Ed Roberts

Five Star Credit Union in Dothan, Ala., has agreed to buy Flint River National Bank in Camilla, Ga.

Cardtronics has continued its acquisitions spree with a deal to acquire Cardpoint Ltd., an operator of 7,100 ATMs in the U.K. and Germany, for $153 million cash, representing the ATM giant's first foray into Continental Europe.

Cardtronics said this morning it has continued its acquisitions spree with a deal to acquire Cardpoint Limited, an operator of 7,100 ATMs in the U.K. and Germany for $153 million cash.

Harland Clarke, the world's biggest check printer, reported that second-quarter losses increased to $22.8 million amid costs related to the billionaire Ronald Perelman taking the company private a year ago.

NCUA last week set the 2013 corporate CU assessment at eight basis points, or $700.9 million, a sign that the multi-year resolution program may be winding down.

NCUA said it is building a new risk-based capital framework tailored to protect the industry from losses.

Redwood CU has cancelled 18,400 debit cards in the face of an apparent hacking into the database of Raley's supermarket chain that has led to fraud on as many as 200 of its member accounts.

The CEO of Taupa Lithuanian CU, who is being investigated in this week's failure of the $24 million credit union, is refusing to surrender to police, prompting a standoff at his home here last night into this morning.

At least four credit unions being sued for patent infringement over real-time transaction technology have agreed to settle the civil claims in exchange for license deals, with the final deal awaiting court approval.

Mitek announced this morning it has been issued a U.S. patent on its application allowing consumers to transfer their credit card balances via mobile devices, which is currently being piloted at San Diego County Credit Union.

CUNA President Bill Cheney last week said that though no one in Congress has endorsed repeal of the credit union tax exemption, the threat is real. To wit: just one week before that, congressional leaders had said they are starting with a clean slate regarding all tax preferences as they draft a reform package.

Best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell told attendees of CUNA's America's CU Conference a little guy may enter a fight as an underdog, but the underdog can overcome with constant pressure, or what is known in basketball as a "full-court press."

Credit union employees and volunteers were urged last week by CUNA Chairman Pat Wesenberg to get on Facebook and Twitter and other social media outlets to sell the story of credit unions and the latest campaign to preserve the credit union tax exemption.

Credit unions are being urged to get ready for January 2014, when a host of new rules enacted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will take effect.

Richard Metsger, the nominee for the NCUA Board, told the Senate Banking Committee last week that if confirmed by the full Senate, he will be committed to reviewing the growing list of existing NCUA rules and regulations with a goal of "updating, simplifying, eliminating and clarifying" them.

The Texas State Supreme Court has ruled illegal two major provisions of the state's home equity rules, the latest setback in a two-decade battle. The state's highest court ruled that the Credit Union Commission and the Finance Commission went too far when modifying loan fee caps and allowing loan closings through an agent.

Credit union board members have traditionally worked for free. But being a "volunteer" is becoming more lucrative, with directors in some states earning upwards of $90,000 a year to serve.

Technology CU announced this morning it has introduced a new way to help members avoid ATM surcharges with the debut of FeeAlert from Cardtronics.

The NCUA Board last week passed tough new regulations for loan participations-known in banking as syndications-that would that would set new requirements for sellers and buyers.

The NCUA has approved the mergers of several struggling credit unions, including four more in California.