KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - UT FCU became the latest credit union to graduate from its education base and matriculate to a community charter when it was approved by NCUA to serve almost 700,000 residents in five counties.

MATOON, Ill. – John and Jo Swick, both 25 at the time, took over as president and vice president of Area Educational CU in 1965–six months after they were married–and now they plan to retire together.

IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. – A man who allegedly robbed ESL FCU Thursday, then carjacked a getaway car across the street, was arrested later in the day in nearby Rochester, after he stole a second car.

HEATH, Ohio – Hopewell FCU on Monday launched an online forum that will connect its members and area residents with community groups needing volunteers.

PEORIA, Ill. – A former assistant manager at Peoria Hiway CU pleaded guilty Friday to stealing more than $525,000 from the credit union.

APPLETON, Wis. – Fox Communities CU announced Friday it has contracted with Securian Financial Group to offer the company’s debt cancellation and open-ended lending products.

KENNEWICK, Wash. – Numerica CU said Friday it has donated $5,000 to the Safe Harbor Crisis Nursery, one of four contributions to area community groups.

BROCKTON, Mass. – HarborOne CU said last week it has introduced a new loan program aimed at helping first-generation immigrants pay for the U.S. Citizenship test, the cost of which was recently increased to $675.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H.-- Service CU announced Friday it has donated $30,000 to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project in Washington D.C., helping to further the foundation’s goal of $100 Million Dollars to complete the project and making the credit union a Founding Sponsor.

NILES, Mich. – One of three gunmen who robbed Berrien Teachers CU Friday morning was shot by a security guard and the robber died from his wounds later, while his two accomplices escaped and remained on the loose over the weekend.

DENVER – A federal bankruptcy judge last week approved a plan by failed subprime auto lender Centrix Financial to reorganize under Chapter 11 and scheduled a vote on the plan by creditors.

CORUNNA, Calif. – A man and his nephew were charged this week with armed robberies at three local institutions, including Metro North FCU and two banks.

OKLAHOMA CITY – WEOKIE CU announced yesterday its WEOKIE CU Foundation will provide $30,000 in college scholarships to 20 students this year.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. – NCUA said yesterday it has terminated a cease and desist order against Garden Savings FCU because the $160 million credit union has designed and implemented a comprehensive program to guard against Bank Secrecy Act violations.

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio – Ohio Catholic FCU, the state’s largest faith-based credit union, announced yesterday it has hired Randall Trimm, most recently a wealth manager with United Bank of Switzerland, as its president and CEO.

FITCHBURG, Mass. – IC FCU said yesterday it has introduced a special low-rate loan to help members finance rising heating costs this winter.

IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. –Police were hunting yesterday for a man who held up the ESL FCU branch yesterday, then carjacked a woman to make his getaway.

McLEAN, Va. – Mortgage rates continued to decline this week, with the average for the 30-year, fixed-rate loan, falling to their lowest in almost 30 months, according to Freddie Mac.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA, which is reviewing a proposed merger between a credit union and a bank, will begin collecting public input on rules to govern such unusual combinations.