PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – Service CU said yesterday it will acquire two branches along the state’s coast with a merger of $36 million Seacoast CU.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA has opened the application period for $1.25 million in small technical assistance grants it will be awarding through its Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – State regulations barring senior officers from obtaining member business loans under the state’s conflict of interest rules includes senior vice presidents, but not rank and file vice presidents, state regulators ruled.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal credit union may buy or invest in an existing insurance agency as a CUSO only if the insurance agency meets NCUA’s “primarily serves” customer base test, that is, the insurance agency primarily serves members of that or any other credit union, NCUA said in a new legal opinion.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Corporate One FCU announced a partnership with Bluepoint Solutions designed to assist natural person credit unions currently using IMAGEin through their current corporate credit union to establish a relationship with Corporate One FCU for check processing and clearing services.

NEW YORK – The Department of Justice filed papers yesterday to implement the settlement of its antitrust suit against Visa and MasterCard, which will prevent the two card networks from barring merchants from steering transactions to lower-cost cards.

DENVER – Public Service CU will offer a dedicated bike-thru lane at its Fort Collins branch June 22 to celebrate Bike to Work Day.

WASHINGTON – Even as they work hand in hand with credit unions to block the caps in debit fees, the banking lobby says it will continue to fight tooth and nail to prevent Congress from raising the limits on member business loans for credit unions.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Credit Union Journal is now accepting entries for its 2011 Best Practices Awards.

TROY, Mich. – Michigan Catholic CU said its former longtime CEO Warren Baker passed away June 7 at 81.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Pentagon FCU said its non-profit PenFed Foundation raised more than $700,000 at its annual Night of Heroes Gala on May 19.

WASHINGTON – CUNA said yesterday it has extended its contract with Freddie Mac to market the company’s mortgage products and services to credit unions.

TORONTO – Corsential announced general availability of its Credit Union Voice of Member survey and satisfaction program.

NEW ORLEANS – CRIF Select, which recently expanded into Philadelphia, said it is entering the Louisiana market and now is in 18 markets across the U.S.

PASADENA, Calif. – Wescom Resources Group said yesterday it signed with Share One to integrate and market WRG's MemberEdge Mobile Banking solution to Share One's credit union clients nationwide.

HERNDON, Va. – Northwest FCU said it signed with nearby Online Resources Corp. for advanced online banking and bill payment solutions.

WASHINGTON – Former U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, a longtime congressional champion for credit unions, is scheduled to receive an award Wednesday from the Consumer Federation of America for his lifetime service to consumers.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A 71-year-old woman was scammed out of $17,000 last month by two people who convinced her to withdraw money from her account at Palmetto Citizens CU.

NEW YORK – Three law firms announced yesterday they are carefully reviewing billionaire financier Ron Perelman’s bid to take check printer M&F Worldwide private, saying the bid by Perelman’s MacAndrews and Forbes Holdings, which already controls 43% of M&F, could violate securities laws.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz announced this afternoon the hiring of Buddy Gill, the long-time political director for the Texas CU League, as senior strategic advisor.