MAPLE GROVE, Minn. – TopLine FCU has launched a new savings transfer program that automatically rounds up the nearest dollar every time members make a purchase or ATM transaction with their debit cards and transfers the difference into a savings account.

WASHINGTON – Democratic lawmakers on Thursday responded to increased efforts by Republicans to block the nomination of Elizabeth Warren to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Agency and called on President Obama to move ahead with the controversial appointment.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Public Interest Group, the leading consumer lobby on Capitol Hill, called on lawmakers to reject efforts to delay implementation of the cuts in debit fees, saying the issue has been studied long enough and the cuts will help consumers.

LAS VEGAS – Credit unions around the country are blocking thousands of debit cards as they struggle to contain the latest nationwide data breach at Michaels Stores.

IRMO, S.C. – Palmetto Cooperative Services announced this morning it plans to consolidate its item processing operations with Cooperative Services, Inc., to create a processor serving more than 600 credit unions and banks in 20 states that will be known as PCSi.

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

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – A local man was sentenced to a suspended jail term for cashing thousands of dollars of a dead friend’s disability checks at St. Mary’s CU.

LUTHERVILLE, Md. – First Financial of Maryland FCU granted 41 college scholarships of $3,000 each, totaling $123,000.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lender Processing Services yesterday launched a new reporting and analytics solution that mortgage servicers can use to measure and analyze key performance indicators to help make more informed decisions about loans in their portfolios.

VISTA, Calif. – Bluepoint Solutions and Panini said yesterday they are partnering to provide credit unions with an all-inclusive teller capture solution, including software, hardware, and support for a cost effective and consolidated price.

INDIANAPOLIS – Crane FCU has joined Credit Union Centers’ shared branch network, allowing its members access to more than 4,200 networked branches across the country, including 275 in Indiana and Illinois.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – South Carolina FCU is now using GMT Corp’s enterprise workforce management and performance optimization solutions.

RICHMOND, Va. – Call FCU will implement Geezeo’s personal financial management social networking and web-based marketing platforms.

TEXARKANA, Texas – Red River CU has implemented Integrated Media Management’s TotaliSign solution, which allows members to sign documents electronically using an Apple iPad.

WAREHAM, Mass. – Digital FCU has scheduled a public auction later this month for the Bay Pointe Country Club golf course it acquired in a foreclosure.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. – Kinecta FCU, already the biggest check cashing outlet in Southern California, said it is opening a new mortgage center in nearby Newport Beach to fuel its expanding home loan business.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Redwood CU announced this afternoon it has completed a deal for nearby Cal State Central CU, eliminating another ailing California credit union.

JACKSON, Miss. – NCUA last night liquidated Valued Members FCU and assigned the remnants of the one-time $12 million credit union to Magnolia FCU, a $103 million credit union also in Jackson.

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

SUMTER, S.C. – SAFE FCU said Rollin Reynolds, Jr., a member of its board of directors for 47 years, died last week at 79.