WOODBURY, Minn. – Postal CU announced yesterday that Russ Plunkett, its president for 20 years, is retiring Nov. 15 and will be succeeded by Brian Sherrick, its chief operating officer, as CEO of the $530 million credit union.

WASHINGTON – Mortgage rates dipped yet again to record depths this week on growing worries over Europe’s sovereign-debt crisis, according to Freddie Mac.

SEATTLE – Sound CU has sold the old headquarters of Watermark CU, the Seattle-based credit union it acquired through merger last year to create a $1.1 billion regional giant.

HARRISBURG, Penn. – Pennsylvania State Employees CU and Vertifi Software today launched two new mobile banking applications for the tablet devices the Kindle Fire and the Android.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A former assistant branch manager at SELCO Community CU was barred from credit unions by NCUA this afternoon for stealing $147,000 from the credit union to pay for her gambling addiction.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – One of the leaders of a multi-state identity theft ring pleaded guilty yesterday to bank fraud for his role in the scheme that covered more than a dozen states and earned the suspects at least $2 million.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Redstone FCU announced this morning its Right Choice Money Services for the underserved unit has signed with Western Union to offer the company’s global money transfer and online money transfer services through branches in Alabama.

HARTFORD Conn. -- A Florida man was sentenced to 22 years in prison yesterday after federal prosecutors said he spent three years as the ringleader of a gang of "felony lane" thieves — embezzlers who used the lane farthest from a credit union teller's drive-through window to cash fraudulent checks.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. -- Robins FCU held fundraisers in branches across the mid-state in order to raise funds for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and raised almost $49,000 for the cause.

TALLAHASEE, Fla. – Flag CU has signed with CUSO@Work to implement its Collections By Objective to help manage consumer loan delinquencies for the $36 million credit union.

SCRANTON, Penn. -- Cross Valley FCU opened a new branch this week and will open another in June.

PHILADELPHIA – American Heritage FCU opened its newest branch inside the ShopRite in Philadelphia.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Community First CU has become the first Florida credit union to sign with cuautocoupon.com to offer it member discounts when purchasing a new or pre-owned vehicle automotive coupon program.

RADCLIFF, KY -- –Fort Knox FCU announced the death of Leo Pike, Jr., its first active duty military member and a volunteer, professional staff member and leader for 50 years.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Technology CU is offering pre-approvals for home loans and a Quick Close Guarantee for those who qualify: If Tech CU doesn't close a buyer's purchase loan within 10 business days, the buyer will receive a $500 gift card.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA reported yesterday it approved the merger of ailing $80 million REALTORS FCU, billed as the nation’s first virtual credit union, into giant Northwest FCU, in nearby Herndon, Va. , one of several troubled credit unions to be merged out.

JACKSON, Miss. -- The state Court of Appeals has ruled a former employee at Members 1st Community CU can pursue claims of malicious prosecution against the credit union, after its executive helped have her indicted for embezzlement.

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. – NCUA said yesterday it approved a request from Trona Valley Community FCU to add six counties, including four in neighboring Utah, to its field of membership.

DALLAS -- A stunned Joyce Davis opened her door early yesterday morning to a porch crowded with Neighborhood CU leaders handing her a giant $10,000 check with her name on it—representing her winnings in the credit union’s Prize Savings Account.

MADISON, Wis. – New marketing strategies that focus on electronic game-playing could help in attracting millions of young people to credit unions, according to a new study issued this morning by the Filene Research Institute: Get in the Game: How Credit Unions Can Engage Members, Solve Problems, and Improve Skills with Game Thinking.