COLUMBUS, Ohio-Ohio's Attorney General has filed suit against Moody's Investors Service, Standard & Poor's and Fitch, arguing the ratings services are responsible for costing the state's retirement and pension funds more than $457 million by giving their approval high-risk Wall Street securities that later proved nearly worthless.

NEW YORK-A new report has concluded that the worst of the credit crunch is not yet over. The report, released by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, suggests that the slow economic recovery-combined with new lending standards, cutbacks in consumer spending and possible changes in regulations affecting the consumer credit industry-may make the consumer debt landscape even harder to predict.

MADISON, Wis.-At the same time one new research report indicates banks have actually slightly reduced overdraft fees in recent months, a separate study is showing bank customers continue to pay substantially more not just in overdraft fees but overall fees than do credit union members.

LAS VEGAS — Frontier Financial Credit Union is among those encountering one of the odd byproducts of 2009's economy: it doesn't want any more of members' savings.

LAS VEGAS — Wally Murray, president and CEO of Greater Nevada CU in Carson City, and also chairman of the Nevada Credit Union League, said his CU is in survival mode.

LAS VEGAS — For at least one credit union, expansion remains the strategy.

MADISON, Wis. — Board members feeling the economic pinch, and credit unions reaching greater parity with banks on CEO base pay, have contributed to a marked drop in CU executive compensation increases in 2009.

LAS VEGAS — The recovery banner has been waving on Wall Street for several months now as the stock markets charge ahead, but not everyone is buying.

LAS VEGAS-Brett Martinez would have been excused if he had completed his one-year term as chairman of the California Credit Union League by belting out John Lennon's hit: "Nobody Told Me."

LAS VEGAS-What is the future for WesCorp, and the credit unions that use its services? Credit union Journal asked that question of attendees at the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues' Annual Meeting here. Here's what they had to say:

BEL AIR, Md. — HAR-CO Federal Credit Union has partnered with education consulting firm SAGE Scholars to offer a college savings program to its 30,000 members.

Hawthorne Adds Mobile Banking

CONSHOHOCKEN, Penn. — Strong growth managed to maintain a healthy balance sheet is a recipe for long-term success.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Truliant Federal Credit Union here created a video sharing why it has always provided opt-in overdraft protection.

Paper Offers Due-Diligence Tips

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — With high consumer awareness hat many issuers are raising fees and rates on credit cards, CU Community Credit Union is seeking to grab share with a special holiday-related offer.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — New legislation may make it more difficult and less rewarding for credit unions to sell their card portfolios.

If signs are pointing to the beginning of economic recovery, is this window of opportunity closing for credit unions? And if so, what should credit unions be doing?

HOUSTON-Smart FCU, has launched an instant issue debit card program to better serve its members. The credit union said the move offers members immediate access to their funds, eliminates unnecessary wait time for standard mail and the need for temporary checks, and is safer by putting the debit card directly into the member's hands. The instant card also provides a much quicker turn-around in the event that a member's debit card is lost or stolen.

FAIRBORN, Ohio-Wright-Patt Credit Union has rolled out a new Platinum Low Rate Visa and MasterCard, featuring a variable rate at three percentage points over Prime, with no annual fee, cash advance fee, or balance transfer fees.