Published by the New Jersey Credit Union League, www.njcul.org

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In this issue:

1. 2008 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE OFFERS UNIQUE NETWORKING EXPERIENCE
2. NEW TELLER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM LAUNCHED
3. FINAL COMPLIANCE ROUNDTABLE OF ’07 TAKES ON ID THEFT/FRAUD/E-CRIME
4. SAVE THE DATES! DECEMEBER EDUCATION SESSIONS STILL AVAILABLE
5. TAKE A BITE OUT OF FALL: A QUICK BITE
6. LEAGUE CONTINUES TO OFFER BSA BOARD TRAINING
7. COMPLIANCE SUPPORT IS JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY
8. DIFFERENCE YOU HITS THE AIRWAVES
9. CREDIT UNIONS OF ALL SIZES COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS CHALLENGES FACING SMALL CREDIT UNIONS
10. NJCUL JOINS PUBLIC-PRIVATE ALLIANCE TO ADDRESS MORTGAGE CRISIS
11. CREDIT CARD DATA-BREACH LEGISLATION UPDATE
12. STATE SALES & USE TAX EXEMPTION LEGISLATION
13. ARE YOU POLITICALLY CONNECTED?
14. BRANCH OUT WITH SHARED BRANCHING?
15. MAKE YOUR MEMBERS COUNT WITH PROJECT ZIP CODE
16. TRANSFORM IDEAS INTO ACTION AT THE 2008 CEO SUMMIT
17. REX JOHNSON’S UNIVERSITY OF LENDING IS COMING TO ATLANTIC CITY
18. CREDIT UNION CAREERS

2008 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE OFFERS UNIQUE NETWORKING EXPERIENCE
Tired of the same old conference format? Then the NJCUL Leadership Conference set for April 14 &15 at the beautiful Borgata Hotel and Spa in Atlantic City may be just right for you. As a smaller conference with fewer attendees there are more opportunities to network with your credit union colleagues. This includes more sit-down meals where you can really get to know fellow attendees and share ideas. Many past attendees actually prefer it to the annual convention—and of course the education is superb! Details will be posted to our Web site soon!

NEW TELLER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM LAUNCHED
In response to member credit union demand, the League’s Education and Training Department is pleased to announce the NEW Credit Union Certified Teller (CUCT) Program.

Credit unions have been asking for the creation of a Teller Training Program and we have responded. Whether you are a small credit union lacking resources to fully train your tellers or a larger credit union looking to complement your in-house training, this program can benefit you.

The program consists of two face-to-face classroom sessions. Session One covers basic information necessary for tellers to do their job effectively. Session Two focuses on more advanced topics including regulations and compliance.

The CUCT Program provides a comprehensive manual that serves as a resource and/or training tool tellers can use back at their credit union. The program also provides an evaluation form to assist you in assessing the practical skills of your tellers.

When the incumbent is ready, the League will issue a final examination. This exam will be graded by League staff and be returned to management. A passing grade of 80% or more is necessary to receive certification status.

To complete the program, management will submit an evaluation form to the League. The incumbent will then receive a certificate and CUCT Certification status. In order to retain this certification, the incumbent needs a minimum of 15 hours of education relating to the frontline position every three years. Continuing education can be in the form of classroom, quick bite, Webinar, college, etc. All education sessions that include frontline knowledge are eligible.

Our new CUCT Program recognizes the efforts of those tellers who take their positions seriously and strive to provide top-notch member service. It encourages continuing education which adds value to the career teller and provides necessary tools for advancement within the credit union system.

Enrollment is easy. Look for Teller Training sessions on the General Calendar. The Education and Training Department will also provide this training “by request” and work with your credit union individually or coordinate with neighboring credit unions to deliver these much needed sessions.

The cost of this program is $129.00 which includes two days of instruction, course materials and testing.

For more information, please contact Barbara Agin, Director of Education and Training 1.800.792.8861.

Dates for Teller Session One for January/February are as follows:
• Jan. 15: Northern Location
• Jan. 23: League Office
• Feb. 6: Campbell EFCU, Cherry Hill

FINAL COMPLIANCE ROUNDTABLE OF ’07 TAKES ON
ID THEFT/FRAUD/E-CRIME
We are ending 2007 on a high compliance note with the final Compliance Roundtable scheduled for Dec. 5 at the League’s office. The topic is: “Identity Theft, Consumer Fraud and Electronic Crime”

Topics include:

• Types of identity theft;
• Procedures to be adopted to minimize losses to identity theft; and
• Other common forms of electronic loss which routinely cause large losses at credit unions including credit card scams, forged documents and Internet related and wire transfer frauds.

This program is a must for all operations staff who want to stay ahead of the fraudsters!

SAVE THE DATES! DECEMEBER EDUCATION SESSIONS STILL AVAILABLE
Although 2007 is winding down, our education efforts are not! We are offering the following valuable education sessions in December:

IRA Training

• Dec. 11 — IRA Essentials (League office)
• Dec. 12 — IRA Advanced (League office)

We are accepting enrollments now!

Creating Greater Managers Series

• Dec. 13 — The League, along with HR Value Group, will be offering the second session of the Management Certification Program at the League office.

Providing Superior Member Service

• Dec. 18 — Barbara Agin, Director of Education and Training for NJCUL, will be piloting a NEW session for frontline employees: Providing Superior Member Service. This class is a must for all member contact employees looking to increase their service skills which will improve the member experience at your credit union! This class will be held at the League’s office.

Please visit the Web site for more details on these terrific education opportunities!

TAKE A BITE OUT OF FALL: A QUICK BITE
The final Quick Bite topic for 2007 will focus on dealing with unhappy members:

• Dec. 4 — Irate Member Complaints

If you have not yet tried a Quick Bite, now is an excellent time. Quick Bites are “satisfaction guaranteed” so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

LEAGUE CONTINUES TO OFFER BSA BOARD TRAINING
As of the end of October, the NJCUL Compliance Department provided more than 37 in-person Bank Secrecy Act training sessions for credit union boards. The FFIEC Manual and NCUA examiners are requiring that credit union boards have sufficient knowledge about BSA. The League has stepped up to assist credit unions in meeting this knowledge requirement by providing training to board members. Many sessions have been held in the evening and most at the credit union's location. The approximately one hour session focuses specifically on what boards need to know about BSA.

Arrange for your board to get the BSA training it needs by contacting the League's General Counsel Robbie Thompson at 609-448-2426.

COMPLIANCE SUPPORT IS JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY
Who do you turn to when you need help on a compliance or regulatory issue? How do you settle a debate in the office about what a regulation requires? The League's compliance department is here to help. Each month the League's compliance staff receives hundreds of calls from credit unions with compliance questions on lending, deposit regulations, collections, operations, policies, Bank Secrecy Act, and other areas that affect your credit union. While the League cannot provide you with legal advice, we can answer regulatory questions and provide you with additional valuable resources to find solutions. This is just another benefit for members of the New Jersey Credit Union League. Take advantage of our expertise by calling 800.792.8861.

DIFFERENCE YOU HITS THE AIRWAVES
The New Jersey Credit Union Advertising Cooperative’s Difference YOU campaign hit the airwaves in November with a four-week media flight on radio and cable TV. The campaign, which features “Bob the Credit Union Guy,” delivers a variety of advertising messages, including “It’s All About YOU,” “Our Focus is YOU,” “The Difference is YOU,” “YOU Belong Here,” and “YOU Are the Bottom Line” with five television commercials and four radio spots. “Bob the Credit Union Guy” charmed League convention attendees in September and the Ad Coop was the title sponsor for Magic 98.3's All About Women Expo on October 14th in Edison. There were more than 830 radio and television spots broadcast over the fall flight with an additional 200 All About Women Event promotional spots that highlighted sponsorship by NJ’s credit unions. Ads are also running on PoliticsNJ.com, the state’s leading political website.

For information on how to join the NJ Credit Union Advertising Cooperative contact Chris Abeel, at 800.792.8861, ext 127 or cabeel@njcul.org.

CREDIT UNIONS OF ALL SIZES COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS CHALLENGES FACING SMALL CREDIT UNIONS
The NJCUL Small Credit Union Taskforce Credit has now held two meeting and is beginning to shape its initiative. The taskforce is made up of credit unions ranging from approximately $1M in assets to over $150M in assets. It is charged with developing a League and credit union driven initiative that assists smaller credit unions in surviving and thriving in the face of fierce competition, a tough economic climate, increased regulatory burdens and other issues facing small credit union survival. The taskforce’s next meeting will be Dec.12. Continue to watch for more information about the efforts of the Small Credit Union Taskforce. If you have questions about the progress of the taskforce, contact Robbie Thompson or Jim Merrill at the League.

NJCUL JOINS PUBLIC-PRIVATE ALLIANCE TO ADDRESS MORTGAGE CRISIS
The League is doing its part to aid homeowners stung by the mortgage crisis. The League recently joined the New Jersey Home Ownership Preservation Effort (NJHOPE) , a voluntary alliance that includes the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), NeighborWorks America, the New Jersey Bankers Association, the New Jersey League of Community Bankers, the New Jersey Mortgage Bankers Association, the Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI), the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA).

The goal of the alliance is to enhance home ownership preservation by raising consumer awareness of available mortgage products and funding, providing increased access to credit and loan counseling for those who need it and temporary assistance to consumers who are in immediate danger of foreclosure.

NJ Commissioner of Banking & Insurance Steven M. Goldman described the alliance as “a strong first step in an ongoing effort to address the current instability of the residential mortgage market and mitigate its impact here in New Jersey.” Goldman said that the alliance resulted from Governor Jon Corzine’s desire to understand what products and resources might be available to homeowners, and the need for disseminating that information to the public.

“Quite often, homeowners don’t know there is help available and avoid calling their lender because they don’t understand they have options,” Goldman said. “I want to commend all of the members of NJ HOPE for their willingness to address this issue and work on its resolution.”
The alliance members cooperatively announced participation in establishing a “clearinghouse” of information about borrower assistance programs and credit counseling resources.

The trade associations will also serve as a conduit for information between their member financial service providers and the public.
HMFA’s Homeownership Preservation Refinance Program will offer fixed-rate loans, closing cost assistance, credit counseling and other services.
“This program begins to address what we hope will be a long and successful partnership on this issue,” NJ Community Affairs Commissioner Joe Doria said. “We know there is no easy fix, but that should not stop us from working together and doing our collective bests to address this problem.”
The Department of Community Affairs and HFMA, along with other partners, will make available up to $1 million to train additional New Jersey credit and loan counselors in an effort to increase availability and accessibility of counseling services to consumers.

NJHOPE members will continue to participate in the current DOBI public information program, which will include the creation and distribution of printed material, citizen forums, assistance via a toll-free telephone hotline, public service announcements, and educational workshops. Alliance members, including HMFA and DOBI, have already conducted community forums in Paterson, Bayville, Edison, Vineland, East Orange and Trenton, where counseling and information resources were offered to area residents. Additional forums will be scheduled in conjunction with the NJHOPE alliance.

For more information, homeowners can call the DOBI Consumer Hotline, toll-free, at (800) 446-7467, or visit the NJHOPE Web site at www.njhope.nj.gov The site’s Resources section contains a link to Find a Credit Union so consumers can determine their credit union membership eligibility.

CREDIT CARD DATA-BREACH LEGISLATION UPDATE
On Nov. 19 NJCUL submitted written testimony to the New Jersey Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance concerning Assembly Bill 4413, legislation that would limit retailers’ use and retention of personal customer information, hold a breaching party financially responsible for resulting losses including the cost of card replacements and fraud, and allow issuers to disclose to their card-holders the entity responsible for the breach. It was originally introduced June 18. NJCUL supports the legislation. In March we hosted a meeting with the bankers associations to discuss mutual concerns and interests in this area. The legislation, A-4413 sponsored by Assembly Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee Chair Neil Cohen (D-20), is the result of our partnership with the community bankers.

For more information on this and other state or federal issues contact Chris Abeel, the League’s director of government affairs at 800.792.8861, ext 127 or cabeel@njcul.org.

STATE SALES & USE TAX EXEMPTION LEGISLATION UPDATE
Legislation that would exempt purchases made by state chartered credit unions from NJ sales tax giving them parity with their federally chartered counterparts was introduced June 18. While similar bills have been introduced over the past few years, this bill, A-4403, is sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader and State Democratic Committee Chair Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-15) significantly improving its prospects for favorable consideration. NJCUL has done several Calls-to-Action on this bill, together with NJBIA, the State Chamber and others. Special thanks go to Shirley Spruill, president of Renaissance CDCU and chair of the NJ Credit Union Advisory Council for leading this initiative. Her efforts secured Assemblywoman Watson Coleman’s sponsorship, without which serious consideration was extremely unlikely.

For more information on this and other state or federal issues contact Chris Abeel, the League’s director of government affairs at 800.792.8861, ext 127 or cabeel@njcul.org.

ARE YOU POLITICALLY CONNECTED?
The League’s bi-monthly government affairs newsletter, Capitol Connections, keeps readers “plugged-in” to the public policy arena. It includes briefings on important goings-on in Washington (On-the-Hill) and Trenton (Under-the-Dome), has sections on credit union movement grassroots activities (In-the-Trenches) and key issues (On-the-Soapbox), as well as backgrounders on who’s who (Meet-the-Players), interesting facts (Trivia-not-Trivial) and important calendar items (Save-the-Date).

If you’re not already “plugged-in”, contact Chris Abeel, the League’s director of government affairs, to be added to the Capitol Connections electronic distribution list.

BRANCH OUT WITH SHARED BRANCHING
One way for credit unions to provide more member convenience and compete with banks’ larger branch networks is to join shared branching.

The Shared Branching Network gives your members more places to do business with your credit union here in New Jersey and across the nation. The added convenience additional branch locations provide could be the difference in getting more of your members to use your credit union as their primary financial institution. When your members visit one of the many service centers, they can expect to get the same great service they receive at your credit union because shared branching locations all have a common goal of great member service. When your member enters one of the many service centers, they simply supply the teller with their credit union’s name, account number and photo identification to easily access their account [free of charge]. Here are some examples of transactions available at shared service center locations nationwide:

• Deposits
• Withdrawals
• Check cashing
• Transfers between accounts
• Loan payments
• Money orders and traveler's checks

For a complete directory of participating locations in New Jersey and across the country, visit www.cuservicecenters.com to access addresses, phone numbers, and hours of operation.

MAKE YOUR MEMBERS COUNT WITH PROJECT ZIP CODE
Does your credit union participate in Project Zip Code? Will your members be among the millions of credit union members to stand up and be counted? Help us ensure our state and federal lawmakers understand just how of many of their constituents are credit union members. It takes just a few minutes and no personal data is ever collected.

Project Zip Code is a constituent matching program that connects credit union members with their state and federal lawmakers. As a result, we’re able to illustrate to elected officials the number of credit unions members in their district, which is an extremely powerful advocacy tool.

No personal data or individual information leaves your computer. Project Zip Code receives only the counts of records successfully matched. All of your data remains confidential and secure and Project Zip Code is compliant to the privacy laws created in Gramm Leach Bliley.

For more information contact Chris Abeel, the League’s director of government affairs at 800.792.8861, ext 127 or cabeel@njcul.org.

TRANSFORM IDEAS INTO ACTION AT THE 2008 CEO SUMMIT
January 21-24, 2007 in Naples, Florida! For more information, watch your mailbox for brochures or call Barbara Agin at 609.448.2426 x111.

REX JOHNSON’S UNIVERSITY OF LENDING IS COMING TO ATLANTIC CITY
Through a combination of credit union inquiries and the help of Ann South, Novartis FCU, the Rex Johnson University of Lending class is coming to our state! The dates are March 10-14, 2008 at the beautiful Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ. More details will be made available shortly.

CREDIT UNION CAREERS
Whether you are looking to fill a position at your credit union or looking for future employment, as a league member, it’s easy! Click here to see current vacancies: http://www.njcul.org/careers/index.asp#NJ