Washington

Complete Financial Solutions, a mortgage and financial services company in Spokane, Wash., has agreed to buy American Patriot Bank in Greenville, Tenn.

HomeStreet (HMST) in Seattle has sold servicing rights to about $3 billion in single-family mortgages to SunTrust Banks (STI) in Atlanta.

WASHINGTON — On the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Federal Credit Union Act, the White House delivered a message from President Barack Obama Thursday praising CUs for the "vital" role they play in the economy and in the lives of Americans.

Umpqua Holdings (UMPQ) in Portland, Ore., will close 27 branches by the end of this year as part of its integration of Sterling Financial in Spokane, Wash.

The U.S. Supreme Court told a lower court Monday to take another look at a ruling that allowed NCUA to sue a group of banks for allegedly deceiving investors about mortgage-backed securities.

WASHINGTON — CUNA is urging the Senate to take action soon and approve the nomination of J. Mark McWatters to a seat on the NCUA board.

WASHINGTON — House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's stunning defeat in Virginia's Republican primary Tuesday evening could usher in a new political era for the House — one that's likely to leave its imprint on the credit union community and the banking industry.

WASHINGTON — CUNA has named Mike Schenk interim chief economist to support Bill Hampel, who has temporarily vacated that post to serve as the trade group's interim president and CEO.

WASHINGTON — For the first time in weeks, both chambers of Congress are in session, and they're taking a hard look at regulatory relief efforts.

WASHINGTON — Lenders across the country reported increased demand from consumers and businesses, continuing a prevailing trend from earlier this year, according to a Federal Reserve report.

WASHINGTON — As NCUA sifts through more than 2,000 comment letters on the risk-based capital proposal, CUNA and NAFCU hope the agency pays close attention to a letter the regulator received Wednesday from leaders of the Senate Banking Committee.

OLYMPIA, Wash. and EUGENE, Ore. — A pair of small Pacific Northwest credit unions bid farewell Tuesday, with the two different merger announcements going out just four minutes apart.

WASHINGTON — The Senate Banking Committee approved a bill Tuesday to reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act for seven years.

RENTON, Wash. — A woman who allegedly robbed an Alaska FCU office here last Thursday showed up at the same location the following day and was arrested by police.

WASHINGTON — Financial institutions are still feeling negative effects from last year's sudden rise in medium- and long-term interest rates, but plenty of signs in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s latest industry update continue to point to a lending resurgence soon.

WASHINGTON — Now that the risk-based capital rule comment period is over, and a record number of letters reached NCUA, the credit union community's two main trade groups say the agency faces the tough task of reviewing and responding to the collective points.

WSECU, a credit union that has replaced tellers with universal agents, offers a case study in how to sell the concept to employees.

WASHINGTON — Despite over 1,000 letters reaching NCUA Wednesday morning, CUNA and NAFCU contend the risk-based capital rule comment period has been too short and may lead to a final rule that would negatively impact credit unions.

John Blizzard, who has more than 23 years of banking and financial services experience, most recently served as president and chief executive of Northwest Bank in Boise, Idaho. He succeeded Patrick Patrick, who has been the $216 million-asset Seattle Bank's CEO for four years.

WASHINGTON — The Senate Banking Committee passed major legislation to overhaul the housing finance system on Thursday, but observers say a quiet death likely awaits it due to a lack of greater support from key lawmakers.