BETHPAGE, N.Y. – Bethpage FCU announced the roll-out of Bethpage Bonus Checking, a new free checking account with no hidden fees that pays its members interest.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – SAC FCU held a ribbon-cutting Wednesday for a new branch in a local Wal-Mart, its third branch in the city.

FRESNO, Calif. – One of two men sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison for the 2005 robbery of $85,000 at Valley First CU in nearby Turlock asked the judge just before sentencing if he could stay in Stanislaus County’s downtown jail until early August so he could marry his fiancée.

SAN FRANCISCO – Dozens of kids from 5 through 10 are building their savings while aiming to win a laptop as part of Mission SF FCU’s Prize-Linked Accounts for Youth.

NEW YORK – United Nations FCU said its UNFCU Financial Advisors CUSO has signed with Clements International to offer a special International Term Life and Personal Accident Insurance program to meet the needs of its members in the field, many of whom work and live in humanitarian crisis and war-torn regions.

WASHINGTON – Mortgage rates sank to the lowest level in more than five decades, but consumers aren't rushing to refinance their loans or buy homes.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Hurricane Alex brought heavy rain to southern Texas and northern Mexico, but early reports are the storm did not damage any credit unions in Texas.

DALLAS – Southwest Corporate FCU reported new investment losses of $31.6 million for April, creating a loss of $20.9 million for the first five months of the year and forcing it to deplete more member capital shares.

WASHINGTON – Democratic West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin is widely expected to appoint a successor to the late Sen. Robert Byrd over the July 4th congressional recess, giving Senate Democrats a foot up in their efforts to avert a sure Republican filibuster on the bank reform bill.

CINCINNATI – The former president of Good Samaritan Employees CU was sentenced yesterday to 33 years behind bars for embezzling more than $234,000, which forced the tiny credit union into liquidation.

WEST ALLIS, Wis. – Members of State Central CU, sporting a net worth ratio of almost 20%, will earn a nice dividend before the merger of their $69 million credit union into Summit CU – a $5.2 million payout.

LENEXA, Kan. – NCUA announced this afternoon it has filed a notice of claim with Travelers Casualty & Surety Co. to preserve the federal regulator’s right to the full amount of coverage provided under US Central’s Directors and Officers Liability policy.

ST. GEORGE, Utah. – NCUA last night liquidated another credit union failure, the one-time $175 million Southwest Community FCU here, and assigned it to Chartway FCU, the Virginia Beach-based credit union giant that has been expanding its footprint across the country.

WASHINGTON – Credit Union Student Choice, a CUSO that provides turnkey, private student lending to CUs, reported it has hit the 150-CU client plateau.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – A former financial representative for Tyndall FCU was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in federal prison for embezzling almost $160,000 from the credit union.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Many ATM and debit cards issued by DCH CU were declined at retailers Friday and over the weekend, but the problem was resolved by 9 a.m. Monday morning.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A man sentenced Monday for last October’s robbery at Wakota FCU has admitted committing five other bank robberies as well as one attempted robbery.

NEW YORK – Municipal CU has awarded $71,000 in scholarships and recognition awards to graduating high school seniors.

SALT LAKE CITY – Cyprus FCU is asking a federal court to enforce its bond with CUMIS Insurance Society which it believes entitles the credit union to reimbursement of $450,000 from employee malfeasance.

BLUE BELL, Penn. – State regulators approved an application from Norristown Bell CU to convert from a multiple group credit union to a community charter serving the 800,000 residents of surrounding Montgomery County.