One thing all economists can agree on: interest rates have nowhere to go but up — it's when rates begin to rise that's still out for debate.

Not sure if you really need to be sitting down or taking sedatives when I reveal the findings of a recent study: tellers have an affect on how consumers feel about their financial institution. Who knew?

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Amid widespread opposition, the NCUA Board this morning voted amendments to its corporate credit union rule that eliminates the controversial provisions limiting credit unions to one corporate and encouraging corporates to assess charges for the corporate bailout on privately insured credit unions and CUSOs.

EUREKA, Calif. – Coast Central CU awarded community investment grants totaling $50,000 to three local non-profits.

SCRANTON, Penn. – Tobyhanna FCU said CEO Jim Kanaley is retiring in January 2012.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Partners 1st FCU announced yesterday that Carla Bienze, executive vice president since 2000, has been promoted to president and CEO of the $230 million credit union.

DOVER, Del. – Dover FCU was approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration to finance SBA guaranteed loans.

WASHINGTON – HEW FCU announced yesterday it is now offering members a HarmonyLoan mortgage, which adjusts its interest rate at the member’s call.

ALXANDRIA, Va. – CommonWealth One FCU has teamed with Intuit Financial Services to offer its members Mobile Web and Text Banking.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – Service CU on Tuesday broke ground on a 100,000-square-foot, 17-acre headquarters.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Financial Management Solutions, Inc. yesterday rolled out its Lobby Tracking System on the Apple iPad.

POCATELLO, Idaho – Students at Idaho State University will be able to use their student ID as a debit card for Idaho State University CU starting fall semester.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska lawmakers on Wednesday approved a bill that will allow the state’s credit unions to sponsor saving lotteries that offer financial prizes as incentives to save, one of five states considering such bills.

BOSTON – LPL Financial LLC said this afternoon it has agreed to acquire Concord Wealth Management, a Matawan, N.J., provider of wealth management solutions with $10 billion under administration.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA said this morning that all corporate credit unions–including the three major failures seeking a rehabilitation–must give their members not wanting to participate in a recapitalization at least six months written notice before termination of their membership.

DEXTER, Maine – Maine Highlands FCU presented 15 local food cupboards and organizations at Monday’s annual meeting with a share of the $18,795 the credit union and its employees raised over the past year.

PITTSBURGH – City Co FCU said it hired Cookie Yoder, longtime president of $7 million Pittsburgh FCU, as president and CEO of the $25 million credit union.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Alta Vista CU has signed with IMN to implement the company’s Member Adviser solutions electronic communications solutions.

HENRICO, Va. – Henrico FCU has contracted with COMPASS 4 CUs for regulatory compliance services.

HARRISBURG, Penn. – Mid-Atlantic Corporate FCU said yesterday it signed with Jack Henry & Associates to offer ProfitStars’ ACH Manager and OnNet payments solutions to its 800 credit union members.