BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Whatcom Educational CU donated $17,300 to several local non-profit groups as part of its annual Social Responsibility program.

PHOENIX – Desert Schools FCU contributed $5,000 to Balsz Elementary School to help fund programs that prepare students for AIMS Math testing and ongoing education.

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – First Community CU has promoted Stephen Schmitz, its executive vice president, to president and CEO of the $320 million credit union, North Dakota’s largest.

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Pen Air FCU has signed with CUDL for indirect auto loan services.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Fast-growing University of Iowa CU last week unveiled plans to build a new member support center in nearby North Liberty.

AUGUSTA, Maine – The Maine CU League launched its summer awareness program on radio stations statewide.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – A group of Hudson Valley FCU members has dropped its class action suit challenging the credit union’s collection of the state’s mortgage transfer tax because the credit union lost its own challenge to the state levy.

WASHINGTON – Regulators closed seven banks in seven states Friday, pushing the number of banking failures for 2010 over 100.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Arrowhead Central CU, taken over by NCUA June 25, said Friday it has laid off 27 employees, part of an effort by NCUA to remake the one-time $1.1 billion credit union.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Last month’s $1.1 million NCUA assessment, coming after last year’s $1.4 billion charge, is foiling a recovery for many credit unions, deepening losses for some and turning net income into losses many others.

WASHINGTON – The Senate this week is expected to add an amendment to the jobs bill that will provide $30 billion in low-cost funding to community banks, but the bankers apparently have succeeded in blocking an amendment that would provide credit unions with a long-sought increase in the member business loan cap.

CHICAGO — The NCUA Board would consider allowing the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF) to operate with an equity ratio slightly below 1.2%, but will not consider allowing that ratio to drop anywhere near the 1.1% range or even lower as some have proposed, according to NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz.

OROVILLE, Calif. – A women who confessed to robbing a Sierra Central CU branch in Oroville last week – and is suspected of robbing a bank in Chico – was captured as she was robbing her third institution when she left her keys inside the locked getaway car.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Check printer Deluxe Corp. announced yesterday that second quarter earnings rose 21% to $27.l8 million on the strength of its acquisition of Custom Direct Inc., even as its core check business continued to decline.

SAN FRANCISCO – Visa said yesterday it has completed the acquisition of CyberSource Corp., a provider of online payment, fraud and security management.

HOUSTON – Cardtronics said it is redeeming $100 million of 9.25% senior subordinated notes as part of a refinancing that will reduce debt and interest expenses.

WASHINGTON – Long-term mortgage rates slid again this week toward their lowest levels in more than five decades, with the average for the benchmark 30-year loan slipping to 4.56%, according to Freddie Mac.

EL MONTE, Calif. – SCE FCU said it has signed with Geezeo to offer the company’s financial management tools and integrated marketing platform.

SAN DIEGO – San Diego County CU has become one of the first financial institutions to implement Fiserv’s new ZashPay person-to-person payments service, which allows users to send or receive money using their existing online accounts.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – ORNL FCU said it has purchased nearly 38 acres in Horizon Center Business Park in west Oak Ridge where it plans to build a new headquarters for the $1.3 billion credit union.