WASHINGTON — Should Newt Gingrich continue to hold the lead in the Republican primaries and go on to win the party's nomination, credit unions will be able to take some comfort the former representative from Georgia is a supporter.

ATLANTA – Total consumer debt has nearly returned to pre-recession levels, including a 32% growth among credit card originations, according to the newly released Equifax National Credit Trends Report. But home equity lending continues to slide.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — After 35 years with Commonwealth Credit Union here, CEO Gary Wallace said he will retire on Dec. 31.

EUGENE, Ore. — This city has become the latest in the Pacific Northwest to indicate it may move part of its reserve funds into credit unions in the coming months in response to the national Bank Transfer movement.

BOSTON — Fearing that banks might get off too easy in the multi-state mortgage settlement talks, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is preparing to file lawsuits against the nation's largest servicers for wrongfully foreclosing on customers.

WASHINGTON — Efforts to negotiate a settlement between state attorneys general and the top five mortgage servicers collapsed Friday after California pulled out the negotiations.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.–A credit union must have a good relationship with the Student Aid Office of local universities if it is to make an impact in student lending.

PORTLAND, Ore. – OnPoint Community CU yesterday became the first credit union to launch iCashé Mobile Wallet from Tyfone, a simple and fun way to purchase gift cards on mobile phones and send them to anyone instantly by text message or email.

DETROIT -- A federal jury today convicted a former motorcycle gang member of first degree murder for fatally shooting an armored car guard nearly a decade ago during a robbery of $204,000 at the ATM outside Dearborn FCU, now known as DFCU Financial.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Officials at South Carolina FCU are so enamored of Bank Transfer Day they want to ensure that “Every Day is Bank Transfer Day,” or at least that they hold legal title to the term.

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Gulf Winds FCU is donating $25,000 to Manna Food Pantries during a “Fill the Mayflower” event today at Cordova Mall.

HUNTINGTON, Utah – Desertview FCU has signed with TRC Interactive to train its staff with TellerSolutionOnline.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Nutmeg State FCU has added business banking, which will include member business loans, lines of credit, and commercial real estate loans.

MASSENA, N.Y. – A former teller at SeaComm FCU pleaded guilty Monday to stealing $23,500 from nine members’ to pay for a prescription pill addiction.

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – CUMIS Insurance Society filed suit against the former president of Edison CU to recover $100,000 she stole from the tiny credit union.

PROVO, Utah – MoneyDesktop, a provider of personal financial management solutions to credit unions and banks, said yesterday it has acquired MyJibe, a provider of PFM software.

VISTA, Calif. – Bluepoint Solutions announced the launch of its ImagePoint Mailroom system which enables financial institutions to capture and electronically process both deposits and remittances, including credit card, mortgage, auto and other loan payments, received in the mailroom.

WASHINGTON -- Several retail groups on suit in federal court yesterday saying the Federal Reserve failed to follow requirements of a financial reform law when it set the cap on debit card swipe fees and should set the cap lower.

WASHINGTON – A new bill introduced in the House would set up a financial institutions ombudsman who would referee regulatory disputes over credit union and bank exams and allow lenders to delay realizing losses on troubled mortgages.

WASHINGTON -- Bank earnings rose in the third quarter to their highest level in more than four years, while the number of troubled banks fell for the second straight quarter, the FDIC reported this morning.