For months there's been plenty of buildup to the "Debate of the Year" between former NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar and Harris Simmons, chairman of the American Bankers Association, but in the end the event turned into a polite give-and-take.

Another round of print banker attacks loom next month for Nevada credit unions, but this time around the industry is prepared and "we will be less upset" having gained new confidence, according to the chairman of the Nevada Credit Union League.

Bent on reaching out to young and "less affluent" borrowers with payday alternatives, SELCO Community Credit Union has opened a separate branch-type facility in nearby Springfield to draw new members while soliciting the nontraditional loans.

After more than two years of plugging payday loan alternatives, Oregon credit unions found themselves in the limelight recently as the state's Democratic governor set up new vehicles to guide consumers to CUs for the products.

COLUMBIA, Md. - One credit union league, Maryland/D.C., has already signed up and another, Wisconsin, looks ready to jump on the StretchPay bandwagon in offering a payday loan alternative through an Ohio CUSO.

BEAVERTON, Ore. - Political advocacy training, complete with on-site talks from friendly lawmakers and upgraded manuals, is becoming high priority for the Oregon Credit Union Association.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The banking industry attack on Wal-Mart Stores Inc. may have borne fruit this month in a tough new Missouri law on industrial loan banks but credit unions are in wait-and-see mode about any new olive branch in the field of membership battle.

DENVER - Citing a need to concentrate on "core business," Centrix Financial, LLC, the struggling subprime auto lender, has canceled its title sponsorship of the Denver Grand Prix only weeks before the worldwide event takes place.