HAVERHILL, Mass. – In the first deal of its kind in Massachusetts, members of Northeast Community CU have approved the merger of the $95 million credit union into nearby Haverhill Bank.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA reported yesterday it approved another 21 mergers, almost all of them of troubled institutions.

PHOENIX – More large credit unions are reporting big losses for the third quarter, especially in the nation’s most troubled real estate markets.

FT. MYERS, Fla. – The collapse in real estate values in three Florida Gulf Coast counties, bringing thousands of foreclosures and pushing dozens of credit unions and banks into the red, is being partially blamed on an ill-fated credit union-backed real estate scheme.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – A team of thieves tunneled through a sports equipment store early yesterday morning trying to break to the ATM at the Lockheed CU branch but were thwarted by their own plans.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Credit Union 24 said yesterday is has contracted with marketing partner Member Access Pacific to offer a low-cost and customizable prepaid card solution to credit unions.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska USA FCU said it has implemented Fundtech Ltd.’s ACH processing system, known as ACHplus.

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – Scott CU said it has implemented a new online mortgage loan application system introduced by Financial Industry Computer Systems, Inc.

ROCKVILLE, Md. – FedChoice FCU has launched a gateway to its website designed to help members make informed financial plans through the various stages of the life cycle.

WAUSAU, Wis. – Tower CU staged a used car sale of a different kind, one that allowed private sellers to show and sale their vehicles at the credit union’s parking lot, with the help of a dealer.

SALT LAKE CITY – Intermountain CU, a $41 million credit union suffering from declining income and troubled mortgage loans, will ask its members next week to approve a merger into America First CU, the state’s largest credit union.

TAMPA, Fla. – Credit unions across the country began reporting third quarter financials, showing increasing losses at many credit unions, especially in the hard-hit California, Nevada, Arizona and Florida markets.

WASHINGTON – CUNA has been pouring tens of thousands of dollars into open House races, those where no incumbent is running, as the campaigns approach the final days of the congressional elections.

WILKES BARRE, Penn. – Credit union volunteers are actively raising campaign funds, manning phone banks and fanning out through the state’s 11th District in an effort to save Congressman Paul Kanjorski, the sponsor of key credit union legislation, who is trailing his Republican opponent in a bid for a 13th term, less than three weeks from election day.

LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. – Authorities are hunting for two teenagers they say robbed Tenet CU Friday morning while they were supposed to be in school.

UPPER DARBY, Penn. – Delco Postal CU announced last week the passing of its former president Joseph Kadish, at 87, of heart failure.

COLUMBUS, Ga. – TIC FCU reported Friday it has implemented Integrated Media Management’s TotaleAtlas and TotaleReceipts systems to help its automated member transactions at its seven dialogue branches.

TUMWATER, Wash. – O Bee CU has come up with a different way to teach kids about finances while having fun.

VANCOUVER, Wash. – iQ CU has acquired a former bank building in the downtown which it is renovating into a new headquarters.

RANTOUL, Ill. – Credit Union 1, the biggest credit union in central Illinois, said it has agreed to acquire two tiny credit unions, Douglas CU and J.W. Hobbs CU.