-AACUC Getting it Done. The African-American Credit Union Coalition is no longer a fledgling group. It is an established, solid association, but that's not what gets my admiration. The AACUC has an impressive internship program that is getting young people to open their eyes about careers in credit unions. Almost 200 young people have taken part in AACUC internship programs and 22 have started legitimate careers. That's great news! I spoke with Municipal Employees CU of Baltimore CEO Bert Hash (also Credit Union Times' 2007 CEO of the Year) about this recently and he was just ecstatic with the progress and what he describes as "young people finally understanding what a credit union is." Keep it up AACUC.

-Great Programs. Remember just a few years ago when credit unions were under attack for not serving the underserved? I do and I also remember a lot of worry that credit unions wouldn't react and launch programs that formalized a lot of what they were already doing so it could be tabulated and presented as proof to Congress when the day, and it will, comes again.

Credit unions throughout the country have stepped up with payday alternative programs, low-income mortgage efforts, innovative savings programs, and more. There are also some great national efforts like the National Credit Union Foundation's REAL Solutions program that is now in 300 credit unions in 19 states. It took a different route than many programs that only rely on credit union system funding. REAL Solutions solicits funds from outside the system for the program that helps CUs offer financial products designed specifically for low-income Americans. It aims to be in 33 states in the next three years!

At press time, new stats coming in from the Pennsylvania CU Association's alternative to payday lending program, Better Choice, reveal that since its launch in late 2006, the program helped save consumers $619,000 when compared to what they would have paid at payday lenders. This is the kind of tallying that is thankfully going on throughout the industry.

-White Hat Image Winning Out. When you are an industry insider like most of you reading this column, it can get frustrating when you don't think all the good that credit unions do is getting noticed. The great news now is it is getting noticed. Take a recent Forrester Research Survey that asked consumers if their financial institution was doing what's best for them, not their bottomlines. Sixty-six percent of respondents said that was true of credit unions. As a comparison, only 28% said so of American Express and 32% of Bank of America. Credit unions also score at the top in annual customer (member) service studies that compare banks and credit unions. The great rates and low fees credit unions offer are being recognized.

-Big Mouths Are Needed. Kudos to the credit union leaders that won't be denied. They have their beliefs and stick to them because they think the entire industry benefits. Like who? American Credit Union Mortgage Association President Bob Dorsa is not shy about telling credit unions they are never going to be their members' first choice if they don't get into the mortgage game. He has a vested interest, but he's not scared of taking shots at the very folks he represents. He said recently that "if we can get most of the 50 mortgage CUSOs to work together in a carefully planned manner, we could conceivably make things happen."

Even Dorsa would have to admit that credit unions have made great strides with mortgages, but we need outspoken leaders like him to keep it up.

-Incredible Representation. I hope credit union leaders realize how well they are represented in Washington D.C. Let's not take for granted how quickly NAFCU and CUNA swing into action when credit unions are attacked. I sometimes disagree with how they do things, but it's hard to not be impressed by their speed and vigilance in advocating for credit unions. Look how quickly they reacted to the letter from the acting IRS commissioner about the lines blurring between commercial entities and tax-exempt entities like credit unions. Everyone in Washington knows that if they attack credit unions they have a fight on their hands with CUNA and NAFCU.

-Smart Marketing. Credit unions are great markers and they need to be to make up for the disadvantages they have to banks. I have about 20 CU-specific examples I recently noticed that I can tout as great CU marketing, but even the editor doesn't have unlimited space. So here's just one eye-opener: Achieva Credit Union made a great call by using its very own members for its new 30-second television spots. The CU features members who have benefited from products and services the CU is promoting, such as first-time home buyers, young members getting their first taste of credit, etc. This credit union wasn't scared to cast members instead of actors. Who better to represent the CU then satisfied members?

Tired of all the bad news. Keep your eyes open and you'll see there is plenty of good going on in credit union land.

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