WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-Credit union lending officers aren't expecting 2009 to offer much improvement over 2008, although some see opportunity in reverse mortgages, private student loans and refi's.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-Strapped for liquidity as paper losses grow on their asset-backed securities, the corporate credit unions have proposed a comprehensive restructuring of the system that would provide additional sources of funds, boost capital and position the corporates as providers of new services to natural-person credit unions.

JACKSON, Mich. – A former teller and vault clerk was jailed Thursday for embezzling about $100,000 from American 1 FCU.

WORCESTER, Mass. – A former officer manager at Wyman-Gordon FCU and her husband, charged with staging a $210,000 robbery from the credit union, have asked the state court to dismiss the charges because of alleged misbehavior by police who they say coerced them into confessing.

BALTIMORE – SecurityPlus FCU said yesterday it has signed with Open Solutions Inc. to implement the company’s imaged-based item processing solution to achieve a streamlined Check 21 strategy.

ROME, N.Y. – AmeriCU CU announced yesterday the opening of two new branches; in Utica and in Syracuse.

GROVE CITY, Penn. – Grove City Area FCU said Jim Patterson retired Jan. 1, after 34 years as CEO/Treasurer of the $38 million credit union.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Park Community FCU announced yesterday it promoted executive vice president David Eib to be the president and CEO of the $425 million credit union.

AUSTIN, Texas – Velocity CU announced yesterday it has promoted its president, Debbie Mitchell, to the post of CEO, succeeding long-time CEO Larry Strong, who died in November.

LARAMIE, Wyo. – A one-time serial robber suspected of robbing Redwood CU in California last month and several banks throughout the northwest was arrested yesterday on the highway here.

McLEAN, Va. – Long-term mortgage rates dropped again this week, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hitting a fourth consecutive record low in the history of Freddie Mac's weekly survey.

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – American River HealthPro CU, which reported a $5 million loss for the first three quarters, said yesterday that year-end results will include another loss.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA yesterday activated a special examinations team that will focus on the biggest troubled credit union cases around the country.

WALL STREET – The Federal Home Loan Banks, which have become critical liquidity providers for credit unions, may face "substantial" losses on their vast holdings of mortgage-backed securities, which could push most of them below minimum capital requirements, Moody’s Investors Service warned yesterday.

MADISON, Wis.–Wisconsin’s credit unions have opened a Credit Union House in this state’s capital. Located on the Capitol Square, the facility is being called an “advocacy command center” by the Wisconsin Credit Union League, and will offer meeting space for credit unions and members of the state’s government. “Credit Union House is a place where credit union people come to cultivate their ongoing partnership with state agencies and public officials, celebrate their role in strengthening Wisconsin’s economy, and tout their success in returning millions of dollars to their member-owners each year,” said WCUL president Brett Thompson. The facility is owned by the league, has approximately 2,500-square-feet and will be home to approximately seven WCUL employees.

MIRAMAR, Fla. – Tropical Financial CU said it has implemented UltiPro’s payroll reporting system.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – A former educator who spent time in prison for a 1990's series of bank robberies in the Midwest is being sought for a new series of hold-ups in the northwest, including last month’s heist at Redwood CU here.

MANITOWOC, Wis. – UnitedOne CU plans to open a new student-run branch inside Lincoln High School later this month, the credit union’s third in-school branch.

CARBONDALE, Ill. – SIU CU is partnering with young members to introduce a page on social networking website Facebook.

RICHMOND, Va. – Officials with tiny Alcoa Richmond CU say the planned mass lay-offs at its corporate sponsor announced this week will probably mean the demise of the 47-year-old credit union.