Corporate credit unions were formed to be credit unions’ credit unions, much as bankers’ banks serve banks. How CU executives feel about corporates depends partly on how they feel about giving their business to banks instead. Read about one CU’s experience using a correspondent bank for operating services, below.

Also read two online-only columns from Credit Union Management--Inside Marketing and Facility Solutions--all in this week’s issue of CUES FYI.

Time is running out! June 4 is the final deadline to submit entries in the 2010 CUES Mirror Awards.

A Credit Union’s Credit Union
Is your credit union comfortable working with a bank?

Inside Marketing: Teach Your Members Well
Build value and trust by positioning your credit union as an educational resource.

Facility Solutions: Branch Network Optimization
Part 2 in a series about improving branch networks.

From Our Sponsor
Johns Hopkins FCU Navigates Rate Cuts to Come out on Top
During the economic recession in 2008, Johns Hopkins Federal Credit Union was faced with a state-mandated insurance rate reduction. In order to protect its non-interest income from credit insurance products, Johns Hopkins FCU turned to its partner, CRI Solutions, to not only avert losses, but increase income for the credit union.

CU System Conversion Primer
At one time or another, every credit union employee is likely to be involved in a system conversion. These can be caused by mergers, acquisitions or major upgrades to computer systems. System conversions can be hard on employees and members if not done with proper planning and execution. Major and discrete steps have to be executed crisply during the ramp-up to conversion to make the fateful conversion weekend go well. This CUES Technology Edge article outlines those major steps. (Password required; e-mail cues@cues.org for assistance.)

MyCUES: On this page on the new cues.org, CUES, CUES Director and CUES Supplier members can monitor industry news sources, communicate with peers and track their professional development.

New Benefit! CUES, CUES Director and CUES Supplier members and subscribers to Credit Union Management can now access a complete digital version of the May magazine by logging in at cumanagement.org then clicking on the magazine image in the top bar. E-mail cues@cues.org for password help.

Review all your member benefits here.

Blog: Tips from CUES' First-Ever Board Meeting via Videoconference: Last month, the CUES Board of Directors met virtually, using iLinc, CUES' Web videoconferencing software. Find some useful tips for first-time videoconferencers in this CUES Skybox blog post.

Does the Next Top Credit Union Exec Work at Your CU?

The June 1 application deadline is looming for CUES’ Next Top Credit Union Exec challenge. Every young professional at your credit union should apply for this honor; CUES is awarding more than $50,000 in prizes, including a $20,000 educational prize package to the ultimate winner. Just think what it would mean to your credit union to have the Next Top Credit Union Exec on staff. Learn more now and view the first three entrants!

Cool Web Site: Visuwords is an online graphical dictionary/thesaurus. And it is so cool. You can look up words to find their meanings and associations with other words and concepts. The site produces diagrams reminiscent of a neural net.

Member News:

Recognition: The U.S. Small Business Administration has named $2.7 billion/322,000-member Redstone Federal Credit Union, Huntsville, Ala., as the “Alabama Lender of the Year.” Redstone FCU received the first-place awards for “Loan Dollar Volume” and “Loan Volume” at the recent Alabama SBA Lenders Conference in Prattville.

Retirement: Joyce Banish, VP/university and community public relations at $1.82 billion/153,000-member Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, East Lansing, Mich., has announced her retirement.

Scholarships: $864 million/81,000-member SELCO Community Credit Union, Eugene, Ore., has named the 2010 winners of its annual scholarship contest, awarding 13 high school students $1,500 each for their combination of scholastic achievement and community involvement.

$417 million/41,000-member Air Academy Federal Credit Union, Colorado Springs, Colo., recognized 354 students from nine school districts and awarded nearly $27,000 in art scholarships between January and May 2010.

Read all the CUES member news here.

CUES Supplier Member News

Integrated Media Management recently announced the launch of the TotaleAtlas application for the newly-introduced Apple iPad. TotaleAtlas is the company's document preparation engine.

CU leagues representing 29 states support the Fynanz and CUNA Strategic Services strategic alliance to offer CUs custom and turn-key private student loan programs.

Essential Enterprise Risk Management Education

Risk management has become a critical element in strategic planning for credit unions. Attend  the CUES School of Risk Management^™ in Collaboration with the Risk and Insurance Management Society, July 26-27, Chicago, or  Sept. 20-21, Seattle,  for  an overview of the essentials of enterprise risk management. Register today for either location and get the serious risk management education you need. 

CUES Calendar

Webinar: Board/CEO Communication Blind Spots
May 27
1-2 p.m. Central time

Webinar: Alternative Capital: Controlling Your Destiny
June 2
10-11 a.m. Central time

DLI™: Governance
June 6-9
Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Toronto

CUES Annual Convention
Disney's Contemporary Resort
June 21-23
Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Webinar: Enculturation Through New Employee Orientation
June 24
1-2 p.m. Central time

Webinar: Alternative Capital: Navigating the Future
June 30
10-11 a.m. Central time

CUES School of Risk Management™
July 26-27
Doubletree Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel in Rosemont
Chicago

Execu/Net^™ 2010
Aug. 22-25
Summit at Big Sky Resort
Big Sky, Mont.

Check out all the upcoming CUES events.

Join the CUES Community!
Connect with CUES and other CUES members.

Join us on LinkedIn and follow us on Facebook or Twitter @TheRealCUES for the latest conference updates and executive education highlights!

Subscribe to this e-mail by sending a message with “subscribe” in the subject line and your name and e-mail in the body to cuesfyi@cues.org.