WASHINGTON – The federal depository regulators yesterday agreed to new standards on charter swapping that will make it much harder for troubled institutions to convert charters.

NEEDHAM, Mass. – Two men arrested yesterday after they tried to rob a local may be the so-called U30 bandits who have been involved in as many as eight robberies–including last week’s at Sharon CU– in 30 seconds or less.

MADISON, Wis. – CUNA Mutual Group announced an agreement yesterday to sell its IRA Services division to Ascensus, a retirement services firm owned by the Crump Group Inc. and based in Dresher, Penn.

SAN FRANCISCO – Visa, one of two common stock approved for broad credit union ownership, said it will raise $700 million more for its litigation escrow by buying back Class B common shares held by its credit union and bank owners.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Polish & Slavic FCU handed out $350,000 in grants to more than 315 students, ranging in age from high school to post-graduate level.

BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Association of Vermont CUs has received a $130,000 federal grant to help finance financial education programs for the state’s teenagers.

CHICAGO – American Airlines FCU celebrated the grand opening of its newest branch facility with a ribbon cutting at the American Airlines Cargo Building at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

TAMPA, Fla. – Florida Central CU, which lost its long-time president and CEO Ed Gallagly to liver cancer in March, yesterday named Laida Garcia, its executive vice president the past eight years, to be its new CEO.

FAIRFAX, Va. – Apple FCU said it has introduced a fully customizable card program, MakeItMine in conjunction Shoreline Business Solutions.

AUSTIN, Texas – State chartered credit unions will have to provide a variety of new information to members every years as part of the state’s Sunset legislation that renewed the Department of CUs for another 12 years.

WASHINGTON – CUNA, struggling with large losses on its investments, announced another round of lay-offs yesterday, eliminating 18 positions in its Madison, Wis., offices.

DALLAS – Southwest Corporate FCU yesterday reported a $317 million in reduction of capital for May, leaving it with just $13.7 million in retained earnings, meaning it will likely require a depletion of member capital.

CRANSTON, R.I. – Coastway CU ends 89 years as a credit union today when it becomes a mutual savings bank.

FORTH WORTH, Texas – OmniAmerican Bank, known until 2006 as OmniAmerican CU, said it plans to convert from a mutual to a publicly owned bank with an initial public offering.

DENVER – First Data Corp. announced a joint venture Monday with Bank of America to provide merchant acquiring processing services.

MONETT, Mo. – Jack Henry & Associates announced the general availability of Core Director Teller, the client/server teller sales, service, and transaction processing solution developed internally by its Jack Henry Banking division.

DES MOINES – TMG Financial Services, the year-old card venture owned by Iowa credit unions, said yesterday it has stepped up its purchasing with separate deals for seven credit union portfolios.

BETHLEHEM, Penn. – A member of Teachers FCU was charged with cashing two forged checks and trying to cash another for a total of $13,000.

LAUREL, Md. – Tower FCU’s annual golf tournament June 18 raised $15,000 for the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, a member of the Children’s Miracle Network.

PITTSBURG, Penn. – The town’s annual July 4th fireworks display will go on as usual, thanks to Bell CU, which donated $15,000 to the cause.