ALBANY, N.Y. – Covera Card Solutions said yesterday it has signed three more of its credit unions to join the CO-OP ATM network through an agreement it has with the credit union-owned network.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Credit union representatives testified yesterday in the state House on behalf of a new card security bill which would make parties responsible for a data breach pay costs borne by affected parties.

MADISON, Wis. – –Write-offs related to the subprime mortgage market took a big chunk out of CUNA Mutual’s investment portfolio in 2007, even as the credit union insurer reported an 11% rise in net income for the year, to $201 million.

WASHINGTON – Mortgage rates dropped sharply this week, after rising steeply for the past three weeks, according to Freddie Mac.

WASHINGTON – The chief banking lobbyists used the growing number of large credit union failures to argue yesterday against expanded powers for credit unions, during a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee on the CU Regulatory Improvements Act, better known as CURIA.

CONCORD, Calif. – NCUA said it is soliciting bids from credit unions to acquire Cal State 9 CU, a once-$420 million credit union that failed last year under the burden of home equity loans that caused a $61.6 million loss.

DECATUR, Ill. – A senior loan officer at Staley CU was charged in a federal grand jury indictment handed up yesterday in an alleged $5 million real estate loan flipping scheme that netted her and two alleged accomplices almost $2 million.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A 35-year-old man was charged with running over and killing his wife at an ORNL FCU ATM yesterday morning.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri credit unions had a tough year in 2007 with a 48% decline in earnings, caused mainly by a 43% rise in net operating expenses, the state credit union regulator reported.

WASHINGTON – NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson–who may or may not be heading the federal agency much longer–yesterday said she wants her efforts to bring greater transparency to both credit unions and the federal agency to be her legacy.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. – CO-OP Financial Services yesterday said it is adding home deposit capabilities to its suite of check imaging products, which will allow members to deposit checks from their home computers or small businesses.

PROVO, Utah – A man who allegedly robbed Utah First CU Tuesday morning was caught red-handed–literally–after a dye pack exploded inside a bag of cash he took from the credit union.

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Space Coast CU is rolling out a new debit card design showcasing 19-year-old local surfing champion Adam Wickwire executing his favorite move.

NEW YORK – New Jersey-based Paragon FCU yesterday announced a pilot program in conjunction with Lower East Side People’s FCU to test self-service kiosk in communities with high underserved or unbanked populations.

WASHINGTON – Two credit union allies introduced a Senate version of the CU Regulatory Improvements Act yesterday, giving the bill increasing momentum heading into today’s hearing on CURIA in the House Financial Services Committee.

MADISON, Wis. – CUNA Mutual Group plans to roll out a student loan program for credit unions–just as liquidity in this critical market is drying up due to the ongoing credit crisis.

SALT LAKE CITY -- The House yesterday passed a bill providing expanded business lending powers for state chartered credit unions, sending the measure on to the Governor for his signature.

TACOMA, Wash. – Harborstone CU yesterday announced the naming of the heir apparent to its retiring CEO, Rick Schmidtke.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. – CO-OP Financial Services yesterday said it has licensed Saylent Technologies’ card portfolio optimization software to help member credit unions identify and analyze card usage patterns.

LINDEN, N.J. – Integrated Media Management announced four more credit unions have contracted for its new teller item capture product: Affinity FCU, Campus FCU, TLC FCU and United Financial CU.