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Consumer Trust In FIsContinues its DeclineCHICAGO-A new poll of Americans shows trust in financial institutions continues to slide, but credit unions were ranked highest in trust among all financial institutions. The Chicago Booth/Kellogg School Financial Trust Index, released released last week, found nearly 60% of consumers said they are angry or very angry about the current economic situation, which is the highest level of dissatisfaction recorded since the financial markets began collapsing. Overall, trust in banks declined to 33% from 39% in June. Credit unions received the highest trust score-56%, just ahead of local banks at 55%. National banks and those banks in which the government has a stake were rated at 26% and 22% respectively.ORNL FCU Lays Off 19In Cost-Cutting MoveOAK RIDGE, Tenn.-ORNL FCU announced last week it had laid off 19 employees in a cost-cutting move. Officials with the $1.3-billion credit union said this was an economic decision and employees were offered severance and resources to help find other work. The jobs eliminated were mostly corporate level jobs and no branches will be closed, the credit union said.ORNL reported a $1.4 million net for the first six months of the year and a $10.6 million net for 2010.1st Advantage Marking 60thWith Giveaway of $60,000YORKTOWN, Va.-In celebration of its 60th anniversary, 1st Advantage FCU is contributing a total of $60,000 to six local organizations that make a difference in the community. The recipients are: Habitat for Humanity Peninsula, Operation Homefront Hampton Roads, Relay for Life, The Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula, The Fisher House Foundation (Richmond Fisher House), and Boys and Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula.Members of the credit union helped vote on their favorite organization to decide how the $60,000 would be divided amongst the organizations.Periera Named CEO At RCUEAU CLAIRE, Wis.-Royal CU has named Rudy Periera, SVP at Alliant Credit Union in Chicago, as its new CEO. Periera will succeed Charles Grossklaus, who is retiring after 40 years with the $1.1-billion RCU, the last 27 as CEO. Pereira is a 25-year veteran of credit unions. Man Steals Cop's IdentityNEW PORT RICHEY, Fla.-A man has been charged here with stealing the identity of a Texas police officer and using it to take out a car loan at Achieva CU, according to police. Police said Sergio Esquivel used the victim's name, date of birth and Social Security number to open up an account at the credit union, then used the account to buy a 2008 Toyota Rav 4 from a New Port Richey dealership.The victim said his identification and Social Security card were stolen from his car more than a decade ago.Detectives say Esquivel's wife told them she had been married to him for six years, but she knew him only by the fraudulent name.$10K Offered As Grand PrizeNASHUA, N.H. - Triangle CU members who download one of TCU's mobile device services will be entered to win a $10,000 grand prize or one of five $1,000 prizes. The winner will be notified in January. The $475-million credit union is now offering free, secure web mobile and text banking to Android and iPhone owners.Hicks To Perform At GAChave mug shot of Hicks WASHINGTON-Tayor Hicks, who won the fifth season of American Idol, will perform as the opening concert at CUNA's 2012 GAC. The event is sponsored by the CUNA Councils. Hicks will perform on Sunday night, March 18, at 8:30 p.m. after the grand opening of the Exhibit Hall.GTE FCU In Data Center DealTAMPA, Fla.-GTE FCU has entered into a strategic arrangement with Physicians Independent Management Services, a nationwide medical billing service, to allow PIMS to utilize GTE's state-of-the-art data center for secure patient record keeping in the event of a disaster. The partnership will bring a new level of security to PIMS' clients, the two parties said. The data center, which is contained within a Homeland Security-protected building, serves as the disaster recovery site for a government municipality and other credit unions across the state of Florida. Fed by two separate power grids, the site also is powered with two 1,000 megawatt generators, 6,000 gallons of fuel, and first access to fuel in the event of a disaster.PIMS' disaster recovery initiative is aimed at ensuring physician clients are compliant with both the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and with the recently enacted Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act.