Americas

TowneBank (TOWN) in Suffolk, Va., said that improved credit quality helped boost its first-quarter earnings 6.3% from a year earlier, to $11.1 million.

COVINA, Calif. — Performance objectives for the executive team can't be too general that they prevent a leader from directly influencing the objective, advises Executive Compensation Solutions.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In casting the lone vote Thursday against passing the final rule on capital planning and stress testing, NCUA Board Member Michael Fryzel held some of the same concerns voiced by credit unions and the CU trade associations about the proposal.

WEST JORDAN, Utah — New hires at Cyprus FCU now pull out their smartphones and tablets during 90 minutes of training on all of the credit union's electronic services.

SAN ANTONIO — With increased branch staff reductions and adjusting bottom lines, more credit unions are looking to streamline operations. To this end, many are turning to technologies that support employee forecasting and scheduling capabilities.

Memo to credit unions that thought they were safe from the Heartbleed vulnerability because they don't use OpenSSL: Think again, say experts.

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. — Bank credit card growth last year outpaced credit union card growth for the first time since 2007, a figure cards experts say indicates much tougher competition is ahead for CUs, especially around rewards.

Howard Bancorp in Ellicott City, Md., has agreed to buy a branch from Rising Sun Bancorp in Rising Sun, Md.

MEMPHIS — The last few years have been rough for Agility Financial Credit Union.

HONOLULU — Three staff members of OTS Employees FCU, including the former manager, were charged Wednesday with embezzling nearly $490,000 from the credit union.