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Members To Get Second Chance

INDIANAPOLIS-Forum CU has joined four other area financial institutions in a program giving a second chance to people who cannot obtain checking accounts because of past credit problems.

Under the program, called "Get Checking," individuals must first complete a six-hour financial education course to qualify for special checking accounts. The program is aimed at consumers who have been identified as bad risks by ChexSystems, a check reporting agency used by credit unions and banks that compiles credit histories.

Many of those individuals are prevented from obtaining traditional checking accounts and are forced to use high- cost check-cashing or payday lending services. Other participants in the program are Community Choice FCU, National City Bank, Union Federal Bank and Union Planters Bank.

The Credit Union Journal reported earlier that CEFCU, Peoria, Ill., is participating in a similar program.

Gang Suspected In OK Robbery

OKMULGEE, Okla.-A gang suspected in more than a dozen robberies throughout Oklahoma is believed to be behind the armed robbery at Western Sun Federal Credit Union here last week. Police said after three masked individuals, all armed, entered the credit union around 9 a.m. and ordered all employees and members on to the floor. After taking an undisclosed amount of cash the robbers fled in a stolen car that was later recovered in the parking lot of a nearby Wal-Mart. A fourth accomplice was waiting for them there, from where they made their getaway in another car. The same gang is believed to be responsible for robberies at more than a dozen other banks, loan and finance companies, and businesses.

Man Arrested For Stealing ATM

KANSAS CITY-A local man was indicted on charges he stole an ATM containing more than $164,000 from United Consumers CU last September. James Yokum, 33, is believed to be one of a team of four who used two-way radios during the daring heist and removed video surveillance tapes from the credit union's cameras.

ULTRADATA To Offer Option

ATLANTA-John H. Harland Co. said its Harland Financial Solutions unit has signed with Maxxar Corp. to offer Maxxar's speech recognition telephone solutions to credit unions using the company's ULTRADATA data processing system.

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