CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The improvement in consumer credit is allowing banks to lower loss provisions and draw down reserves.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – CommunityAmerica Credit Union has reached a long-term renewal of naming rights for the home park of the Kansas City T-Bones.

WASHINGTON – CUNA said it is pressing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to clarify its recent rule on remittances that exempts institutions with 100 or fewer remittance transactions per year from the regulation.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Credit unions are being reminded they have just two months to prepare for the end of their access to the Central Liquidity Facility (CLF), which will conclude with the closure of U.S. Central.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Credit Union 24 is disbursing $1.1 million in patronage dividends to its shareholding credit unions during Q3 2012.

LAKE BLUFF, Ill. – Today marks the second anniversary of the Fed’s Reg E Opt-In regulation for debit card and ATM overdrafts, and one economist says a number of lessons have become apparent.

WASHINGTON – Credit unions recorded their highest loan volume ever during the second quarter of 2012.

HARRISBURG, Penn. – The Pennsylvania and New York CU leagues said in recognition of the growing importance of director education, they are collaborating to hold a joint volunteers conference in October.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The $980-million Achieva Credit Union here is marking its 75th anniversary with the launch of a new brand identity and tagline, “Banking for Good.”

PHOENIX – AEA Federal Credit Union here now is the owner of two homes that formerly were owned by local business Frank Ruiz, who is serving a two-year sentence for defrauding AEA FCU out of several million dollars.

WASHINGTON – As the presidential election is ramping up, states across the nation are still holding primaries, with Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota and Wisconsin’s races today.

NEW YORK – Free checking is alive and well–at credit unions, at least.

WASHINGTON – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has issued a proposal that would require mortgage servicers to provide clear monthly statements, earlier disclosures for interest rate adjustments, and options to help borrowers avoid foreclosures and costly force-placed insurance.

MADISON, Wis. – Credit Union Miracle Day has been named winner of the 2013 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Outstanding Program.

CHICAGO – Another sign the economy may be recovering: The national mortgage delinquency rate dropped for the second consecutive quarter, according to data released by TransUnion.

SAN ANSELMO, Calif. – For the first time since records have been kept, the national average rate on the five-year certificate of deposit has dipped below 1%, hitting 0.99% in the latest survey by Market Rates Insight.

NEW YORK — Cathie Mahon has been named the new CEO of The Federation of Community Development Credit Unions.

SALEM, Ore.-Maps CU here has increased its partnerships with local businesses and boosted transaction volumes on credit/debit cards by instituting a program encouraging consumers to patronize local businesses.

Merchant-funded rewards-those coupon, cash-back, and instant savings programs-are gaining steam. But for merchants to keep those discounts coming for the lower-cost alternative to standard rewards, card issuers must show retailers the program's value.

Merchant-funded rewards programs that perform best are those whose offers are simple, provide a mix of online and in-store redemption, and include local businesses as well as national retailers.