Among life's little, often overlooked insights is just how small the difference can be between a good and a great idea.

CHICAGO - NCUA Chairman Michael Fryzel offered his congratulations this week to his homestate senator and President-elect Barack Obama, even though Fryzel is a Republican expected to be pushed aside when the Democrat takes office in January.

FLINT, Mich. - Dort FCU has come up with a creative way to dispose of two of its REOs obtained through foreclosure in this depressed auto city; it's giving them away to needy families.

FSCC, Ongoing Operations Team Up

Jacksonville Daily Record detailed VyStar CU's new Real Estate Services unit. The story provided coverage of the benefits of the service, and quoted Dan Braithwaite, broker and SVP with VyStar Real Estate. "We are doing some things that aren't usually done, we provide home inspection and title work in advance to save from any problems occurring during the process."

MADISON, S.D. - Nothing drives a credit union's success like friendly, well-trained staff who not only understand products and services, but the CU difference as well.

Workers' CU Rolls Out Online-Only Savings Acct

NEW YORK - The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions held its 7th Annual Financial Literacy Day Celebration at the Museum of American Finance.

WASHINGTON - If Fannie Mae's third-quarter report will be most remembered for a massive, if well-telegraphed, $29- billion net loss, also noteworthy was new data showing a huge spike in its acceptance of unsecured bridge loans designed to help delinquent homeowners avoid foreclosure.

McLEAN, Va. – Secondary mortgage market giant Freddie Mac said today it posted a $25.3 billion third quarter loss and needs more government aid.

McLEAN, Va. – Secondary mortgage market giant Freddie Mac said today it posted a $25.3 billion third quarter loss and needs more government aid.

MONETT, Mo. – Jack Henry & Associates yesterday unveiled an equipment leasing program to help credit unions and banks finance its remote deposit capture systems.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The former president of Plainwell Community FCU pleaded guilty this week to stealing as much as $1.3 million from the credit union through a phony loan scheme.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Professional Fire Fighters CU said it has acquired a new building where it will move its headquarters.

McLEAN, Va. – Long-term mortgages rates declined for the second week in a row, apparently ending a period of see-sawing rates.

WARMINISTER, Penn. – Freedom CU began yesterday to a promotion of consolidation loans.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Greylock FCU said it is offering members a 0% rate on their Visa credit cards until the end of the year. The interest rate will be 0% until that balance is paid off.

NORWICH, Conn. – Charter Oaks FCU said it is reducing mortgage rates by half-percent to help celebrate the opening of its newest branch here yesterday.

NORTH POLE, Alaska – Officials at the North Pole Middle School hurriedly evacuated the school after a bomb threat was phoned in Wednesday, apparently to divert police from a robbery at a Alaska USA FCU branch inside a Safeway supermarket.

WILKES BARRE, Penn. – A flood of campaign funding from outside the district, most of it from Washington-based interest groups, helped boost credit union congressional champion Paul Kanjorski last week in his closest race in years.