WASHINGTON – A bill introduced in the Senate would require colleges to counsel students before they sign on to private loans and inform them if they are eligible for federal loans.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A Schools Financial CU member pleaded guilty last week to mail fraud for using provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act to erase outstanding credit and qualify him for several loans for boats and vehicles he would not have qualified for otherwise.

TOLLAND, Conn. — More than nine-in-10 members who visit their credit union's website immediately go to online banking or bill pay.

Credit unions in the United States have surpassed a singificant milestone, and now have more than $1 trillion in total assets.

CHATSWORTH, Calif. — In the weeks after the conservatorship of $318-million Telesis Community CU, banking lobbyists have been holding it up as an example of why credit unions should not be granted expanded member business lending authority.

BISMARCK, N.D. — Credit unions in North and South Dakota are preparing to roll out a new awareness campaign using the theme "We've Been Waiting For You." The media effort, which will include mass media tied to related community visits and social media support, is being organized by the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas.

HARRISBURG, Penn. — A federal court here dismissed a suit last week alleging Pennsylvania State Employees CU violated provisions of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act after the credit union produced evidence suggesting that someone had removed the legally required notice affixed to the ATM that disclosed the fees to be charged to non-member users of the cash machine.

SEAFORD, Del. — Sussex County FCU is the first U.S. financial institution to install NCR's new virtual teller ATMs, APTRA Interactive Teller, which gives members the choice of either self-service or an interactive, live audio and visual experience.

MELBOURNE, Fla. — As if the challenges of integrating a large, failed credit union weren't sufficient, Space Coast CU continues to deal with member service and public relations issues nearly three years after its 2009 acquisition of Eastern Financial Florida CU.

SAN FRANCISCO — Twenty credit unions from across the country have agreed to take part in a pilot program that rewards users for saving money and paying down debt.

SAN ANSELMO, Calif. — The downward trend in deposit rates that began five years ago may be reversing course, according to one new analysis by Market Rates Insight.

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. – A member service representative at Cedar Point FCU was sentenced to civilian custody this week because of her pregnancy after pleading guilty to helping plan the 2004 armed robbery of $262,000 by her boyfriend at the credit union’s Leonardtown branch.

HARRISBURG, Penn. – Pennsylvania State Employees CU, which has been providing its checking account members with free FICO credit scores the past two years, will be offering the popular service over its mobile banking channels within the next two weeks.

BALTIMORE – Horsetail Technologies and Credit Union Journal have partnered to make an extraordinary offer that will result in one credit union receiving a $100,000 Extreme Network Makeover.

CHANTILLY, Va. – Justice FCU, the credit union serving the U.S. Department of Justice, announced plans to open branches in Chicago and Miami in an effort to live up to its motto, “Serving Justice Across the Nation.”

WASHINGTON – The average U.S. rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage was mostly unchanged this week, at 3.98%, as the cost of home-buying and refinancing stayed near record lows.

LONE OAK, Texas – Randolph-Brooks FCU has signed with The Members Group to offer its members TMG’s ATIRAgift cards.

RICHARDSON, Texas – The troubles for Texans CU in its member business loans grew worse as the ailing credit union giant was forced to foreclose on a $6 million note it lent to Tennessee’s Wild Wilderness Resorts.

LEOMINISTER, Mass. – Leominster CU on Thursday said Gordon Edmonds, CEO since 2007, will retire as head of the $515-million credit union on Sept. 30.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Valley FCU on Thursday said it hired Michael Silvers, chief operations officer at Pennsylvania’s Patriot FCU, as president and CEO of the $170-million credit union.