. But... READ MORE

E-mail Marketing Made Easy (Part I) July 1, 2007 By Lisa Forlenza We all know the "e" in e-mail stands for electronic. However, I like to think "e" also stands for easy, efficient, and effective. If you're new to the world of e-mail marketing, you may believe embarking on an... READ MORE

CUs and Social Lending: Make Banking About Sharing July 1, 2007 By Bill Merrick Want to attract young members? Take a lesson from MySpace . The social networking site provides valuable insights into young adult consumers and how credit unions might approach this market, according to Zopa's Wade Lagrone, vice... READ MORE

Should Your CU Do a 'Sale-Leaseback?' July 1, 2007 By Vincent Pellerito With declining net interest margins, rising operating expenses, and unprecedented merger activity, credit unions face a challenging landscape to remain competitive. Converting all or a portion of corporate-owned properties into a sale-leaseback allows credit unions to transform nonearning... READ MORE

Teach Members, Employees How to Prevent ID Theft July 1, 2007 By Michelle Cunningham Credit union members and other consumers can do many things to protect themselves from identity and credit card theft, according to the co-founder of an Internet security and compliance firm. Jim Stickley, chief technology officer and... READ MORE

Members' Use of Branches is Changing July 1, 2007 By Cathy Fleming Branch tools and technologies continue to evolve, as does how members use credit union facilities. Kathleen Litman, vice president of marketing for $1.3 billion asset Technology Credit Union , San Jose, Calif., and David Seeger, CEO of $28... READ MORE

Thwart Threats From the Inside June 1, 2007 By Ellen Libenson Imagine an unhappy systems administrator who wants to teach a seemingly unappreciative company a lesson … an employee passed over for a promotion or a raise … an information technology (IT) manager disappointed by the amount of a bonus... READ MORE

Myers' Mark on the Movement June 1, 2007 Bill Myers retires this month after 28 years as sole CEO of $51 million asset Alternatives Federal Credit Union , Ithaca, N.Y. Though he wouldn't want the hoopla, he's a shining example of what the credit union movement is all about. No... READ MORE