Operations

Four Steps To Branch Success June 1, 2006 Proponent Federal Credit Union, Nutley, N.J., opened its 10th branch office in Newark on March 20. Bill Stavros, director of marketing for $376 million asset credit union, offers four tips for ensuring branch success: Look ahead. Proponent bases its branch strategy on... READ MORE

Navy FCU: On Call 24/7 To Provide World-Class Service June 1, 2006 By Keasha Lee Communication is the key to maintaining any relationship. Although technology has introduced a variety of ways for people to communicate, the telephone is still the first choice for consumers when it comes to requesting information... READ MORE

Relationships vs. Return: Credit Card Program Strategies June 1, 2006 By Ben Wade Implement risk-based pricing Leverage your reputation Modernize your credit card program Retain members One of the biggest challenges facing credit unions today is how to price services to ensure a proper return while meeting members' needs. Many... READ MORE

Growth Hasn't Changed America's First's Mission June 1, 2006 Who: David Adcock What: President/CEO Where: America's First FCU, Birmingham, Ala. How has your CU changed over the years? Having been employed at America's First for more than 33 years, I have seen the credit union grow from $25 million in... READ MORE

Working Together To Meet New Fraud Challenges June 1, 2006 By Steve Ruwe The electronic payments revolution has provided credit unions with unprecedented growth opportunities through new products and services, including debit cards, prepaid cards, automatic bill payment, and recurring payments. Yet, these new growth opportunities bring with them new... READ MORE

Experian Upgrades Knowledge-Based Authentication Service Platform June 1, 2006 Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Experian®,launched the next generation of its Knowledge-Based Authentication services platform. The platform enhancements will help Experian clients expand their authentication capabilities by offering a broader array of questions than had previously been available. New questions not related to... READ MORE

Top Talent Is A Top Priority June 1, 2006 By Sharyn Alden The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 10 million more skilled labor jobs than workers by 2010. The Employment Policy Foundation, Washington, D.C., also projects a systemic labor shortage in the next two to three decades. Human resource (HR)... READ MORE

Social Engineering: Exploiting CUs' Service Culture May 1, 2006 By Joseph Kirkpatrick Phishing attacks are a common threat against credit unions and their members. According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, there were more than 48,000 reports of phishing incidents during the last quarter of 2005. During this time frame, more... READ MORE

9/11 Attacks Test CU Ingenuity and Recovery April 1, 2006 The date 9/11 is a grim reminder that preparedness is critical to our common safety. Skyline Federal Credit Union , New York, had been open and conducting business for about 45 minutes when the first terrorist attack on the city's... READ MORE

Physical Security: Prevent Or Limit Disasters' Impact April 1, 2006 By Marty Watts Physical security plan components Built-in safety & security The devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina on businesses' ability to function serves as a frightening reminder that the best disaster recovery plan may fail if organizations don't take steps... READ MORE