The recent decision by the State of Vermont Department of Financial Regulation ordering the Vermont State Employees Credit Union to stop using words such as "bank" and "banking" in its marketing, communications and advertising begs the question, are you really serious?

Are you thinking RAP is for a different, younger generation? In the world of music, you might be right, but in the world of marketing, it's always No. 1 on the charts. RAP is an acronym for Retention, Acquisition, Prospect.

TALLAHASEE, Fla. – A former state correctional officer last week was sentenced to 25 months in prison for her role in a scheme to file false federal income tax returns using the names and Social Security numbers of state prisoners.

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Members CU will be distributing school uniforms to the students at IPS School #44, Riverside Elementary on Aug. 3.

MELROSE, Minn. – Central Minnesota CU has picked up a single branch with its acquisition of $6-million Moorhead FCU.

TAMPA, Fla. – Grow Financial FCU has signed with consumer advocate S.E Day to provide its members car-buying advice.

HONOLULU – HawaiiUSA FCU plans to open a new Maui branch inside the Times Supermarket store in Kihei this week.

AUGUSTA, Maine – Due to what is anticipated to be a busy election season of commercials, the Maine CU League said its Statewide Awareness Campaign has increased advertising this summer in a variety of ways.

DALLAS – Neighborhood CU is giving members six months to walk away from their auto loan should unforeseen circumstances cause loss of income.

NEWARK, N.J. – A former account manager at XCEL FCU, who claimed a shopping obsession drove her to steal, on Friday was sentenced to seven years in prison for embezzling $3 million from the credit union.

WASHINGTON – The Senate is expected to vote passage on a bill that would eliminate one of the two fee disclosure requirements at ATMs as soon as this week.

LAS VEGAS – Silver State Schools CU, the troubled one-time $1 billion credit union, reported a second quarter net of $1.2 million, but still had a loss of $2.3 million for the first six months of the year.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA said this afternoon it has taken over Trinity CU, a troubled $4 million credit union in Trinidad, Colo.

Steve Richman offers five online resources to provide additional support to credit union marketing.

Orlando Hanselman offers a checklist for complying with NCUA's new rules on interest rate risk.

MUNCIE, Ind. – Jurors didn’t buy the defense of a second suspect in the 2009 hold-up at Industrial Centre FCU, who told them he was a drug dealer but not a bank robber, and convicted the 33-year-old man yesterday for charges related to the $250,000 credit union robbery.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Deluxe Corp., one of the last surviving check printers, reported a 19% surge in second quarter profits yesterday, fueled by its growing small business segment.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Todd Kidder, who has more than 25 years experience in banking and financial management, was named president and CEO of $14-million Heritage CU.

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Education First CU has named Tara Neiswonger, its chief financial officer the past 12 years, as the new president and CEO of the $87-million credit union.

MOON TOWNSHIP, Penn. – Clearview FCU is planning its annual car sale at its main office Aug. 4.