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February 18, 2010

> An award-winning publication of the Virginia Credit Union League
> Your comments and submissions are always welcomed. E-mail pr@vacul.org
> Visit the Virginia Credit Union League Homepage
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Headline News

News About Credit Unions

Compliance & Regulatory Affairs

Governmental Affairs News

Financial Services/Marketplace News

Education & Networking Opportunities

News From Credit Unions

Chapter News

League News

Financial Education News

Community Involvement News

News About The Competition

Security/Fraud Prevention

Headline News

"We're The Solution" … Annual Meeting 2010 Registration Now Open

Join us May 6-8 in Reston as we showcase your League and the role we strive to play in your success! This year’s Annual Meeting promises expanded education and networking opportunities, more special events and important keynote presentations, including National Credit Union Administration Chairman Debbie Matz.

> Credit Unions Care Foundation of Virginia Gala Dinner & Fundraiser
We’re celebrating the 1st Anniversary of the Credit Unions Care Foundation of Virginia, the non-profit formed last May by Virginia’s credit unions to support charitable, educational and community causes. On May 7, the Foundation will host a dinner and fundraiser, offering an overview of its efforts to date and its vision for the future. We’ll honor contributors, and we would appreciate both individual and credit union contributions to further the Foundation's work.
[more here]

> 22nd Annual VACUPAC Golf Tournament
Join us May 6 for the 22nd Annual Virginia Credit Union Political Action Committee (VACUPAC) Golf Classic. Contact your League’s Cathy Baldwin for registration details. Register online now. We're also looking for tournament sponsors. Several sponsorship opportunities are available starting at $200. Help make the VACUPAC golf tournament a success with your sponsorship!
[more here]

> League Board Seeks Nominations for Kirsch, Farley Awards
- Deadline for nominations is March 31!
Our Awards Nominating Committee is seeking prospective candidates for our annual awards. The Virginia Credit Union League Board will name the winners of the 2010 James P. Kirsch Lifetime Achievement Award and the Eugene H. Farley Jr. Award of Excellence at the Annual Meeting in Reston on May 7.
[more here]

> More about the 2010 League Annual Meeting
[see also: NCUA's Matz to Keynote League Annual Meeting]
[see also: League Revamps Annual Meeting Schedule for Added Flexibility, Special Events]
[register for the 2010 League Annual Meeting]

Last Chance to Register: League Congressional Luncheon Feb. 24

It is imperative that credit unions tell our Washington representatives the good news about what we're doing to serve our members and ensure our voice is heard on legislation that impacts us. You can do just that at our annual Congressional Luncheon Feb. 24, in Washington, D.C., where the members of our Congressional delegation and their staffs are invited to dine with our credit union members. Registration deadline is Feb. 19.
[more here]

Congressional Luncheon Legislative Info Available Online

Attendees at the Congressional Luncheon can review federal credit union issues before the Feb. 24 event by going to the Credit Union National Association's Web site: http://www.cuna.org/gov_affairs/member/hill_visit_materials.html. You will need a CUNA password to access the page.

The League is also holding a legislative briefing on federal issues during CUNA's GAC on Feb. 22, 5 p.m., in room 144AB of the convention center. CUNA's Phil Drager will be available to provide updated information and to answer your questions. If you're at the GAC, this is a great opportunity to learn the very latest on what is happening on Capitol Hill, and to ask questions.

Feel free to forward the link throughout your chapters so that people who are attending just the Luncheon can study the issues ahead of time. Anyone with questions may contact your League's Karin Sherbin at ksherbin@vacul.org or 800.768.3344, ext. 626. We have 100 credit union members registered for the Congressional Luncheon. Thank you to all who are making the trip.

Credit Union National Association: CUNA Continues Pushing for MBL Relief

Credit Union National Association Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs John Magill said that CUNA is aware that the Congress will continue to discuss job creation legislation as the year wears on, and CUNA "will continue to work to get member business lending (MBL) legislation on one of those legislative vehicles."

Thank you to Virginia United Methodist Credit Union and Virginia State University Federal Credit Union for sending letters seeking MBL relief to House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank. And thank you to everyone who has sent similar messages through the www.mycuisme.com Web site. If you haven't done so already, there is still time to make your voice heard!
[more here]

League-Drafted Substitute for SB 440 Passes Senate; Passage on Fast Track

Virginia's credit unions succeeded in turning potentially disastrous legislation that would have allowed banks to buy up credit unions without adequate protections for members into a bill that provides state-chartered credit unions with parity for conversion to a mutual savings bank charter. The League provided the language for the substitute bills in both the Senate and House. The League drafted substitute version of House Bill 482 passed Feb. 11 on a 99-to-0 vote; the revised Senate Bill 440 passed 39-to-0 Feb. 12.
[more here]

News About Credit Unions

Consumer Satisfaction Strong at CUs, Says New Survey

Credit unions just added another notch to the consumer satisfaction belt. Credit unions--again--outscored other financial institutions in customer satisfaction--this time in the just-released University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The study report, released Tuesday, found that big banks lost ground this year, while credit unions maintained a steady hold on consumers' satisfaction levels.

Credit unions overall received a rating of 84 on a 100-point scale. That score is the second highest score and the same rating they received last year--an accomplishment in today's credit market upheavals. Banks received a 75, also the same as last year. However, some big banks slid in the most recent survey.
[more here]
[related: Should You Choose a Community Bank or Credit Union?]

CUNA Survey: CUs Gaining Ground with Voters

Just 39% of voters who responded to a Credit Union National Association (CUNA)-sponsored survey indicated that they would favor banks over credit unions if a disagreement over financial legislation broke out in the U.S. Congress or their state legislature, CUNA reported on Tuesday.

CUNA's national voter survey, which was conducted between Jan. 24 and 28 and surveyed 1,000 registered voters across the nation, showed that half of the 1,000 voters who responded said that they would side with credit unions over banks in that potential legislative disagreement.

Large numbers of respondents also favored credit unions on more specific issues, with a mere 27% of them agreeing with banking industry claims that removing restrictions on credit union business lending would give credit unions, which do not pay taxes, an unfair advantage.

Those same respondents overwhelmingly supported giving credit unions the opportunity to assist the economy by helping to create jobs through greater business lending by credit unions, and 69% favorably viewed the MBL legislation that, if approved, would create 108,000 new jobs.
[more here]

Savings Rates Continue To Plunge at CUs

Average rates paid by credit unions on all savings deposits continue to fall to record lows through the first six weeks of the year. DataTrac, which follows rates on 8,000 depositories, including 1,000 credit unions, reported this week that the average paid by credit unions on regular shares fell to what is believed to be an all-time low of just 0.39%; while interest-paying checking fell to a meager 0.28%; for money market accounts to an anemic 0.71% and for one-year CDs to only 1.35%.

Experts attribute the historically low rates to continuing pressure on the bottom lines for credit unions, created, in part, by the Federal Reserve’s efforts to keep rates low. (Credit Union Journal, Feb. 16)

Warning to CUs, Big Bank Issuers Targeting Your Best Members Again 

There are signs that large card issuers are returning to direct mail to market their cards and that they are aiming primarily at the most creditworthy customers, according to a firm that tracks the direct mail industry.
[more here]

Wash. Biz Journal: CUs Step into Lending Void

A banner headline Washington Business Journal article noted that credit unions are working to fill the lending void left by financial institutions that have cut back on loans. The article notes the lending activities of Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union, Germantown, Md.; Apple Federal Credit Union, Fairfax, Va.; Signal Financial Federal Credit Union, Kensington, Md.; and Lafayette Federal Credit Union, also in Kensington (Feb. 12).

Apple FCU, for example, made $15 million in business loans in 2009. The credit union is working to double that to $30 million this year and plans to add a fourth employee to its business services department next month, the Journal said.
[more here]

Compliance/Regulatory Affairs News

League Offers Compliance Resources on CARD Act

Your League has recently released a number of Operations Manual publications covering provisions of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009. View them here:

Compliance: CUNA Answers CARD Act Credit Concerns

In this month's Compliance Challenge, the Credit Union National Association addresses whether the Federal Reserve's recent Regulation Z final rule, which covers provisions of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 that become effective on Feb. 22, contain any exceptions for share-secured credit card accounts with regard to determining an underage consumer's "ability to pay."

According to CUNA, there is no exception to the rules that soon will restrict creditors from opening a credit card account for a consumer under the age of 21.
[more here]

Governmental Affairs News

Dodd Presses Deal with GOP, Finds New Willing Partner

Republican Sen. Bob Corker's decision to negotiate directly with Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd on regulatory reform may boost the chances of reaching a bipartisan bill, but does not clarify how critical unresolved issues will be worked out.

In an interview Thursday, Corker said he is optimistic a deal is within reach, but acknowledged his concerns track those of the committee's lead Republican, Sen. Richard Shelby. The Tennessee Republican said he has persuaded Dodd to table some of those issues, including how best to strengthen consumer protections, while other reforms are worked out. (American Banker Online, Feb. 16)

Financial Services/Marketplace News

Mortgage Plan Helps Only 12% of Borrowers Reduce Payments

A year after the federal government announced a $75 billion plan to slow the rate of foreclosures, more than 1 million homeowners have gotten temporary reductions in their mortgage payments. But only 12% -- about 116,000 -- have received permanent modifications after a three-month trial period. Some economists say that's too few to make a meaningful impact when millions of homeowners are in foreclosure or delinquent on their mortgages.
[more here]

More Credit Card Fees Coming

Many card companies are already introducing annual fees to boost revenues in anticipation of the new credit card laws. The Credit CARD Act, most of which takes effect on Feb. 22 (some of the law’s disclosure rules took effect in August), provides many valuable consumer protections. However, card companies have been making some changes of their own, such as adding new fees and boosting existing fees, which aren’t limited by the new law.
[more here]

> Make sure members understand the benefits of your card program. It may be an excellent time to market your cards to members who may be fed up with the cards provided by others.
[related: How Credit Cards from Banks and Credit Unions Stack Up]

End of Line Looks Near for Student Aid Program

Though regulatory reform has stolen center stage on Capitol Hill, the Obama administration remains intent on wiping out the Federal Family Education Loan Program, and its demise appears to be just a matter of time.

The House passed legislation last year to end the program, which lets lenders offer student loans at low rates through partial government guarantees, and the Senate plans to follow suit soon. Though it has been stalled by the lingering debate over health-care reform, the measure enjoys strong Democratic support, in part because dismantling FFELP is projected to save the government $87 billion over 10 years. (American Banker Online, Feb. 18)

Foreclosures Rise in Roanoke Region

More households in the Roanoke region filed for foreclosure last month compared with the same time last year, mirroring state and national trends. Meanwhile, the Roanoke metro area was eighth in the country for foreclosure growth in 2009, according to CNNMoney.com. Still, it falls in the bottom third of U.S. metro areas for foreclosures overall.

RealtyTrac, an online tracker of foreclosure activity, reported 108 foreclosure filings for the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area in January, a 24 percent increase from 87 in the same month of 2009.
[more here]

Homeowner Equity Makes a Surprise Turnaround

With all the bad news about underwater homeowners and strategic walkaways, you might think that American homeowners' equity holdings are in the tank. But the least publicized recent statistic on real estate is that -- despite these scary reports -- home equity is again on the rise. Is that some piece of rosy propaganda put out by housing lobbyists to stimulate more homebuying?

Not unless you consider Federal Reserve economists to be shills for the real estate industry. According to the Fed's most recent "flow of funds" survey, homeowners' net equity grew by nearly $1 trillion between the recession's nadir in the first quarter of 2009 through the third quarter. From June 30 through Sept. 30, net equity rose by $418 billion.
[more here]

Home Prices Fell 12% in 2009

The real estate roller-coaster ride continued last year as the median price of U.S. single-family home plunged 11.9% to $173,200. The housing situation had been looking up earlier in the year, with prices gaining ground in the first nine months. But the increases weren't enough to push the median home price above 2008's bar of $196,600, according to the National Association of Realtors.

And then, prices fell in the fourth quarter, dropping 2.9% compared to the previous three months and 4.1% compared to the last quarter of 2008. Still, the quarter-over-quarter drop was encouraging to NAR, which tracks home prices and sales.
[more here]
[related: Where's housing headed? Follow Rents]
[related: Shadow Inventory of Homes to Take Nearly 3 Years to Clear: S&P]

Mortgage Delinquencies Rise for 12th Straight Quarter: TransUnion

Mortgage delinquencies of 60 or more days rose for the 12th straight quarter, hitting a record high 6.89% in 4th Quarter  2009, according to market research by credit bureau TransUnion. The rate of deceleration seen in previous quarters in the rise in delinquencies appears “short lived,” the credit bureau said. Year-over-year, the delinquency rate is up about 50% from 4.58% delinquent in 4Q08. TransUnion projects the 60-day delinquency rate will peak between 7.5% and 8% over the course of 2010.
[more here]

Education & Networking Opportunities

Webinar: Implementing FACT Act Accuracy, Integrity Rules

Final rules for FACTA Section 312 have been released. This section requires strict compliance for furnishers of consumer-credit information to National Credit Reporting Agencies.

The new rules are designed to improve the accuracy and integrity of information, as well as provide consumers with the right to dispute credit information with the entity that furnished it (i.e., your credit union). Will you be ready? The new rules are effective on July 1, 2010. Learn more during our Feb. 23 Webinar.
[more here]

Feb. 24 Webinar Covers New Member Account Interviews, Due Diligence, CIP

New account interviews that are not properly performed can cost you on your Bank Secrecy Act exam. A set of great policies and procedures can still result in a breakdown on the customer identification program (CIP) and customer due diligence (CDD) portion of the exam.

Knowing and identifying your account holder is only part of the exam. Due diligence in the account interview requires you to know the number of transactions per month they plan, the types of services your member plans to use, why they chose your credit union, and much more. It often seems as if sales and compliance are at odds. Our Feb. 24 Webinar includes information and sample questionnaires to bring together compliance, sales, and member service.
[more here]

Become the Leader You Desire to Be: Coaching Workshop Slated for April 16

The role of manager/supervisor is one of the most challenging jobs in the credit union movement. Join us April 16 for our "Coaching Credit Union Employees for Peak Performance," a full-day workshop designed to benefit management staff from senior managers to supervisors.

This workshop will improve your abilities to perform at a high level and improve your confidence. Location: Sheraton Park South hotel (Richmond).
[more here]

NCUA Schedules March 11 Workshop in Richmond

The National Credit Union Administration has scheduled a March 11 workshop in Richmond. Among the topics: Allowance for Loan Lease Losses (ALLL), Regulatory Hot Topics and Credit Union Strategies for Combating Predatory Lending. Registration information is available online.

Richmond Fed to Host Credit Union CEO Forum March 3

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond is hosting a Credit Union CEO Forum on March 3. Reception at 5:30 p.m.; dinner at 6:30 p.m. Program following dinner will feature a discussion of current banking, payments and economic issues with Jeffrey M. Lacker (President, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond). Location: The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, 701 E. Byrd Street, Richmond. R.S.V.P. by Feb. 24 to Lauren.Ward@rich.frb.org. Or, call 804.697.8436.

News From Credit Unions

Beach Municipal FCU Donates to Virginia Beach Homeless Advocacy and Resources Partnership

Beach Municipal Federal Credit Union is proud to announce their participation in the Point In Time and Project Connect Day of Services. Each year in Virginia Beach, a Point In Time (PIT) count of homeless persons and families is conducted by Virginia Beach Homeless Advocacy and Resources Partnership (VBHARP), which is a network of non profits, faith-based, city and state organizations working together to end homelessness in our city. VBHARP works year round to provide services and shelter to the homeless.
[more here]

Northwest FCU Foundation Selected to Participate in 'Give a Day...Get a Disney Day' Program

The Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation was selected as a participating organization in Disney’s "Give a Day…Get a Disney Day" promotion beginning Jan. 1, 2010 and running through Dec. 15, 2010, or until the limited number of tickets are gone, whichever comes first. Hoping to inspire one million people to volunteer, the Disney Company is celebrating individuals who commit to participate in their community by giving them one day admission to either Disneyland® or Walt Disney World® Resort free.
[more here]

RHSECU's Janet Harris Interviewed on CU's Work to Combat Payday Loans

Riverside Health System Employees Credit Union CEO Janet Harris was interviewed recently for an article to appear in the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's upcoming newsletter. She was asked about her credit union's work in helping members break the stranglehold of payday lenders. RHSECU has worked closely with its sponsor – Riverside Health Systems – to educate employees about the dangers of payday loans.
[more here]

BayPort CU Recognized for Promotion of FoolProof Financial Education Program

BayPort Credit Union wins praise in the latest FoolProof Financial Literacy newsletter for their promotion of FoolProof's program. Check out the credit union's FoolProof entry page!

Chapter News

Tidewater Chapter Plans Feb. 25 Annual Meeting

The Tidewater Chapter will meet Feb. 25 and will honor the recipients of its Professional- and Volunteer-of-the-Year Awards. Also on the agenda is the installation of chapter officers. Location: Springhill Suites (6350 Newtown Road, Norfolk). Time; 6 p.m. social; 6:30 p.m. dinner and meeting.
[more here]

Tidewater Chapter Plans July 10 Benefit for CMN; Sponsors Needed

The Tidewater Chapter is planning its inaugural Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) 5K Run/Walk and Kid’s 1 Mile Fun Run, set for July 10, in Ft. Story. Runners can register now. Sponsors are also needed! Your sponsorship of the CMN 5K Run/Walk and Kid’s 1 Mile Fun Run will be publicized throughout the community! Proceeds from this event will benefit the Norfolk-based Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, a CMN-affiliated hospital.
[learn more online] (Microsoft Word document, 67kb)

Tidewater Chapter Seeks Applications for Education Scholarship

The Tidewater Chapter is accepting applications for its Jack E. O'Connor education scholarship. The deadline is April 30. Applicants for the education scholarship must be members of Tidewater Chapter credit unions prior to submitting an application. Let your members know about this opportunity!
[download the application] (Word document, 44kb)

Richmond Chapter to Award Education Scholarships

The Richmond Chapter will award two $1,500 education scholarships to deserving students in 2010. The scholarship is available to a high school student who will begin college by Dec. 31, 2010. The applicant must be a member or their parent(s) must be a member of a Richmond Chapter credit union.

Deadline for applications is March 31, 2010. Questions can be directed to Evelyn Dowdy, chapter scholarship chairman, at 804.756.5035 or edowdy@connectsfcu.org. 
[more here] (pdf, 36kb)

Capital Area CUs in New Marketing Push

Credit unions in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia are rolling out an ambitious media and marketing campaign that will feature a major consumer expo, a partnership with a Washington newspaper and an expanded cooperative ad campaign.

The initiative includes a March 6 "Dollars & Sense Expo" in Washington, a special newspaper supplement with the daily Washington Examiner, and phase two of the group's media campaign that includes electronic, print, public relations and social media components. The budget for phase two is $350,000, up from the $215,000 spent in 2009. (Credit Union Journal, Feb. 18)

Roanoke Valley Chapter Newsletter Available

The Roanoke Valley Chapter's Winter 2009-2010 newsletter is now available online. Included in this latest publication is a look back at the Chapter's 2009 accomplishments, upcoming events, and information about how you can get involved in Chapter committees.
[view the newsletter] (pdf, 790kb)

League News

Palmetto Cooperative Services Teams with Rosetta Technologies to Provide Image Return Processing Services to Members

Palmetto Cooperative Services, LLC (PCS), a credit union service organization (CUSO) providing operational support services to more than 400 credit unions nationwide, and Rosetta Technologies, a leading provider of MICR printers and check and Image Replacement Document (IRD) software solutions, announced today that PCS has begun reselling Rosetta’s IRD Express Pack printing solution.

The IRD Express Pack contains everything needed for an institution to begin printing high-quality IRDs from printable PCL files including 30-ppm MICR printer, IRD paper and MICR toner.
[more here]

> Learn more about our share draft processing and related services through Palmetto by contacting your League's Susan Oxner at 800.768.3344, ext. 632 or soxner@vacul.org.

Financial Education News

Entries Sought for League Financial Education Awards; Deadline March 19

Get recognized for your good works in delivering financial education! The 5th Annual Virginia Social Responsibility Awards program recognizes all National Youth Involvement Board (NYIB) classroom presenters and will present the following financial education-related awards: Financial Education Advocate of the Year, Visionary Award, Rookie of the Year Award, and Education Partner of the Year. Winners will be honored at the Awards Celebration May 8 as part of the League's Annual Meeting. Deadline for submitting your entry is March 19!
[awards packet] (Word document, 339kb)

Entry forms for 2010 Desjardins Award Available Now

Information about the 2010 Desjardins Award for Youth Financial Education--including all necessary forms and instructions--is now available on the Credit Union National Association's Web site. There are changes in two areas for credit unions this year: (1) Asset categories have been revamped. New categories are: Less than $50 million in assets, Between $50 million and $150 million in assets, Between $150 million and $500 million in assets, and More than $500 million in assets. (2) The entry fee for the national competition is now $60. There is no charge for entries in the state-level competition.
[more here]

Community Involvement

Get Recognized for Your Good Works…Complete Our Community Involvement Survey

Each year, we gather data from credit unions to spotlight their community involvement activities and charitable giving. Please complete our brief survey no later than Friday, Feb. 26, so that your credit union's accomplishments can be included in our report and news release. Click here for the online version of the survey.

> Or, if you prefer, you can complete the print-based version of this survey. Click here for the downloadable pdf (pdf, 291kb). Please fax (434.239.8148) or e-mail (pr@vacul.org) the completed form back to us.

> Questions about the survey can be directed to Lewis Wood at pr@vacul.org or 800.768.3344, ext. 629.
Thanks for helping us report the good works of Virginia's credit unions!

Are You Ready for ‘Penny Wars?’

Beginning in January and running through Annual Meeting 2010, our credit unions and chapters are challenged to participate in Penny Wars, a Community Involvement Committee fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network. Your goal is to collect as many pennies as possible toward your credit union and Chapter totals.
[more here]

News About The Competition

Community Banks Face Multiple Hurdles in Pursuit of Failed Peers

For even the healthiest of community banks looking to buy a failed peer, wishing won't necessarily make it so. Community banks face a fair number of obstacles, observers say. They must prove to skeptical regulators that they're qualified, have enough staff and expertise to beat out bigger rivals and be able to afford prices that are rising because of competition from private-equity firms. Qualifying for the transactions with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is difficult in and of itself, said John Ziegelbauer, the national managing partner of Grant Thornton LLP's Financial Institutions practice. (American Banker Online, Feb. 17)

Economy Prompts Fresh Look at ND's Socialist Bank

It has no automatic tellers or drive-up windows, doesn't issue credit cards, and tends only a few thousand checking and savings accounts. Its only location is a glass, steamboat-shaped headquarters near the Missouri River, where the business moved from its original 1919 home in a former auto assembly plant. The Bank of North Dakota -- the nation's only state-owned bank -- might seem to be a relic.

It was the brainchild of a failed flax farmer and one-time Socialist Party organizer during World War I. But now officials in other states are wondering if it is helping North Dakota sail through the national recession. Gubernatorial candidates in Florida and Oregon and a Washington state legislator are advocating the creation of state-owned banks in those states.
[more here]

> There is a proposal in the current Virginia General Assembly (House Joint Resolution 62) to study the merits of a state-owned bank in the commonwealth, but the measure has failed to gain traction.

Security/Fraud Prevention

Tax Refund Fraud is Among Latest Scams

Credit unions should warn members that tax-filing season brings out tax-preparation frauds. The latest scheme involves tax refunds transmitted as a direct deposit or automated clearing house (ACH) credit. CUNA Mutual Group alerted its policyholder credit unions Monday of the ACH Tax Refund fraud scam and urged credit unions to inform employees that consumers are being drawn in to fraud schemes by individuals claiming to be tax preparers (The Daily Exchange Feb. 17).
[more here]

Technology News

Online Bill Pay Ready for Landing

Banks and online payment companies are moving more functions to their main Web pages and limiting the amount of navigation needed to access bill presentment, information and payment features. "Anything that you put in front of a user in which they don't have to migrate somewhere else will get used more often," said Pete Hopkins, the general manager of Jack Henry & Associates Inc.'s Internet solutions division, which plans to upgrade its electronic bill-pay offering in the coming months to enable pending bills to be viewed and executed directly on a bank's landing page. (American Banker Online, Feb. 17)