Take a moment to download Productivity Magazine #2! Good free information if you are a GTD’er  (or are intersted in GTD).

If you are looking for a free management management book to LISTEN to check out this link to a free audio copy of Steven Coveys “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”.

If you haven’t heard yet, GM and Chrysler have launched incentives for credit union members. Credit Union’s should see this as a opportunity to grow both in both loans and members. Several of our local dealers have told me that their goal is for everyone who buys a new car from them to have an account with us before they leave the dealership. Whether or not you have an indirect lending program this is a great opportunity to make contact and establish a relationship with your local dealerships! Take the initiative and go talk to them about this program! Details can be found at LoveMyCreditUnion.org

Mary @ CUES commented (on an old post) with some great information and a question! I had heard from my dealers about the 700+ score cutoff for getting a loan with GMAC, but not about the marketing list/ money. Does anyone have information about this? If so, PLEASE share! Mary’s comment is posted below.

“… I just read that GM is making a push to get people to buy cars with other-than-GMAC financing (which you can only get with a 700+ credit score). According to Autoblog.com, “starting Friday, GM will launch a ‘Financing That Fits’ campaign on a national level. Through advertising on television, newspaper, radio, and the Internet, GM will promote dealer financing with GMAC Financial Services and, for the first time, with other lenders.” AP says this involves a 6-year-old database that “lets dealers locate banks, credit unions and other lenders willing to make loans based on a buyer’s credit information.”

Does anyone know about this database and whether they are in it? Is this a good opportunity to make loans if there are some serious GM buyers out there?”

This could be a great way for CU’s with indirect lending ties to get some free marketing money!!

Are there any credit unions out there doing 0% loans with the dealer paying a fee or the interest to the credit union up front? We have had three or four dealers ask about us setting up a program for them to do this, but I have been unable to find anyone with such a program currently operating. Thanks!

Why do I wish I had an Alltel account? Because I have a Grand Central account! I had a great idea last night! If you use Alltel you should have the lowest “My Circle” plan; set your Grand Central number as one of your “My Circle” numbers and give out your Grand Central number!!! Lowest cost imaginable to have anyone and everyone call you for $50 per month!! I haven’t seen this idea anywhere on the net, but I’m sure that is because I haven’t looked hard enough. I’m also sure that if enough people use this method that Alltel will exclude it, but it should work until they do so! I love the practical application side to technology!!

I have been a Mindjet MindManager user for the last year and a half. I love their product and have been enjoying the brainstorming aspect of it immensely. Recently I participated in a survey for Mindjet and received a free uprgrade to their newest version. While playing with new version and planning a conference that my credit union will be hosting in March, I thought, “Why don’t I see if Mindjet would like to have their name mention at the conference?” In less than 4 hours, Mindjet has agreed to donate a copy of MindManager 7 and a MindManager fleece vest to give away the conference, offered to upgrade me to MindManager 7 (again) , and sent me a tracking number for the shipment! Truly impressive! Thank YOU Gaelen!! You are the greatest! I can’t wait to demo MindManager 7 at the conference on my trusty tablet pc!

Today was unusual for me. On 98% of Wednesdays, I host our Credit Committee meeting. This includes getting lunch for them, pulling loan files and applications that they want to review, reviewing the current weeks application reports, etc. Today one of the members told me that there was a lady in the parking lot with a flat tire and that they were going to help change it for her. Since I’m not totally necessary to the meeting I got to delegate the paperwork to one of my employees and go change a tire for a lady who didn’t have a clue how to apporach it (she was actually reading the owners manual when I got there to help!). The whole time I was changing it I was thinking… “I hope that if my mother is ever in a similar situation someone would take the time to help her!” Sorry for the rambling post, but it is good to work for a place that will let a somewhat senior manager go help a member with something that is not necessarily company related. Needless to say we now have a very satisfied member who is a CU believer!

Sorry I haven’t posted more! Hope everyone reading has a wonderful Christmas! Sorry but the only “gifts” I have to offer are 6 GrandCentral invitations. Looks like a great service and it is free (for now)! Please email me at tcarnaha at midmocu dot com if you would like to receive one.

We have been a stand alone shop for many years, but we are looking at the possibilities and/or opportunities of starting an indirect lending CUSO. Any inupt/ideas/information from the readers to help me with this process would be greatly appreciated! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is ready for a wonderful Christmas and a GREAT New Year!