MIAMI – State regulators have approved an emergency merger of troubled Mount Sinai FCU into neighboring People CU.

NEW BERLIN, Wis. – Landmark CU announced yesterday it has agreed to acquire four smaller credit unions, including two troubled institutions, Allco CU and First Security CU.

SAN FRANCISCO – A convicted bank robber was charged with robbing a downtown branch of Pacific Service CU twice in a little more than a month -- both times victimizing the same teller.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Raleigh City Council voted approval yesterday of a preliminary site plan for a 12-story, mixed-use building that State Employees CU plans to construct downtown.

AUSTIN, Texas – In the latest twist on a social networking promotion, University FCU is challenging college students through an online video contest and social media campaign to prove how far they can stretch the dollar–twenty dollars to be exact--during these tough economic times.

SAN FRANCISCO – Visa Inc. said it will prepay $682 million to U.S. merchants to complete a settlement of a 2003 antitrust case, paying early to get a discount from the $800 million it had owed through 2012.

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – TriCo FCU is offering members a chance to win a 50-inch color TV as part of the grand opening for a new branch in the Target Center here on Sept. 12, the $160 million credit union’s fifth full-service branch.

HONOLULU – Aloha Pacific FCU said it will acquire tiny First Insurance FCU, its second merger since December.

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. – E1 Financial CU said its members have approved the merger of the ailing $350 million credit union into nearby NuVision FCU, creating a $1.2 billion credit union.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Fast-growing Empower FCU has been approved by NCUA to acquire Telco FCU, based in nearby Elmira, N.Y., its third merger in the past two years.

TAMPA, Fla. – GTE FCU is closing three of its branches, as it works to weather the state’s economic downturn.

WALLINGFORD, Conn. – Constitution Corporate FCU said yesterday the continued decline in its investments created a $62.9 million loss for the first seven months of the year.

DALLAS – Southwest Corporate FCU, one of a handful of corporate credit unions struggling under the weight of distressed mortgage-backed securities, said yesterday it recorded another $113 million of losses in July on its MBSs, along with an additional impairment of $67.6 million on its capital in U.S. Central FCU-creating a loss of $178.2 million for the month.

SAN DIEGO – Mission FCU rolled out a new savings account aimed at raising funds for local schools by offering matching funding.

OAKLAND, Calif. – NCUA last night it and state regulators took over troubled Kaiser Lakeside FCU and assigned the remnants of the one-time $45 million credit union to SafeAmerica CU, a $315 million institution nearby Pleasanton, Calif., the latest in a growing list of failed credit unions in California.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Credit Union 24 said it has added four more credit unions to its ATM/POS network.

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines FCU said yesterday donated a $40,000 check to the United Way of Tarrant County, which was raised by the credit union’s annual golf tournament and various charitable projects throughout the year.

MONTVALE, N.J. – Richard Rays, a well-known figure in the credit union movement for more than two decades, announced he is retiring as CEO of Paragon FCU at year-end.

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Members and employees of Black Hills FCU donated school supplies for 40 area schools as part of its 13th annual ‘Load the Bus’ campaign for needy students.

OMAHA – Centris FCU has been awarded a $25,000 business development grant to fund a job training and education project.