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FT. MYERS, Fla.-The collapse in real estate values in three Florida Gulf Coast counties, bringing thousands of foreclosures and pushing dozens of credit unions and banks into the red, is being partially blamed on an ill-fated credit union-backed real estate scheme.

TAMPA, Fla.-The third quarter was one of the worst periods ever for credit unions, as red ink washed over many of the biggest CUs in the country, some for the first time.

TAMPA, Fla. – Credit unions across the country began reporting third quarter financials, showing increasing losses at many credit unions, especially in the hard-hit California, Nevada, Arizona and Florida markets.

KULM, N.D.-Members of Hometown Credit Union often see CEO Tony Buerkley riding his moped to work to save gas. That's one of the benefits of running a financial in a small agricultural town.

CLATSKANIE, Ore.-The $110-million Wauna Federal Credit Union found a creative way to express the credit union difference. In this newspaper ad, it takes advantage of plunging bank fortunes to note its stock remains as valuable as ever, and that it continues to grow. In text at the bottom of the ad it adds, "Wauna Federal Credit Union is a cooperative financial institution and does not have stock traded on Wall Street."

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Carolina Postal Credit Union here is changing its marketing message in response to the concerns in a market that is home to failed banking giant Wachovia.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.-Strategies put in place in recent years by Purdue Employees FCU here to prepare for economic distress are now paying off, the credit union reported.

ERIE, Pa.-The upheaval in the financial markets has seemingly reached into every corner of the country. Yet the 31,000-member Erie Federal Credit Union said it's not doing much of anything different in response, as the economic issues really haven't had much bearing on its northern Pennsylvania market.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.-Some people may not know "Jack" about finance. Members Credit Union is looking to change that.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-Credit unions are not immune to the economic malaise, yet one CU here sees an opportunity.

AUSTIN, Texas-Consumers have become increasingly spooked about the health of their financial institutions, and Amplify Federal Credit Union recently had a scare of its own as a number of depositors withdrew large amounts of cash, some on the order of tens of thousands of dollars. This despite the fact Amplify's solvency was never in question; instead, said SVP-retail Pierre Cardenas, many members did not understand the CU's federal deposit insurance and made erratic moves with their money.

MADISON, Wis.-The near-trillion-dollar investment by the federal government in the U.S. financial system was the right move, but it won't stave off an ongoing recession in the near-term, according to a survey of credit union economists. What's having an effect on CUs and their members is a "de-leveraging" of significant debt that won't be resolved until a troubled housing market gets back on its feet, those same economists told CU Journal, noting the current scenario is rewriting some long-held economic views.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-For credit unions, it's been a September to remember and an October to think over. The crisis in the financial markets, the failure of several large banks, and the resulting federal intervention has made the two months leading up to Halloween one of both tricks and treats for credit unions. In this issue Credit Union Journal profiles how some CUs are reacting.

DALLAS - The three most important words for credit unions today: liquidity, liquidity, liquidity.

LANSING, Mich. - To manage risk in an economy that's turned even tougher, credit union CFOs say they are further scrutinizing credit quality and lending policies, as well as seeking out ways to access and better manage liquidity.

NEW YORK - The former deputy superintendent of banks for the New York State Banking Department's Consumer Services Division has a warning for CUs: strict new regulations are on the way.

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – NCUA said it shut down Wichita Falls CU and sold off the remnants to the $5 million credit union failure to nearby Postel Family CU.

WASHINGTON – Included in the failed $700-billion financial rescue plan by Congress was a tax change that would have allowed financial institutions to treat Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred stock losses as ordinary losses.

OAKLAND, Calif. – NCUA announced yesterday it has liquidated troubled Kaiperm FCU and sold the remnants of the one-time $145 million credit union to Alliant CU, the $6 billion Chicago credit union formerly known as United Airlines Employees CU.

WALL STREET - Last week's earthquake in the financial markets was being felt throughout the credit union industry, as gyrating rates and a variety of holdings were delivering a major shock to balance sheets all over the country.