LOS ANGELES – In a major defeat for NCUA, a federal judge Friday agreed to dismiss negligence charges brought by the federal regulator in a civil suit against 11 directors of the one-time $34 billion corporate, all of them prominent figures in the credit union movement.

BURTON, Mich. – A Michigan retiree who has sued more than three dozen credit unions and banks over the surcharge fee notification requirements of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act has convinced ELGA CU to settle one suit by paying as much as $76,000 to non-members who used six of its ATMs that lacked the mandated external notice of a surcharge.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – KeyPoint Credit Union on Thursday said Tim Kramer, its longtime president and CEO, will retire on March 31, 2012.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The World Council of Community Credit Unions has arranged a training session at Meriwest Credit Union’s main office here for a dozen executives from Alianza Federation of Mexico.

ATLANTA – Credit bureau Equifax reported a 52% drop in second quarter net income to $34.5 million, as the company set aside a larger provision for income taxes and the elimination of one of its operating assets.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Deluxe Corp. reported a 6% rise in second quarter profits, to $35.5 million, even as its core checks business continued its decline.

YORKTOWN, Va. – In honor of its 60th Anniversary, 1st Advantage FCU is donating $60,000 to six organizations that make a positive impact to people in its community.

RALEIGH, N.C. – State Employees’ CU said its SECU Foundation awarded a $1 million grant to build a new North Carolina 4-H Learning and Education Center.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – You’ve likely heard countless advertisements urging you to “Act Now!” With Credit Union Journal’s Day in the Life of Credit Unions project, it’s good advice.

WASHINGTON – Mortgage rates again were little changed over the past week as readings on the U.S. economy continued to show mixed signals, according to Freddie Mac.

WORCESTER, Mass. – Workers’ CU’s newest service allows members to open an account using their Web-enabled smart phone.

VIENNA, Va. – Navy FCU plans to offer members a mobile banking app for Android smart phones next month.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law legislation that allows counties to purchase CDs and deposit funds with the state’s credit unions for the first time.

MILWAUKEE – Summit CU is partnering with Milwaukee Shines, a city project that encourages the use of solar energy, to help homeowners finance installation costs for solar panels.

PHOENIX – Desert Schools FCU will be the first financial institution to implement a new solution by Finivation Software that is designed to help quickly and cost-effectively verify a person’s identity remotely though voice biometrics.

BALTIMORE – MECU gave its members a $2 million payout, the first half of its anticipated Christmas bonus dividend.

VIENNA, Va. -- Navy FCU announced it's commitment to advance pay to its members with direct deposit who are active duty military and DoD civilian employees in the event of a breach of the debt ceiling August 2.

SAN FRANCISCO – Police are searching for a woman who robbed the same branch of S.F. Fire CU at gunpoint on two occasions 10 days apart.

NORTH CANTON, Ohio – ATM maker Diebold on Wednesday said second quarter earnings declined 27% to $22.1 million, as sales slumped to a slight decline.

SAN FRANCISCO – Payments giant Visa Inc. said continued double-digit growth in its debit business helped fuel a 40% rise in fiscal third quarter income to $1 billion.