CHELSEA, Mass. – Fast-growing Metro CU opened a new branch in Boston City Hall Plaza it acquired in the recently completed acquisition of Massachusetts State Employees CU.

WASHINGTON – Credit Union executives and volunteers are very pessimistic about the prospects for their bill to raise member business loan limits and expect it to die again this year, along with the other credit union-backed bills, as Congress comes to a close as soon as next week.

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines FCU announced this morning it has signed with MerdianLink to implement the company’s account opening and loan origination solution.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal court here agreed yesterday to dismiss two more class action suits challenging credit union practices on overdrafts, the fifth and sixth suits to be dismissed in the past two weeks.

WASHINGTON -- The National Retail Federation announced this morning its Board has authorized the group to go to court to block the proposed $7.2 billion settlement of a federal antitrust lawsuit over Visa and MasterCard credit card fees, adding a major new obstacle to the historic deal.

CLEVELAND – A federal court has agreed to stay consideration of NCUA’s $19 million suit against local developer A. Eddy Zai until criminal judges against Zai in the collapse of St. Paul Croatian FCU are resolved.

TAMPA, Fla. – Two individuals, including a teller at MidFlorida FCU, were charged with stealing more than $100,000 in federal income tax returns from senior citizens and having them deposited in phony accounts at the credit union.

GROTON, Conn. – Charter Oak FCU has awarded $16,100 to nine local community and non-profit organizations as part of its Community Giving Program.

CLINTON, Md. – U.S. Postal FCU said it has signed with Ncontracts to augment its compliance program by strengthening contract visibility and vendor oversight.

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – Niagara’s Choice FCU has agreed to merge into it Niagara County’s FCU to create a $125-million credit union serving 23,000 members.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Warren FCU is renovating a former Bank of the West Branch in Fort Collins for its second Colorado location but first stand-alone branch.

NORWICH, Conn. – CorePlus FCU announced plans to open two new full-service branches inside area Wal-Mart Supercenter stores in 2013.

MIAMI – Ten people, including a Miami Beach police officer, were charged in an elaborate operation that allegedly ripped off local credit unions, including Space Coast CU.

BROOKFIELD, Wis. – Fiserv announced this morning it is now offering its credit union and bank customers the ability to instantly issue Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards.

HARRISBURG, Penn. – Credit union member and potential members are invited to compete for Philadelphia Eagles or Pittsburgh Steelers tickets, as well as a travel grill, tailgating chair, fan gear, and iBelong logo wear, as part of the Pennsylvania CU Association’s iBelong Tailgating promotion being kicked off this morning in the Altoona/Johnstown and Berks/Lehigh Valley media markets.

With its local economy still struggling to recover from the recession, $706-million Altura Credit Union has introduced a checking account designed to help those with negative reports on ChexSystems reestablish a relationship with a financial institution.

RALEIGH, N.C.-The state Credit Union Commission has denied an appeal-the second-by former directors of the Greater Kinston CU of February's state takeover in the wake of conflict of interest allegations involving loans made by the one-time $17 million community development CU.

Rather than slowing down, the membership drive spurred by last fall's Bank Transfer Day sped up in the first and second quarters of the year to a record pace, according to data from NCUA.

Consumers Credit Union is rewarding members and non-members with cash prizes for their financial literacy knowledge with their "cash car".

Effort In Oregon To Recall Board Members Falls Short