Firefighter Credit Union Newsroom

Credit unions compete to recruit and retain quality employees by offering a wide range of benefits. But could that competitive edge be in jeopardy because of rapidly rising costs? Because of higher benefit expenses, 31% of credit unions added or increased employee cost sharing in 2012. This year, 43% of credits unions expect to add or increase employee cost sharing. In addition, 24% of credit unions are expected to enhance or add workplace wellness programs, which are up from 22% last year.  Credit unions are also trying to hold down costs by improving employee communications to educate staff about their health care options and ways to cut costs and monitoring health care data for cost utilization patterns.<<<MORE>>> Ever-Rising Benefits Costs Are Tough to Manage : 

Maps Credit Union’s CUSO CU Wireless Collaborates with Industry Partners CheckAlt and iParse to Provide Mobile Deposit Capture to Oregonians Credit Union SALEM, Ore. — Members of one credit union have access to one more time and money saving tool, thanks to the partnership between three innovative financial services companies. CU Wireless, CheckAlt and iParse to create a mobile deposit capture product that integrates seamlessly into Oregonians Credit Union’s existing mobile app and provides more accurate image capturing than other mobile deposit products. This mobile deposit capture product allows members of Oregonians CU to use their mobile phones to deposit checks. iParse’s innovative technology automatically captures, analyzes and converts the image right on the hand set, eliminating the need for the end user to snap multiple pictures because of image quality issues. Sam Launius, executive vice president at Oregonians CU, said, “iParse has been an exceptional partner for our

Conference On-Line Registration     2013 Conference Registration Form.pdf Reserve Your Rooms NOW The National Coalition of Firefighters Credit Unions Inc. (NCOFCU), a not for profit, is partnering with the Boston Firefighters Credit Union to produce and host NCOFCU's 2013 convention in Boston, MA. As in the past years, this will be a gathering of CEO's and Volunteers of firefighter credit unions, primarily serving firefighters and their families, participating in the collaboration and peer to peer networking they have always enjoyed. The key aspects of this meeting will focus on the structured roundtable discussions among the attendees from the firefighter credit union community. Participants will have the opportunity to sit in on breakout sessions covering a variety of subjects of key interest to firefighter credit unions. Some of the scheduled events but not limited too;    National Coalition of Firefighters Credit Unions Annual Meeting. Hear from your p

Millennials Do you know who they are? This is a reprint from CU Time 4/20/2011 Effectively marketing to Millennials–consumers who fall in the 16 to 31 age range and are typically grouped with Gen Y–requires flexibility, adaptability and fluidity, said a new report released by trends and futures consulting firm The Futures Group. “ Unmasking Millennials : The Futures Company on a Misunderstood Generation,” summarizes consumption habits and reveals that Millennials live in a constant state of flux, with technology playing an integral role in their ever-changing lives. The firm found that common Millennial stereotypes–optimism, openness to the world, social consciousness and fluency in technology–do not always ring true. Researchers say the 16 to 31 bracket is indeed tech savvy, but about half are concerned for their economic futures and many are developing inward attitudes. The report also states Millennials are less motivated to make a difference in the world than their Gen

CFPB final mortgage servicing rule hits slightly more than 200 of 6,900 federally insured credit unions.>>Read More at CU Times>> NCUA Confirms Nearly All Credit Unions Qualify for CFPB’s Servicing Exemption :

Reaction varied to the news that the Wisconsin-based financial services technology giant had scooped up its debt-ridden former rival. “I think this will prove to be good news for the credit union industry,” said Christine Barry, a research director at Aite Group in Boston. >>>Read More>>> Fiserv Takeover of Open Solutions Good or Bad For Credit Unions? :  

It is sad news that I have to report the passing of Leo Brochu on January 4, 2013. Leo was a director and past president of Newark Firemen Federal Credit Union. As most of you know he had attended and enjoyed our conferences and shared lots of good times with many of you. Leo John Brochu, 65, passed away at the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg Campus, Bethlehem, Pa., on Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. A Funeral Mass will be offered at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark, N.J., on Friday morning, Jan. 11, at 11 o'clock. Those who wish to attend the funeral may gather at the funeral home at 10 o'clock. Entombment will be in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, N.J. Guests will be received at the Irvine-Cozzarelli Memorial Home, P.A., 276 Washington Ave., Belleville, N.J., www.irvinecozzarelli.com , (973) 759-1114, on Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 o'clock and on Thursday afternoon and evening from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 o'clock. Complimentary valet parking is ava

EMMITSBURG, Md. – The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) announced today a provisional total of 83 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States as a result of incidents that occurred in 2012, the same number of firefighter losses as in 2011. View the provisional report » The 83 fatalities were spread across 34 states. Pennsylvania and North Carolina experienced the highest number of fatalities with nine firefighter deaths each. New York had six firefighter deaths, including the most recent tragic shooting deaths of two firefighters in Webster. California and Texas, each with five firefighter deaths, were the only other states with five or more firefighter fatalities in 2012. Heart attacks or stroke were responsible for the deaths of 41 firefighters (49%) in 2012. This single year total is a near average proportion of firefighter deaths from heart attack or stroke over recent years. This nature of fatal injury has remained relatively constant, while others, on average, have bee

SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco Fire CU has completed the acquisition of Bay Media FCU, a troubled credit union for San Francisco Chronicle employees and the latest newspaper employees’ credit union to run out of black ink.

Mergers, mortgages and more seen populating the legal docket for credit unions in the year ahead, according to a team of credit union attorneys.>>>Read all at CU Times>> Credit Union Legal Hurdles for 2013: Opinion :

Bonus prediction: The definition of “mobile” will broaden.   Today the smartest machine in many homes, besides a desktop computer or laptop, is a smartphone. Everything else from the TV to the toaster, are dumb by comparison. But that’s changing, as more devices are enabled with wireless connectivity as per prediction No. 4. The smartphone is also becoming the hub for them all — used to turn off the lights or control the temperature of a house. More devices will go mobile, augmenting the very definition of the term, and the smartphone will become increasingly important as the “mothership” that controls them all. <<Read all 10 At>> 10 Predictions For The Mobile Industry In 2013 :

Happy New Year!  WASHINGTON - JANUARY 1: U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement alongside U.S. Vice President Joseph R. Biden (L) in the White House Briefing Room following passage by the House of tax legislation on January 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The House and Senate have now both passed the legislation,  >> Read All 5 Here>>    It Passed: Five Things Everyone Should Know about the Fiscal Cliff Tax Deal :