Alky Danikas, who writes the Money 101 column for the Jersey Journal, recently told readers, "If you want to own part of the financial institution that you do business with without buying their stock, try joining a credit union." After providing the history of credit unions and some of their differences, Danikas pointed readers to www.joinacu.org, after observing, "I admit that I usually think of credit unions as being organized to serve a particular workforce or union. The website cites the purpose of credit unions as 'serving a field of membership' of 'people sharing a common bond.'"

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA moved last week to aid the corporate credit unions, which are struggling to cope with rising unrealized losses on their investment portfolios, by providing them with a back-door to the agency's emergency loan fund, known as the Central Liquidity Facility.

OMAHA, Neb. – A former head of accounting at First Nebraska Educators & Employee Groups CU pleaded guilty yesterday to embezzling $1.3 million during a 15-year scheme.

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – A teller at People’s Alliance FCU was arrested Wednesday and charged with stealing $5,340 from credit union members' accounts.

SALT LAKE CITY – Cyprus CU said yesterday it has contributed $25,000 to the 100% For Kids CU Education Foundation, the Utah credit union non-profit that has provided more than $5 million to the state’s schools, teachers and students over the past five years.

OGDEN, Utah – Goldenwest CU said it will pay its members a bonus dividend at year-end for the fifth straight year, an 8% payout.

DURHAM, N.C. – Fast-growing Latino Community CU plans to open its second branch this year, and second in Charlotte on Monday. The community development credit union opened a new branch in Winston-Salem this year with help from a private sector grant.

McLEAN, Va. – Mortgage rates continued to plunge this week to their lowest in more than four years, as the Federal Reserve and Treasury continued efforts to boost home financing.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Avanta FCU announced yesterday it has agreed to acquire ailing Summit CU to create the state’s third largest credit union, with almost $200 million in assets.

MONTEREY, Calif. – Two more troubled California credit unions, including E1 Financial CU, have agreed to be merged into larger credit unions.

SACRAMENTO – As many as two dozen credit unions are expected to offer the state’s underbanked population low-cost savings and checking accounts as part of a "Bank on California" program being rolled by Gov. Schwarzenegger at the Capitol this morning.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – State officials unveiled an economic stimulus package yesterday that centers on $200 million in loans and loan guarantees to raise capital for small businesses, including a $165 million package offered by eight credit unions and banks.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The plan introduced by NCUA this week to pump liquidity into the corporate network through the Central Liquidity Facility will only benefit a few corporates, including U.S. Central FCU, which have reported the largest losses on their books.

HARTFORD, Conn. – A Haitian immigrant has agreed to plead guilty to a scheme to cash tens of thousands of dollars in stolen tax refund checks at Navy FCU.

GARDNER, Mass. – GFA FCU announced yesterday its long-time president and CEO Charles Bowles is retiring at year-end and will be succeeded as CEO by Tina Sbrega, the chief operating officer for the $260 million credit union.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – Digital Employees FCU announced yesterday that Carlo Cestra is retiring as CEO in March and will be succeeded as head of New England’s largest credit union by long-time chief financial officer Jim Regan.

NORTH HAVEN, Conn. – A West Haven couple won $10,000 in Connex CU’s first savings contest, besting three other families.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – San Bernardino School Employees FCU is asking the area’s youth to design a Web page that will attract Gen Yers.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Viewpointe, the national check and image exchange owned by a handful of large banks, said yesterday that Southeast Corporate FCU has signed to become its first Pointe2Pointe Internet connectivity customer.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Video of the re-enactment of the creation of, and then first deposits into, the first credit union in the United States is now available on www.cujournal.com .