BLUE BELL, Penn. – Norristown Bell Credit Union here has created a short-term, interest-only loan to help some of the 45,000 Verizon employees who currently are on strike.

HIGHTSTOWN, NJ – New Jersey credit unions now can invest in the Community Investment Fund (CIF) following an alliance between Corporate One FCU, the New Jersey CU Foundation (NJCUF) and the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF).

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia Community Credit Union has rolled out a loan program for consumers looking to make their homes more energy efficient.

MIAMI – It may be time for credit union to build plans to expand their auto leasing programs, according to one company that is forecasting lease penetration rates will double by 2020, averaging around 42% across most vehicle brands and segments.

NEW YORK – Citi has rolled out a collaboration with Best Buy which it says is the first mobile rewards app.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – In what will be her 59th year with the credit union, Jean M. Yokum said she will retire as president/CEO of Langley Federal Credit Union on July 17, 2012.

LAKE BLUFF, Ill. – Consumers who overdraft their checking accounts in San Francisco pay a lot less than those who live in Miami.

LAKE BLUFF, Ill. – Half of consumers who overdraw their checking account do so by $40 or less, yet it costs them about $58 every time.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-Pentagon FCU employees nationwide are waving their phone to pay for things at the cashier stand-part of the VISA Digital Wallet pilot for NFC contactless payments, according to Ben Scandlen, VP-marketing at the $15-billion CU.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.-The greatest risk with live Web chat is not knowing who's on the other end of the conversation, said several credit unions.

PEWAUKIE, Wis. – Wisconsin’s credit unions will operate 95 branches inside elementary and high schools in the state this year, which is 18% of the branches available in the state, according to the Wisconsin CU League.

SAN FRANCISCO – Wells Fargo & Co. is testing a monthly fee with some customers to offset revenue losses it expects on debit card payments.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – ABNB FCU here is reporting its members have saved $1.9 million as the result of lowered borrowing costs and reduced fees since the launch of a special promotion earlier this year.

RICHARDSON, Texas – Drivers will be able to get free gas this morning at Campbell Road Car Care, thanks to Neighborhood Credit Union.

NEW YORK – Municipal Credit Union has signed on to continue as a “Corporate Partner” with the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC).

BROMMALL, Penn. – Members of Sentry FCU have approved a merger with Franklin Mint FCU.

PLANO, Texas – The latest figures on housing starts likely signal that credit union lending will remain flat for some time.

ARLINGTON, Va. – Consumers may have more to worry about more than the possibility of a double-dip recession – rising consumer prices in July suggest inflation worries.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A new study found despite declines in credit card delinquencies and the availability of cheap funds, most bank credit card issuers have not eased their underwriting standards.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. – Consumer satisfaction with credit cards increased for a second year in a row – after a considerable decline in 2009 – according to the J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study.