Skip to main content

Firefighters First Credit Union Sweeps Chili Challenge

SAN DIEGO, CA  August 7, 2017

Firefighters First Credit Union on Saturday dominated the fifth annual Xpress Data, Inc. 2017 Credit Union Chili Challenge, winning First Place and the People’s Choice award with Second place being awarded to New Orleans Firemen’s FCU
“Fire Watch smoked the competition at the Credit Union Chili Challenge,” said Firefighters First Senior Vice President of Marketing Kelly Ramsay. “Congratulations to our dedicated chili team: Tim and Noemi Watkins, Stacey Miller, Crystal Jauregui, Chantel Perez, Kimberly Tobias and Pedro Quintanilla. We are so proud, and that was some darn good chili!”
The $1.2 billion credit union brought home two trophies from Del Mar Thoroughbred Club racetrack, $7,000 in prize money they will donate to the Fire Family Foundation and an entry to compete in the International Chili Society World Championships Oct. 20-22 in Reno, Nev.
“Congratulations to Firefighters First Credit Union for their strong showing this year,” XDI President Mike Cooper said. “Their teamwork and enthusiasm are an inspiration to the credit union community.”
Twenty-two credit union teams competed in the event. While most were credit unions located in Southern California, the Second Place winners, New Orleans Firemen’s the Federal Credit Union, traveled 2,000 miles to compete in the event. The $163 million credit union will donate its $3,500 prize to Children’s Hospital of New Orleans.
The $800 million Pacific Marine Credit Union of Oceanside, Calif., also won big, taking home $2,000 in prize money for Rady Children’s Hospital. Pacific Marine’s team won $1,000 for the Showmanship Award and another $1,000 with the Social Media Award for use of the #cuchili hashtag.
Third place was awarded to the $4 billion Kinecta Federal Credit Union in Manhattan Beach, Calif., which will donate its $1,500 prize to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The $1.4 billion First Entertainment Credit Union in Hollywood, Calif., won $1,000 in prize money for Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for Best Booth.
“We were so pleased to host our largest XDI’s Credit Union Chili Challenge ever and donate $15,000 to charity,” Cooper said. “We look forward to welcoming, even more, credit unions next year and encourage everyone to consider hosting their own cook-off to increase employee engagement and foster team building.” 

Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political comments.

Popular posts from this blog

NCUA Reports Continued Credit Union Loan Growth in First Quarter of 2016

"ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 3, 2016) – Credit unions continued to increase their lending, with loans outstanding increasing 10.7 percent in the year ending in the first quarter of 2016, the National Credit Union Administration reported today.  “The credit union system again experienced solid performance during the first quarter of 2016,” NCUA Board Chairman Rick Metsger said. “Overall, new and used auto lending was especially strong, and the system gained one million members. With an influx of deposits, federally insured shares at credit unions also neared the $1 trillion mark coming in at $991.7 billion.  “As credit union lending has increased, long-term investments have declined and reduced the system’s interest rate risk. However, delinquency and charge-off rates are slightly higher than a year ago, and member-business loan delinquencies are rising even more. Credit unions making such loans should take note and ensure that they perform proper due diligence to mitigate the r...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

NCUA Letter to Credit Unions: Interagency Statement on LIBOR Transition

Dear Boards of Directors and Chief Executive Officers: As a follow-up to Letter to Credit Unions 21-CU-03, LIBOR Transition , this letter provides additional reminders related to LIBOR’s discontinuance. Five federal financial institution regulatory agencies, in conjunction with the state bank and state credit union regulators, are jointly issuing the enclosed statement to emphasize the expectation that supervised institutions with LIBOR exposure will continue to progress toward an orderly transition away from LIBOR. [1] The NCUA encourages all federally insured credit unions to transition away from using U.S. dollar LIBOR as a reference rate as soon as possible, but no later than December 31, 2021, and to ensure existing contracts have robust fallback language that includes a clearly defined alternative reference rate. Please contact your NCUA Regional Office or state supervisory authority if you have any questions about this important topic. Read the Letter to Credit Unions   Sav...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Trump Administration Declares CFPB Funding Illegal, Bureau’s Cash To Run Out By Early 2026

WASHINGTON—Credit-unions face a potential regulatory vacuum as the Trump Administration formally has determined the CFPB’s current self-funding mechanism unlawful—a move that could put the agency on a path to closure in early 2026 unless Congress steps in. For credit-union leaders, who rely on the Bureau’s oversight of consumer-finance markets and enforcement of unfair practices, the decision signals a major disruption to the regulatory environment CUs navigate daily. In a court filing released late Monday, the Administration declared that the CFPB is now legally barred from seeking additional funds from the Federal Reserve System—the agency’s usual funding source under the Dodd‑Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, POLITICO reported. That means the Bureau’s remaining resources will likely carry it only through the end of the year, after which it “anticipates exhausting its currently available funds in early 2026.” CUToday.info has tracked this story, noting in  Oct...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

CEO Compensation-Approach and Impact by DeeDee Myers

Numerous CEO shifts this year directly impact potentially outdated compensation philosophies related to creating a rewards package to retain and reward a newly hired or promoted CEO. Unfortunately, CEOs are often unsure of their performance metrics, short-term incentives, long-term incentives, and retirement package a year or more after they assume a CEO role. The impact is a lack of clarity on success factors between the Board and CEO, which inevitably transfers and translates to a less-than-adequate clarity of priorities and actions within the executive and management ranks. Deedee Myers, Ph.D., MSC, PCC  Direct office:  602-840-1053  Cell: 602-821-9300 https://ddjmyers.com/   Save The Date 10/5-8/2022    
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Inflation Eases a Bit in New CPI Data; Here's What CU Economist Says

WASHINGTON–Inflation eased just a bit in April with the  Consumer Price Index  slowing to its lowest level since early 2021.  Dawit Kebede According to the new data from the Labor Department, in April the CPI, which excludes food and energy items, was up 3.6% annually. That would seem to indicate the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise rates quickly and then hold them there is having its effect, albeit inflation is being tamed at a slower pace than may had expected. “Headline and core inflation slowed down a bit in April after hot readings during the first quarter,” said America's Credit Unions Senior Economist Dawit Kebede. “Volatile energy a...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Fed Governor Warns ‘Global Stablecoin Glut’ Could Reshape Monetary Policy

  NEW YORK—Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran believes the rapid rise of stablecoins could become a major force shaping U.S. monetary policy. Once seen as a niche digital tool for crypto traders, stablecoins have evolved into a global conduit for dollar-denominated transactions, enabling users worldwide to store value and move capital more efficiently. Their growing prominence, Miran noted during his speech at the BCVC Summit 2025 at the Harvard Club, reflects continued demand for dollars—and with the GENIUS Act now providing a clear regulatory framework for U.S.-issued stablecoins, the sector is poised for broader adoption across payment systems. Stephen Miran Stablecoins’ link to the U.S. dollar is reinforcing the currency’s global dominance while simultaneously creating new implications for monetary policy. Miran argued that stablecoins are already increasing demand for U.S. Treasury bills and other dollar-based assets, especially from investors outside the United States. Th...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Email and Text Message Etiquette

As we navigate our everyday communications, I want to emphasize the importance of practicing good email and text message etiquette. This enhances clarity and ensures that everyone feels respected and valued in our interactions. Email Etiquette: 1. Use a Clear Subject Line: A subject line that accurately reflects the content of your email will help recipients know what to expect. 2. Greet Appropriately: Start with an appropriate greeting, such as "Dear [Name]", "Hello [Name]," or "Hi [Name], which sets a positive tone. 3. Acknowledge Receipt: If you receive an email that requires a response, action, or information, please acknowledge its receipt. A simple reply confirming that you have received the email helps the sender know their message was received and provides an opportunity to clarify expectations. 4. Be Concise: Keep your emails clear and to the point. Avoid excessive details unless necessary. 5. Professional Language: Use respectful and professional l...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Current Geopolitical Events Increase Likelihood of Imminent Cyberattacks on Financial Institutions

Current Geopolitical Events Increase Likelihood of Imminent Cyberattacks on Financial Institutions Financial Institutions, Large and Small, Included in Potential Targets to U.S. Critical Infrastructure The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has recently issued two alerts addressing risks from Russian State-Sponsored cyber threats and highlighting recent malicious cyber incidents suffered by public and private entities in Ukraine . Given current geopolitical events, the NCUA, along with CISA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Security Agency encourage credit unions of all sizes and their cybersecurity teams nationwide to adopt a heightened state of awareness and to conduct proactive threat hunting. In addition, COVID-related supply chain disruptions may require management to reevaluate previously held assumptions for business continuity and disaster recovery pla...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

NCUA Board Member Rodney E. Hood Remarks at the National Council of Firefighters Credit Unions (NCOFCU)

NCUA Director addresses NCOFCU attendees in Fort Worth TX.     Thank you very much for the kind introduction. It’s a pleasure to join you today, and I’m especially delighted that conditions are so much improved that we’re able to gather in person. After what we’ve been through the last year and a half, I think we’re all ready for a gradual return to a more normal footing, even if we still have some way to go to reach that point. I spend a lot of time studying what credit unions are doing, and one of the best parts of this job is that I’m regularly reminded of how powerful the credit union model can be for making a difference in our communities. This initiative is a true testament to the strength of that model. I certainly look forward to checking in on the progress of this program so we can see how it works – it looks like a promising experiment.  Read his complete p...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

TruStage Economic Projections for 2026 - Steve Rick

MADISON, Wis.– Noting it’s “that time a year to make economic projections for 2026,”   TruStage’s   economists are offering their preview for what they believe lies ahead. “We expect real GDP to expand 1.5% in 2026, below the 1.8% pace for 2025, and lower than the 2% long run trend growth rate,” wrote the company’s chief economist, Steve Rick, in TruStage’s newest Trends Report. “Growth will be slightly weaker than normal due to tariff policy uncertainty, restrictive monetary policy and slower labor force growth.” The report states that inflation is expected to be 3% in 2026, only falling slightly from the 3.1% pace this year. “We expect inflation to run above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target as firms pass through any additional tariff costs and the slow growth in labor force will keep upward pressure on wage growth,” the report observes. “This stubbornly high inflation will ensure monetary policy stays restrictive for most of 2026.” The Trends Report notes that the unemploymen...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»