CHICAGO – The consolidation of the corporate network continued yesterday, with two ongoing mergers completed: Southwest Corporate FCU with Northwest Corporate FCU and Members United Corporate FCU with Central CU Fund, the nation’s oldest corporate.

LOWELL, Mass. – After a 17-year reign at the controls, Paul Mayotte will retire as president and CEO of Jeanne D’Arc CU, one of the nation’s oldest credit unions, at the end of the month.

PHOENIX – Desert Schools FCU will open its newest full-service branch Saturday in the Arrowhead Mall.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Local Government FCU said its mortgage refinance program aimed at helping subprime borrowers stay in their homes has refinanced $6 million in mortgages for 50 families.

PASADENA, Calif. – Wescom Central CU yesterday announced its Wescom Resources Group CUSO has agreed to acquire eCU Technologies, the technology and consulting business owned by Pennsylvania State Employees CU.

Orange County's Credit Union, Santa Ana, Calif., elected Dan Dillon chairman.

Just What Is Zopa?

NAFCU, Securian Offer Webcast

WASHINGTON - NCUA has sent a comment letter to the Treasury Department that, not too surprisingly, stresses there are numerous reasons to keep it around as an agency. Similarly, NASCUS and CUNA also objected to any proposal to consolidate regulators, with CUNA saying such a move would have "dire consequences."

MADISON, Wis. - With credit union mergers occurring at the rate of approximately one per day in the United States and no sign of that pace slowing, a new research paper has been released to guide boards of directors in the process.

TMG Signs On 11 CUs

Throughout 2007, the Credit Union Journal is profiling the credit unions of each U.S. state and D.C. Rather than appear in alphabetical order, the states are being featured in the order they became states.

WASHINGTON - Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-CT) unveiled a plan last week to introduce bankruptcy reform legislation that would specifically seek to make five changes. Dodd said his bill is meant to provide relief to families struggling financially and offer bankruptcy filers the opportunity to again achieve some financial security.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Although 40% of credit unions polled by CU Journal reported adjusting what they're paying for deposits, analysts are suggesting many continue to struggle with their pricing and the resulting strain on margins.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - From the person who brought us Kinecta, the new name and brand for the former Hughes Aircraft Employees FCU, comes a plan to make over the image of Xerox FCU. It's just down the road a bit.

The Federal Reserve Board recently closed the comment period for its proposed changes to the open-end lending rules under Reg Z. This comprehensive proposal would change the way credit unions currently do business.

CAMBRIDGE. Mass. - Credit unions were ranked among the top 10 when consumers were asked about their interactions with various providers, the only non-retailer to make the list.

MADISON, Wis. - The Filene Research Institute has named the members of its team of young professionals it has created to develop products and services designed to attract the younger generation to credit unions.

MADISON, Wis. - The inaugural group of 30 under 30 members includes: Alex Alexander, Municipal Employees CU of Baltimore; Dustin Allen, Weber State CU; Megan Armstrong, Sunmark CU; Avery Cashman, Service 1st FCU; Julie Cosgrove, Affinity Plus CU; Christopher Danvers, Delta Community CU; Matt Davis, Members CU; Mike Escudero, Seattle Metropolitan CU; Christina Gaglione, Affinity CU; Erin Hamilton, Nasa CU; Kia Herd, Alliant CU; Robin Hickey, Mon-oc CU; Melissa Troiano, DOT FCU; Brandon Kelly, E CU; Dustin Limburg, Wright-Patt CU; Tanya Magnus, First South CU; Brie McCarthy, Coors CU; Brandi Melo, Rocky Mountain CU; Brandon Michaels, San Francisco Fire CU; Katherine Miller, Navy FCU; Toni Montgomery, Americhoice CU; Rachael Parrent, Vantage CU; Carma Parrish, Perfect Circle CU; Jansen Perdue, Hoosier Hills CU; Jeremy Presta, Park Side FCU; Megan Primeau, US FCU; Matthew Prosneski, Travis CU; Matthew Schewe, UW CU; Amy Stanton, BestSource CU; and Chad Warneke, Oregonians CU. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

MCLEAN, Va. - Capital One, one of the most aggressive card issuers in the country, has launched what it calls the "Capital One Card Lab."