WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—Are you or your credit union being affected by Hurricane Sandy? Use the hashtag #SandyCU on Twitter to keep Credit Union Journal readers and the credit union community updated on developments in your area.

MADISON, Wis.—The National Credit Union Foundation is accepting donations to help credit unions, CU employees and CU members via its CUAid.coop service.

BRISTOL, Penn.—The Pennsylvania CU Association reported that Bucks First FCU has been experiencing intermittent loss of power and phone service as workers are trying to restore power to the area.

HIGHTSTOWN, N.J.—The recovery remains slow for many credit unions in this state, but some have restarted operations even as others remain closed.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.—While large parts of Staten Island remain without power, the electricity is back on today at Division 726 FCU there, which spent three days in the dark.

ATLANTA – Increased debt service coupled with lower revenues pushed third quarter losses at processing giant First Data Corp. to $212 million, up from $53.9 million for the third quarter last year, the company reported this morning.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Credit Union League launched a newly redesigned website yesterday that will make it easier for member credit unions to navigate, find information and do more online functions.

WHITEHALL, Mich. – HarborLight CU has signed with Geezeo to implement the company’s white label personal financial management and engagement banking solution.

ENFIELD, Conn. – 360 FCU has signed with TRC Interactive for the company’s Web-based training through its CreditUnionTrainingOnline.

LONG BEACH, Calif. – LBS Financial CU has implemented Financial Industry Computer Systems’ updated version of Loan Producer with streamlined loan file workflow and user interface.

LONGVIEW, Wash. – NCUA has approved a request from Fibre FCU, which serves Cowlitz County, to add tiny Wahkiakum County and two Oregon counties, Columbia and Clatsop, to its field of membership.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Connex CU, the one-time telephone workers credit union, named Frank Mancini, its chief financial officer, as president and CEO of the $380 million credit union.

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – The Eugene City Council on Wednesday agreed to sell a 1.9-acre plot next to the U.S. Courthouse to Northwest Community CU, where the $720 million credit union plans to build a new headquarters.

WASHINGTON -- Mortgage rates continued to dip near record lows again this week, according to Freddie Mac.

HOUSTON – Cardtronics, the world’s largest ATM network, reported a 72% decline in third quarter earnings to $12.9 million, due to the absence of $37 million tax gain in the third quarter last year.

CINCINNATI – In another sign of booming business for credit unions and banks, Vantiv, the cards processor for more than 800 credit unions, reported yesterday that third quarter earnings soared by 70%, to $48.6 million.

NEW YORK -- The National Retail Federation and more than a dozen of the nation’s most prominent retailers today asked a judge to reject the proposed Visa/MasterCard antitrust settlement, saying it would not bring credit card swipe fees charged by Visa and MasterCard under control and does not give retailers who oppose it an adequate mechanism to opt out.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA said this morning it lowered its loss projections for the corporate credit union resolution by as much as $400 million, due to improved performance by bonds associated with the bailout.

MINNEAPOLIS – Cachet Financial Solutions has teamed with PreCash to provide instant remote check deposits to a companion prepaid card.

MONETT, Mo. – Jack Henry & Associates said growth in its support and services operations helped push net income for its fiscal first quarter up 16% to $42.5 million.