Keeping you connected to key credit union news, events, and trends: January 25, 2017
In This Issue
Headline News

Louisiana Credit Union Foundation Unveils New Logo, New Opportunities to Donate
The Louisiana Credit Union Foundation was extremely active this past August with the flooding in Baton Rouge. We used this opportunity to make the necessary changes and streamline internal operations, leading us to re-brand and re-structure the statewide foundation both internally and externally.

Visit the Foundation page on our website to access the new donation form and to learn about the different ways you can support it. 
 
Court Rules to Dismiss MBL Lawsuit Against NCUA
The NCUA just won dismissal of a banking trades challenge to the member-business lending rule that allows federally insured federal and state credit unions to acquire more commercial loans.  

Click here to continue reading, 
'Give a Hoot' About This Year's CU Youth Savings Month: Start Planning Now!
"Give a Hoot About Savings" will serve as the official theme for the 2017 National Credit Union Youth Month, sponsored by GreenPath Financial Wellness.

Centered on owl imagery, the theme will encourage kids to embrace financial responsibility and the unique power of credit unions to provide financial security.

The theme will be featured throughout Youth Month promotional materials and merchandise, both of which are now available on the Youth Month website.
January Dividend, Loan Pricing Guidelines Available on LCUL Website
LCUL  is pleased to provide affiliated credit unions with monthly dividend and loan pricing guidelines, as well as Money Market Trends, available via our website.

Guidelines for January 2017 have just been posted. Click here to access the link. These guidelines are provided by Dr. Charles R. Idol, ALM Consulting & Research. Dr. Idol can be reached at (423) 212-0690 or cridol@charter.net.

Just for Fun: 5 Process Tips to Avoid the "What Have You Done for Me Lately?" Syndrome

These are words we somewhat kiddingly say to our sales team at the start of each fiscal year. No matter how great the successes of 2016 were, they are now in the past.
 
But are your customers singing the same tune as they walk through your branch doors or even while logging into your online banking portal?
 
Let's hope not. But, if you aren't continuously trying to get better, they might start hearing it in their heads.
 
To make sure you stay ahead of customer expectations, here are five process improvements your credit union can explore to create engaged customers to ensure they walk away humming a different tune.

Click here to continue reading.

Products and Services

Reminder: CU members can save on tax products
Tax season is fast-approaching, and Love My Credit Union Rewards is once again offering partner credit unions the opportunity to provide discounts on Intuit tax products. Through the program, credit unions can offer members up to $15 in savings on federal tax products from TurboTax.

Click here for more information. 

Have You Heard?

UNO FCU Welcomes St. Bernard Parish with their "Join our Krewe" King Cake Party
UNO Federal Credit Union (UNOFCU) kicked off the carnival season and welcomed St. Bernard Parish members to their new Chalmette branch located in the St. Bernard Parish Government Complex on Friday, January 20th with their "Join our Krewe" party. King cakes and coffee from local establishments along with a generous quantity of Mardi Gras themed door prizes filled the atrium of the St. Bernard Government Complex.
 
"We're so excited to celebrate that our membership has been expanded to include those who live, work and attend school in both St. Bernard and Orleans Parishes," states UNOFCU CEO Chris Maurer.  "It's a huge milestone for UNOFCU and we are thrilled to add these two communities to our beloved University of New Orleans Community. This is the first credit union in St. Bernard opened to its citizens based on that particular geographic area."

   
Pelican State CU Gives Highland Center Financial Ministries $10,000 Grant To Give Shreveport Residents a Helping Hand

Highland Center Financial Ministries, a group of churches in the Shreveport community, partner with Pelican State Credit Union to offer short-term, low-interest loans to local residents who are generally unable to qualify for traditional loans looking to improve their financial situation.
 
Not a handout-these loans offer a "hand up" and require payback. Through community outreach projects, Highland Center Financial Ministries and Pelican State CU seek out individuals who are looking to build a future for themselves, most of the time with the desire to start their own business. Idea loan candidates strive for financial independence and simply need a hand up to get there.
 
Pelican State CU provides qualified Hand Up Loan applicants with fast approvals and a flat 9.99% Annual Percentage Rate, a rate far below what applicants may qualify for anywhere else. Highland Center Financial Ministries financially backs 50% of each loan amount and, once the funds are paid back, they are used to fund the loan of another deserving person.
 
From its inception in July 2013 to November 2016, the Hand Up Loan program directly provided 43 loans to Shreveport residents totaling over $80,450. Highland Center Financial Ministries recently received a $10,000 grant to directly support the program. These funds will be used to back even more loans in the future.
 
Pelican State CU employs a full-time, Nationally Certified Credit Counselor at its Shreveport branch located at 284 Southfield Road. Credit Counselor Heike Reagan meets with Hand Up Loan recipients at no cost to ensure they have the tools to make sound financial decisions. 



Neighbors FCU Announces Neighbors CC App
Neighbors Federal Credit Union is pleased to introduce Neighbors CC, a mobile credit card management application. Neighbors CC was developed in partnership with PSCU and is available in the Apple® App Store or Google® Play . Once Neighbors CC is downloaded, cardholders have the ability to:
  • Make a payment.
  • Report a card lost or stolen.
  • Raise a dispute on any transaction.
  • Activate a card.
  • View recent transaction history.
  • View real time balance information.
  • View payment history.
 
"Neighbors CC is ideal for members who want to actively manage their credit cards," said Tanya Lawrence, Vice President of Operations at Neighbors Federal Credit Union. "Neighbors CC's intuitive functions help members easily monitor their daily credit card transactions."
Quote of the Week:
"Success is being in charge of your lifestyle and creating something you're proud of, surrounded by people you love."
- Troye Sivan

Educational Calendar
Upcoming Conferences & Seminars from your League:    

February 7-8: Regulatory Compliance School 2017
 
Upcoming Teleconferences & Webinars from your League

January 26: Procedural & Compliance Responsibilities of the Board Secretary
January 31: Auditing Call Reports
February 1: Developing & Managing a Consumer Complaint Program - Avoiding Reputational Damage
February 6: The New World of Debt Collection: What Recent CFPB Actions Indicate About the Future of Regulations & Enforcement
February 7: Regulation E Series: Handling Provisional Credit Under Reg E: Rules, Best Practices & FAQs
February 8: Real Estate Series: Understanding TRID Tolerance Cures
February 13: Part 2 - New FFIEC Consumer Compliance Rating System, Effective
February 14: Military Lending Act: Exam Procedure Changes, Post-Implementation Considerations & FAQs
February 16: BSA Compliance Series: FinCEN's CDD Rules & BSA Compliance: Why Preparing Now for the Fifth Pillar is Critical
February 21: Risk Management Series: Developing an Enterprise-Wide Risk Assessment
February 22: Flood Compliance in Lending Part 1: Loan Origination
February 23: Collection Law Essentials: Legalities, Landmines & More
February 27: Everything You Need to Know About Regulation CC: Holds, Funds Availability, Compliance & More
February 28: Imaged Documents: What to Keep, What to Destroy, What Holds Up in Court?
     
For a complete listing of educational opportunities available from LCUL, visit the League website and click on "Education".
  
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