Credit unions

Regulators in a half dozen states have now thrown at least temporary roadblocks in front of credit unions’ effort to buy community banks.

Matt Rookard, who has worked on economic development initiatives in the state, will succeed Bob Gallman, the former president and chief executive, on May 2.

Stephen Owen has worked for Bank of America and OnPoint Community Credit Union in Oregon, and will succeed Charles Bruen at the Hollywood-based credit union.

To ensure authenticity, Community First Credit Union had its AI-powered voice system learn by communicating with Spanish-speaking employees who could teach it local terms and mannerisms.

John Newett, who joined the credit union in 2011 and was most recently its senior vice president of operations, has become its president and will succeed Ron Collier as chief executive.

Theresa Mason will succeed longtime president and chief executive Dennis R. Adams, who announced his plans to retire from the credit union-owned share insurance fund earlier this year.

The state's Treasurer's office is urging lenders to make loans to cover the steep costs of adoption. Participating credit unions get an extra incentive by being permitted to accept deposits from public institutions — a perk typically enjoyed only by banks.

Both credit unions are based in Jacksonville. VyStar is also in the process of buying Heritage Southeast Bank in Jonesboro, Georgia.

Chuck Purvis, who has led Coastal as its president and chief executive since 2012, will step down in March of next year.

It’s past time for Congress to investigate these transactions at the federal level.