BILOXI, Miss. – A man who used a semiautomatic rifle to rob a Keesler FCU branch and kidnap two tellers will serve 30 years in prison.

BALTIMORE – A woman who prosecutors say was the ringleader of a bank fraud and identity theft scheme that hit as many as two dozen mid-Atlantic credit unions last week was sentenced in federal court to six years in prison for her role in the conspiracy.

LONDON – Monitise on Tuesday said it was awarded a UK patent for a “virtual payment card” that will allow consumers to make payments in shops and online with their mobile phone without divulging their card details.

NORCROSS, Ga. – S1 Corp. on Tuesday urged stockholders not to tender their shares to ACI Worldwide, which is bidding to acquire the provider of back-office services to credit unions, and instead wait for completion of S1’s merger with Israel’s Fundtech Ltd.

BOSTON – Elizabeth Warren, the creator of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau who was driven from Washington by Republican opponents last month, will announce her candidacy for the Senate today, sources close to Warren said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Corporate One FCU announced this afternoon plans to merge with Southeast Corporate FCU, the $3 billion Florida-based corporate that failed last month in its bid to recapitalize.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. – Bellco CU this morning rolled out a new mobile banking service provided by ClairMail that offers banking by iPhone, text banking and a mobile-optimized website @ m.bellco.org.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA on Monday said Lara Rodriguez, a counsel with the special issues unit of the FDIC, has been hired as Deputy General Counsel, the second highest position in the agency’s Office of General Counsel.

PEORIA, Ill. – An ex-convict on parole from prison on Monday was charged with two armed robberies last month at the same branch of Redbrand CU.

SPARKS, Nev. – Police are searching for two vehicles and thieves who used construction equipment to pry an ATM from a Greater Nevada CU branch and haul it away.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Navy FCU on Monday opened its seventh Jacksonville branch (and 219th overall) at the River City Market Place three miles from Jacksonville International Airport.

HARRISBURG, Penn. – Mid-Atlantic Corporate FCU has signed with CorePROFIT Solutions to assist with its management information needs.

LYNN, Mass. – State regulators have approved the conversion of Massachusetts Postal Employees CU to a community charter serving more than 350,000 residents on the Bay State’s North Shore.

WARMINISTER, Penn. – Freedom CU has rolled out a new ad campaign that features spots on local television stations.

SEATTLE – Verity CU is continuing its popular Verity Mom program by conducting a search for a new Verity Mom to blog, create videos and connect with other moms online.

WASHINGTON – NAFCU told Senate leaders last night that continued U.S. government guarantee of mortgage-backed securities through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is critical for credit unions.

LANCASTER, Penn. – NCUA told officials of Everence FCU, a credit union operated by the Brotherhood of Mennonite Churches, that the $124 million credit union’s close coordination with a mutual savings bank owned by the group violates the agency’s management officials interlock rules.

NEW YORK – M&F Worldwide Corp., the parent of the nation’s leading check printer Harland Clarke, agreed to merge into MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, the private investment vehicle for financier Ronald Perelman, in a going-private deal, the two firms announced this morning.

SAN DIEGO-"Big Bankers" invaded the beach here over Labor Day weekend. Or at least they did in TV spots from San Diego County Credit Union, which has been running a series of television commercials this year featuring "big bankers" and their love of high fees.

ATLANTA-When it comes to compliance, observed Murray Klein, "there's a new elephant in the room"-the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.