BOSTON – Authorities are hunting for an overweight robber they caught on surveillance video who may be responsible for as many as 12 credit union and bank robberies throughout New England over the past three months.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – State regulators said they plan to return Mutual Savings CU, a one-time $194 million credit union taken under conservatorship a year ago, back to its members on July 31.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – NCUA, which took one-time $1.1 billion Arrowhead Central CU under conservatorship last month, yesterday terminated its long-time CEO Larry Sharp and three other top executives put on an unusual paid administrative leave after the regulatory takeover.

LANSING, Mich. – State regulators reported they have approved the combination of Midwest Financial CU, an ailing one-time $200 million Ann Arbor, Mich., credit union, into DFCU Financial, the state’s largest credit union.

WASHINGTON – Iowa Republican Charles Grassley announced yesterday he will change his vote on the bank reform bill and vote no this time, but the Democrats still appear to have the 60 votes they need to overcome a planned filibuster by the Republicans when the Senate moves for final passage, expected as early as today.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – State regulators have assigned the operations of Norbel CU to Security Service FCU, the San Antonio credit union giant that has been expanding its Colorado market by acquiring troubled institutions.

ROCKVILLE, Md. – Realtors FCU has added several enhancements to its Partner Program, which provides additional rewards and incentives to large brokerages and associations that promote the benefits of credit union membership.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Credit Union 24, the nation’s largest credit-union owned ATM and point-of-sale network, reported that three credit unions have joined and nine others have renewed their memberships.

FREMONT, Calif. – Patelco Credit Union has become the first financial institution in the U.S. to launch Mobile Popmoney, which will enable Patelco's members to send an electronic payment directly to another person via an e-mail or text message from their mobile phone.

SAN FRANCISCO – MasterCard last week made available a free app for mobile device users that lets MasterCard cardholders have on-the-go access to the deep discounts (50% or more) offered by MasterCard MarketPlace’s “Overwhelming Offers.”

BRISBANE, Australia – The largest credit union in this county has announced it plans to double its assets under management to approximately $16-billion over the next three to five years.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – Seeking to put an emphasis on personal financial education and the benefits of saving, 33 credit unions in Michigan are again participating in the Save to Win program, which offers a grand prize of $100,000. Along the way, the goal is to teach participants how regular deposits can put them on the path toward building wealth.

WASHINGTON – The FDIC board has taken steps to respond to criticism that it was hindered from using its backup examination powers aggressively enough during the financial crisis to protect the deposit insurance fund.

LAS VEGAS – Credit unions in Australia are preparing a national advertising campaign to lift their profile and overcome a seemingly hardheaded attitude.

LAS VEGAS – Moving forward, corporates will need to focus on two things: effectiveness and efficiency. Less certain is what is to become of corporates’ “toxic assets.”

LAS VEGAS – The future business model for corporate credit unions continues to be subject of debate, but most agree it will be substantially different. And at least one person is cautioning that natural-person credit unions had better start preparing for carrying a great deal more risk on their balance sheets.

WASHINGTON – With the votes lined up, the Senate is set to vote as early as Thursday on financial regulatory reform. It would then go to President Obama, who is expected to sign the sweeping bill into law soon.

PLEASANTON, Calif. – 1st United Services Credit Union has launched a “1st USCU Pays It Forward: School Spirit Edition,” a Web 2.0-enabled program to support local schools.

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – Carswell Data Products said six credit unions have selected its e-Sig Plus paperless document management software suite.

SAN FRANCISCO – Wells Fargo & Co. has eliminated free checking accounts for new customers as firms prepare for stricter consumer protection measures.