NEW YORK – Visa and MasterCard filed suit Friday against several of the nation’s biggest retailers seeking a declaration that the fees they charge merchants for credit card transactions do not violate antitrust law, potentially adding significant costs to credit unions and banks which would pay for the landmark $7.2 billion settlement.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Adding to the CU support that has been flooding in to help Oklahoma towns recover from last week’s deadly tornadoes, the Ohio Credit Union Foundation has granted $5,000 in assistance for CU members and communities impacted by the destruction.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. – Robins FCU said its employees hosted fundraisers across its branch network and raised $51,319.02 for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

WASHINGTON – A second circuit court ruling invalidating one of President Obama’s recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board could provide additional ammunition to anyone inclined to challenge the validity of his choice to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to new analysis by Ballard Spahr’s Consumer Financial Services Group.

O’FALLON, Ill. – Two employees of Scott Credit Union here were robbed while loading cash into an ATM.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The days of ever-growing branch volume are over, and as a result, credit unions and banks alike need to pay more attention to staffing levels, according to the 2013 FMSI Teller Line Study.

SAN DIEGO – The $6.2-billion San Diego County Credit Union is opening two more branches, bringing its network to 31.

REDDING, Calif. – With Father’s Day approaching, Members 1st Credit Union here is staging a video contest for the most deserving dad in Shasta and Tehama Counties, with the winner receiving two tickets to a San Francisco Giants game.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Credit Union 1 has launched what it is calling a “Social Impact Map,” a solution that allows it to display its “giving activity” as part of a broader cause-marketing strategy.

COSTA MESA, Calif. – A new Experian study of 750,000 credit reports indicates that women have less debt than men and slightly higher credit scores.

WASHINGTON – An analysis of more than 700 banks that maintained CAMEL 1 ratings over the past six years has found no single commonality for that success.

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of senators led by Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) is leading a new effort to draft legislation designed to reform the housing finance system, including a plan to wind down the government-sponsored enterprises.

While auto lending is showing positive signs for credit unions-new car sales are up as are CU loans-credit unions are having to scrap harder for each deal, dig deeper into credit tiers, drop rates and even extend terms.

The $1.7-billion UWCU is finding it can take on manufacturer deals this year, with new car loans showing a marked increase.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-The person who was first to make the call that the used car price bubble could burst, now says the downward slide in used values is starting, as well.

Despite industry-wide numbers showing lending up at credit unions overall and auto playing a big role, a number of credit unions in this state say it is tough to make car loans this year-even with one priced at .99%.

CU Direct's CUDL brand has expanded operations into Canada with the launch of Auto Premier, which leverages CUDL products and technology to provide automotive web strategies and solutions to the Canadian credit union marketplace.

Arizona FCU received a lot of attention recently when it introduced a $3 monthly membership fee recently, but one person believes more credit unions will follow.

Investment and insurance brokerages have two significant advantages over other income streams for credit unions, according to Hendrix Niemann, managing director of practice and wealth management services for CUNA Mutual Group's CUNA Brokerage Services.

Credit unions are already armed with the data they need to improve their bottom lines, but Theresa Benavidez, president of Corelation, says too few recognize what they have.