IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – Scenic Falls FCU said it has selected Open Solutions Inc.’s DNA-standard market edition as its core processing solution.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska Option, an electronic funds transfer network owned by Alaska USA FCU and six other credit unions, has signed a multi-year contract with TSYS to provide processing for Visa and MasterCard credit and signature debit card programs.

SAN DIEGO – Thanks in part to expenses saved on operations and significantly less money going into Allowance for Loan Losses, North Island Credit Union on Thursday said it posted earnings of $7.66 million for the first quarter of 2010.

WASHINGTON – Mortgage rates were almost flat this week, with the benchmark 30-year rate declining a single basis point to 5.06%, according to Freddie Mac.

WASHINGTON – Stating "there is no next year" for him, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd – who is retiring at the end of this Congress – called for a calming of partisan anger as debate on the bank reform bill finally began yesterday.

PALM BAY, Fla. – A member of Space Coast CU carrying a weapon in his car pulled his gun on a would-be credit union robber yesterday, halting a hold up.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The NCUA Board, looking to encourage more credit unions to offer payday loans, proposed lifting the maximum allowable rate on the short-term loans from the 18% APR set for all loans to as high as high as 28%.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The NCUA Board voted this morning to extend an emergency order essentially allowing corporate credit unions to ignore the agency's minimum capital standards until the end of 2011.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Beach Municipal FCU has named Geri Metzger, its chief operating officer, as president and CEO of the $10.4 million credit union.

PORTLAND, Ore. – OnPoint Community CU yesterday announced plans to open three new branches in central Oregon’s Deschutes County, where it expanded last year.

CANTON, Ohio – Champion CU is staging a scavenger hunt for cash to celebrate the opening of its new branch in Waynesville.

HARRISBURG, Penn. – Members 1st FCU next month will open a branch on the first floor of the Strawberry Square shopping center across from the state Capitol in downtown Harrisburg.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – MidState Educators CU said it will begin offering private student loans through the Credit Union Student Choice program.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee CU has pledged $100,000 of in-kind support, with annual investments of $50,000 to follow, to Antioch High School or a new program to bring financial professionals into the city’s high schools and offer internships.

WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans stood together a third straight day yesterday to filibuster the Democrats’ bank reform bill, but agreed last night to move the bill to a debate on the Senate floor.

PROVO, Utah – A computer systems consultant for local credit unions yesterday was sentenced to five years in prison after he used passwords he obtained from four local credit union clients to steal almost $2 million.

WASHINGTON – Five Capitol-area credit unions will offer low- or no-fee savings and checking accounts as part of Washington’s new Bank on D.C. program.

LAS VEGAS – Silver State Schools CU, which lost almost $51 million last year, yesterday announced it is it is closing five branches under a supervisory agreement signed with state regulators.

PALO ALTO, Calif. – Stanford FCU, one of a few large California credit unions that have stayed profitable throughout the state’s financial turmoil, on Wednesday announced its president and CEO John Davis is retiring May 14.

SAN FRANCISCO – Card giant Visa Inc. reported a 33% surge in second quarter earnings yesterday to $713 million, fueled by higher-than-expected growth in transaction volume.