SAN DIEGO – A Bank Transfer Day booster is scheduled to go on trial in state court today on criminal vandalism charges connected to chalk messages he wrote on the sidewalks in front of Bank of America branches in 2011 and 2012 urging customers to put their money in credit unions.

ST. HELENS, Ore. –

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Technology CU announced this morning it has introduced a new way to help members avoid ATM surcharges with the debut of FeeAlert from Cardtronics.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Piedmont Advantage CU will be giving away free $20 gas cards to the first 100 people who visit the credit union’s recently opened Wilmington branch Friday morning.

CAPE MAY, N.J. – Jersey Shore FCU said it already has met its goal of $500,000 in member savings by refinancing loans – and has doubled the goal to $1 million.

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. – Marine FCU has signed with CRIF Lending Solutions to implement the company’s CRIF ACTion loan and account origination platform.

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Firemen’s CU has selected Interneer’s software to streamline and automate its member services and online banking.

INDIANAPOLIS – FORUM CU said it has improved member service and reduced costs after implementing Interactive Intelligence Group’s Customer Interaction Center.

PASCO, Wash. – The Pasco Police Department, the recipient of a $12,000 grant from HAPO Community CU to buy a new K-9 dog, has agreed to name the canine “Hapo.”

RICHLAND, Wash. – Gesa CU announced the abrupt departure of Christina Lethlean, president and CEO of the $1.3-billion credit union the past six years, and the appointment of Chief Sales Officer Don Miller as interim chief.

HONOLULU – John M. Floyd & Associates filed suit against Kaua’i Government Employees FCU this week, claiming the credit union is using methods Floyd laid out in an overdraft privilege program contract – eventually cancelled – to earn new revenue on overdraft protection.

WASHINGTON – The credit union lobby on Tuesday was measured in its comments about the proposed privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, even as it seeks to carve out secondary market protections for credit unions.

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – An accounting clerk at Pinal County FCU has agreed to plead guilty to embezzling $781,000 by sending unauthorized checks to her mother’s Wells Fargo account.

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of senators will introduce a bill later today that would wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and replace them with a government reinsurer of mortgage securities that would backstop private capital in a crisis.

WASHINGTON – NCUA told a key lawmaker last week the agency is issuing new guidance to examiners on concentration risk and plans to amend its prompt corrective action regulation this fall to place additional emphasis on the risks posed to the balance sheet by concentrations of real estate and member business loans and loan participations.

SAN ANTONIO – David Keller, vice president of Greater TEXAS FCU the past five years after heading two credit unions, is retiring Friday, after 43 years with credit unions.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Wright-Patt CU has agreed to lease a new downtown branch here, marking a return to the city for the $2.7-billion credit union after a 12-year absence.

SAN ANGELO, Texas – The home of Angelo State University’s Rams will be renamed after 1st Community FCU after the credit union made a contribution to the school to make help finance the remodeling.

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio – River Valley FCU has selected Connect Financial Software for its consumer suite of Internet Banking.

TAMPA, Fla. – Grow Financial FCU will be working a booth along the parade route, as well as driving two Grow vehicles in the June 29 St. Petersburg Pride Festival, the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender celebration in the state of Florida.