ORLANDO, Fla.– Credit unions in several of the most troubled mortgage markets in the country are tightening certain underwriting standards, changing policies, adding new analytics and even finding some new avenues to lend.

WASHINGTON – Credit unions poured almost $7 million into this year’s elections, topping the previous high by almost $1 million.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Eight-term Rep. Joe Knollenberg lost a bid for a ninth term to Democrat state Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters, one of several strong credit union supporters and sponsors of the CU Regulatory Improvements Act to lose their House seats yesterday.

WILKES BARRE, Penn. – Democrat Paul Kanjorski, the sponsor of key credit union legislation in Congress, survived a close race yesterday to win a 13th term in the House.

FRAZER, Penn. – Organizers of a credit union-owned payment card have postponed the pilot of the secure card until next year, while they work to raise money for the project in a very difficult financing environment.

MONNETT, Mo. – Jack Henry & Associates reported yesterday that net income for its fiscal first quarter declined 4%, to $22.5 million, or 26 cents a share, as income from continuing operations fell by 5%.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A Whatcom Educational CU ATM was yanked out of a building on the Whatcom Community College campus in the early Tuesday morning, severely damaging the machine, but no money was stolen.

EUGENE, Ore. – 2008—SELCO Community CU announced yesterday it has awarded 122 mini-grants of up to $250 each for a total of $29,502 to classrooms in the credit union’s service areas.

MADISON, Wis. – Summit CU said yesterday it has completed its merger with Great Wisconsin CU, formerly CUNA CU, creating the state’s largest credit union, with almost $1.3 billion in assets.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Navy FCU this week opened a new branch here to members in the serve the Fort Gordon area, the 23rd new branch opened by the credit union giant this year.

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – NCUA claims the manager of TexDot-WF FCU looted as much as two-thirds of the assets of the tiny credit union through phony loans, forcing the federal regulator to shutter the 55-year-old credit union last month.

SAN FRANCISCO – Patelco CU unveiled a link Nov. 1 to Price Protectr, an online site that monitors for shoppers when a product they have purchased is reduced in price, enabling them to recapture the difference.

The Kentucky Court of Appeals has ruled that six state-chartered credit unions with community charters will not be permitted to expand their fields of membership.

PURCHASE, N.Y. – MasterCard yesterday reported a third quarter loss of $193.6 million due to a $515.6 million after-tax charge for its share of a settlement of an antitrust suit with Discover Financial.

LAKELAND, Fla. – MidFlorida FCU said yesterday it has upgraded to its browser-based TotaleAtlas solution, provided by Integrated Media Management, for electronic signature capture and more efficient document preparation.

ERIE, Penn. – Erie Police FCU said it has chosen TRC Interactive, Inc., to provide it with Internet-based instruction through CreditUnionTrainingOnline.

FAIRFAX, Va. – Apple FCU is teaming with a local radio station to celebrate the opening of its newest branch in nearby Chantilly, its third branch opening this year.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Area Teachers CU said yesterday it is now offering members auto and home insurance products through a deal with Southwest Business Corp.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A state court has awarded City & County a $1.9 million judgment against a local business owner who defaulted on loans for a Cambodian restaurant and other businesses in the city’s Frogtown district.

CHICAGO – North Side Community FCU was awarded a $35,000 Innovation Grant from the National CU Foundation to help the community development credit union refinance subprime auto loans for its members.