MANCHESTER, N.H. – St. Mary’s Bank, the nation’s first credit union, said yesterday that Ronald Covey, Jr., a long-time banker in New Hampshire and Maine, has been hired as its new president and CEO.

U.S. Central Federal Credit Union in Lenexa, Kan., said the spreading credit crisis tainted more of its asset-backed securities in October, pushing unrealized losses on its vast investment portfolio up by another $1.2 billion, to a total of $7.3 billion.

RACINE, Wis. – The state’s auto dealers lobby, which succeeded in forcing Educators CU to divest its auto sales business, filed suit last month challenging the 18 months state regulators gave the credit union to wind down its business.

EUREKA, Calif. – Coast Central CU announced yesterday it has made $50,000 in comity grants to four community organizations in the second round of this year’s Community Investment Program.

MECHANICSBURG, Penn. – Belco Community CU opened its 11th branch last week, in a former Friendly’s Ice Cream restaurant.

ATLANTA – Delta Community CU said yesterday it signed a multi-year agreement with Online Resources Corp. to implement the company’s electronic bill payment service.

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Opportunities CU received a $208,960 grant and subsidy from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston to help finance renovation of a six-unit affordable housing project it is sponsoring with the Burlington Housing Authority.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. – Kinecta FCU used last year’s purchase of the area’s largest check cashing chain to reach out to the area’s needy for Thanksgiving to provide food and grocery gift cards to 1,200 families.

QUEENS, N.Y. – Rapidly growing Wings Financial FCU, one of a handful of credit unions serving the entire airline industry, announced yesterday it has flown into New York’s JFK International Airport with its own branch.

HOUSTON – The former manager of the International Longshoremen’s Association No. 24 CU pleaded guilty making more than $2.2 million worth of fraudulent loans to herself which bankrupted the $4.8 million credit union two years ago.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Charlie Crist joined credit union and banking leaders yesterday in introducing a voluntary 45-day halt to home foreclosures.

LENEXA, Kan. – The Credit Union of Johnson County said yesterday it has completed the merger of Free State CU, the ailing one-time conglomeration of four smaller credit unions.

LENEXA, Kan. – U.S. Central FCU said the spreading credit crisis tainted more of its asset backed securities in October, pushing unrealized losses on its vast investment portfolio up by another $1.2 billion, to a total of $7.3 billion.

RALEIGH, N.C. – State Employees CU announced yesterday it is partnering with the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency to provide 0% construction financing for affordable housing projects for people with disabilities and special needs.

NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. agents arrested four more individuals last week they believe are responsible for draining millions of dollars from credit unions and banks around the country by tapping into home equity lines of credit.

WASHINGTON – The National Association of REALTORS announced this morning it has hired well-known industry consultant and executive Thomas Glatt as the first president and CEO of its new credit union, REALTORS FCU, which will be the nation's first Internet-only credit union.

WASHINGTON – The National Association of REALTORS announced this morning it has hired well-known industry consultant and executive Thomas Glatt as the first president and CEO of its new credit union, REALTORS FCU, which will be the nation's first Internet-only credit union.

NEW YORK–Credit unions may be getting another new entrant in retail financial services. Two months after converting to a bank-holding company, Morgan Stanley said it is considering a variety of scenarios to increase deposits, including acquisitions of regional banks with a customer base that overlaps with Morgan Stanley's existing brokerage and asset-management clients.

WASHINGTON–The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has moved beyond urging banks to adopt its systematic loan modification program, and is now forcing some to do so.

NEWARK, N.J.–Four men have been arrested here as part of a larger, international ID theft ring that caused at least $2.5-million in losses to dozens of credit unions and banks through fraud related to home equity lines of credit. Eleven of the victimized institutions were based in New Jersey.