WASHINGTON – Would-be consumer czar Elizabeth Warren plans to leave Washington this week, her dream to head the fledgling Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in shambles and the bureau itself tied up in knots.

WASHINGTON – Regulators took over three banks and one credit union Friday, with the banks sold off to other institutions.

PROVIDENCE, R. I. – Bruce Sundlun, a former Democratic governor who seized Rhode Island’s privately insured credit unions on New Year’s Day 1991 an hour after being sworn in, then financed the government-backed bailout of the state’s credit union system, died last week at 91.

SAN DIMAS, Calif. – NCUA reported that Western Bridge Corporate FCU had a $2.1 million loss for May, its seventh straight monthly loss since the federal regulator transitioned the corporate failure to a bridge under its corporate resolution plan.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Some of the nation’s biggest credit unions are reporting strong financials for the first six months of the year, pointing to credit union-rebound around the country, even in the hard-hit Sand States. The combination of lower loan losses and reduced expenses is righting several large credit unions that reported big losses in recent years. Florida’s biggest credit union Suncoast Schools FCU, which had $107 million in losses for 2009 and 20101, reported its second straight positive quarter producing $14.2 million in net income for the first half of 2011, as its provision or loan losses declined by $34.5 million from the same period last year. “Suncoast's improving numbers are mostly the result of extremely hard work by our staff in their efforts to limit losses by making the right decisions for our members who still face financial challenges,” said Tom Dorety, president of the $5 billion credit union. “Our conservative funding of the allowance account during the worst part of the recession is, as expected, contributing to our improving net income. We expect continuing improvement going forward and look forward to increasing the value our members receive from the credit union.” Suncoast’s Tampa neighbor GTE FCU, which reported $48 million in losses for 2009 and 2010, reported a first half net of $1.5 million. Utah’s America First CU, which had $25 million in 2009 and 2010 losses, reported a $9.3 million net for the first half of 2011. California CU, with almost $35 million of losses for 2009 and 2010, reported net income of $6.4 million for the first half; while NuVision FCU reported a $5 million net, after losses for 2009 and 2010. Arrowhead Central CU, under NCUA conservatorship after $50 million of 2009 and 2010 losses, had an $11.3 million net for the first six months. Several other large credit unions are reporting big first halves too. Washington’s BECU reported a $67.6 million first half net, more than the $63.4 million in netted for all of 2010. Minnesota’s Wings Financial CU had a $25.1 million net for the first six months, more than its $23.8 million 2010 net. California’s Star One CU had a first half net of $34.8 million, well on the way to topping last year’s $58 million net.ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Some of the nation’s biggest credit unions are reporting strong financials for the first six months of the year, pointing to credit union-rebound around the country, even in the hard-hit Sand States.

MOFFAT, Colo. – NCUA this afternoon took over Saguache County CU, a one-time $24 million community development credit union that has been operating under a state cease and desist order for two years.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA said yesterday it plans to pay off billions of dollars of CDs issued by twocorporate credit union failures by year-end as the corporates transition to new entities.

SPOKANE, Wash. – Numerica CU’s CEO Dennis Cutter, poised to retire Sept. 1, took a road trip around the city, making stops at five different non-profit organizations and giving each of them $5,000.

ARLINGTON, Wash. – MountainCrest CU said its longtime president Bob Schumaker is retiring in January from the $82 million credit union.

MACON, Ga. – A former Robins FCU employee was indicted this week on charges that she stole members’ identities to apply for numerous loans and credit cards.

ROCKVILLE, Md. – National Institutes Of Health FCU, which serves the biomedical industry, opened a new branch in nearby Washington, D.C., during last month’s 2011 BIO International Convention.

MASON CITY, Iowa – Ace Community CU has implemented Dwolla’s online, mobile, social and location-based cash platform that connects users through a social community to share and spend money.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – ESL FCU is offering a new financial management program for members and employees through the BALANCE Financial Fitness Program.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington State Employees CU has signed with Avista Solutions to install the company’s loan origination system.

MADISON, Wis. – University of Wisconsin CU purchased a building housing a Borders bookstore, which is being liquidated starting today, where it plans to build a new branch.

BOULDER, Colo. – Elevations CU, Colorado’s fifth-largest credit union, announced yesterday it is merging into it $80 million St. Vrain Valley CU in Longmont.

WASHINGTON – CUNA said yesterday that Richard McBride, its chief of staff and longtime right-hand man for Dan Mica, is retiring at year end and will be replaced jointly by current chief lobbyist John Magill and chief league liaison Susan Newton.

WASHINGTON – Mortgage rates were mostly flat over the past week amid a series of mixed economic reports, according to Freddie Mac.

WHEELING, W.Va. – The former assistant manager of defunct N&W Poca Division FCU on Thursday was sentenced to more than four years in prison for her role in a family fraud that drained as much as $5 million from the tiny credit union.

WASHINGTON – The House last night passed a bill to ease the power of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – the day the new agency was opened – despite a White House promise to veto the legislation.