U.S. consumers took on $1 billion more in debts in April, even as credit card balances declined for the 19th straight month, according to the Federal Reserve's monthly G.19 consumer credit report.

HARRISBURG, Penn. – Bellco Community CU is introducing a new branch in Gettysburg today.

SAGINAW, Mich. – Wildfire CU expanded its presence by opening a new high tech branch here yesterday.

DENVER – Bellco CU has signed an ATM outsourcing pact with Diebold, which will include upgrading its ATMs for enhanced deposit automation functionality.

Community Valley Bank reported that total assets rose nearly 10% in the first quarter. Heading into its third year in business, the El Centro, Calif., bank said Friday that it expects to become profitable in 2010 based on growth in earning assets.

Tri-Valley Bank announced Friday that a private investor group has terminated a $6 million stock-purchase agreement.

Boston Private Financial Holdings Inc. plans to raise up to $40 million of capital to help pay back funds received through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Farm banks largely stayed out of the muck the past few years, but that hasn't stopped regulators from trying to rein in these lenders.

In practice, creating a bureaucracy will produce more problems than it will solve, by putting government in the business of deciding what products are right for bank customers.

SAN DIEGO-Morgan Courtney was recently named by San Diego-based USA Federal Credit Union as vice president of Overseas Operations. Talking to Credit Union Journal readers from Japan, below Mr. Courtney talks about the challenges and unique nature of overseeing branches located in foreign countries.

Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., a Warren, Mich.-based debt buyer currently under federal investigation for its collection practices, said Friday that lenders agreed to loosen some restrictions in its own credit facility and increase its borrowing limit.

More banks in the Southeast are likely to fall victim to the financial crisis, a Federal Reserve official said Friday.

By missing a sixth quarterly dividend payment, due in May under the Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program, a Southern California bank became poised to test how the government will treat repeat delinquencies in the program.

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators shut three more banks on Friday, including $2.8 billion-asset TierOne Bank of Lincoln, Neb., a struggling 103 year-old thrift.

LEOMINSTER, Mass. – Leominster CU celebrated the opening of its new offices last week with $7,000 of community contributions.

First Place Financial Corp. has announced plans to raise $80 million in capital not only to become stronger but also to buy other institutions — including failed banks.

Lured by the chance to raise capital and worried about the future of the Office of Thrift Supervision, a wave of mutual holding companies have received approval to convert to full stock companies.

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators shut three more banks on Friday, including $2.8 billion-asset TierOne Bank of Lincoln, Neb., a struggling 103 year-old thrift.

Virginia Commerce Bancorp Inc. in Arlington plans to raise as much as $150 million of fresh capital, according to a shelf registration statement the company filed Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The $5.1 billion-asset company, which has dual headquarters in Lansing, Mich., and Phoenix, said the agreement is with the local shareholders of its $95 million-asset Bank of San Francisco, which it chartered in 2005.