TAMPA, Fla.-When the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service and the FBI come to your credit union for help with security, you must be doing something right.

WASHINGTON-CUNA is being scrutinized for its role in the bailout of U.S. Central FCU and the corporate credit union network, which is estimated could cost credit unions $5 billion to fund.

EL PASO, Texas – A female robber believed responsible for robberies at at least two area credit unions last week was arrested yesterday as she was preparing to rob a third.

BILLINGS, Mont. – A North Dakota cattle buyer who drove bankers around eastern Montana showing them cattle he falsely claimed were his was convicted Thursday in a $7.8 million scheme to defraud two local credit unions and a bank.

SEATTLE – It was official this week: members of five small credit unions combined into one last month voted to name their new credit union Puget Sound CU.

KINGSTON, Ore. – A former Marine pleaded guilty to six area armed robberies this week, including the heist at Cross Valley FCU in nearby Forty Fort.

VIENNA, Va. – Navy FCU is turning to environmentally friendly materials for its new branch in Lexington Park, Md.

HOUSTON – Smart Financial CU has opened its latest service center here insinde an office where an old branch was housed.

AKRON, Ohio – Towpath CU has pledged a five-year contribution of $100,000 to the University of Akron’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

McLEAN, Va. – Long-term mortgage rates fell this week, after rising the previous two weeks, according to Freddie Mac.

WASHINGTON – Key members of the Senate Banking Committee promised new protections yesterday to credit cardholders that would go further than reforms enacted by the Federal Reserve in December.

LENEXA, Kan. – U.S. Central FCU yesterday confirmed the departure of a second investment officer, in the face of a $1.1 billion loss on its portfolio fo 2008.

EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Employees FCU opened its eight El Paso branch Monday, with a Spanish style that fits the neighborhood.

WILTON, Conn. – Mutual Security CU is moving into a new home in nearby Shelton next month where it will be the only credit union or bank that headquartered in Shelton.

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – US FCU has acquired a 30,000-square-foot the Alpha Office Tech Center in Bloomington from CUNA Mutual Group.

EUGENE Ore. – SELCO Community CU announced yesterday it is sponsoring the 2009 Willamette Country Music Festival, scheduled for August 28, 29, and 30 in historic Brownsville, Oregon.

BATON ROUGE, La. – E FCU has chosen four families to compete in its ‘The Biggest Loser: Financial Edition’ contest to see which ones improve their financial situation by saving money and reducing debt with the help of a team of financial coaches.

TEXAS CITY, Texas – Amoco FCU will choose four finalists from nine families competing for a $20,000 grand prize as part of its Earn to Burn savings contest.

BOSTON – State regulators reported yesterday they have approved the combination of troubled Boston Globe Employees CU into Metro CU, the Bay State’s fifth largest credit union.

MATTESON, Ill. – The former commercial real estate CUSO of Texans CU has filed a foreclosure lawsuit to collect nearly $39 million on the suburban Lincoln Mall, a troubled shopping center outside of Chicago.