ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Family Trust FCU online banking services went down for several hours Wednesday because of human error.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – ORNL FCU said it is promoting local businesses this month with a Cash Mob campaign.

WASHINGTON – Long-term mortgage rates dipped this week, after rising five of the past six weeks to two-year highs, according to Freddie Mac.

ANCHORAGE – Alaska USA FCU announced the promotion of Geoff Lundfelt, its executive director of retail financial services and 15-year veteran at Alaska USA, to be chief operations officer for the $5.3 billion credit union.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Blue Flame CU, the credit union for employees of Piedmont Natural Gas and Heritage Propane, said Benjamin Hill, its CEO since 1990, retired June 28 from the $37 million credit union, ending a 37-year career in the credit union movement.

NEWARK, Del. -- A female suspect was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with that afternoon’s armed robbery at Louviers FCU.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Hiway FCU announced this morning that David Boden, its vice president of technology the past 10 years, has been promoted to president and CEO of the $912 million credit union.

MILWAUKIE, Ore. – Advantis CU has awarded $50,000 in grants to community groups through its 2013 Advantis GROW Community Fund, all chosen by the public.

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. – A former Washington, D.C. police officer was sentenced to more than a year in jail for stealing her brother’s identity and using it to take out $18,000 in loans from Navy FCU.

BRADENTON, Fla. – Manatee Community FCU said Sherod Halliburton, its executive vice president since February 2012, will be the new president and CEO of the $27-million credit union.

READING, Penn. – CTCE FCU, a one-time Carpenter Technology Corp. employees’ credit union, said its CEO Glenn Potteiger, and chief financial officer Jerry Winchester, both retired June 30.

DUBUQUE, Iowa – DuTrac Community CU has partnered with Sallie Mae to offer its members a private education loan program, the Smart Option Student Loan.

FLINT, Mich. – A convicted felon pleaded guilty to a May 30, 2012 armed robbery at Dort FCU, when $380,000 was taken.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Credit Union Journal is now calling for nominations and entries for its 2013 Best Practices Awards.

NEW YORK – Credit unions can increase non-interest income by building deeper relationships with members, especially the growing multitude of new members added over the past 18 months, according to one expert speaking at America’s CU Conference Tuesday.

NEW YORK – Credit unions need to plan for January, when a host of new rules enacted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau take effect, according to compliance experts speaking at CUNA’s annual America’s CU Conference.

ST. LOUIS – Vantage CU has rolled out Google Wallet – a free digital wallet that allows people to use their phone to pay for goods and services at participating merchants – for its members who use the Android smart phone.

BALTIMORE, Md. – MECU of Baltimore said today it paid its members, many of whom are teachers, a $1.5 million bonus, half of the annual bonus the $1.2 billion credit union typically pays.

OGDEN, Utah – Goldenwest CU said this morning it has agreed to combine with Logan-based USU Charter CU to create a credit union with almost $1 billion in assets serving 105,000 members.

NEW YORK – Credit union employees and volunteers were urged this morning by CUNA Chairman Pat Wesenberg to get on Facebook and Twitter, and other social media outlets to sell the story of credit unions and the latest campaign to preserve the credit union tax exemption.