SAN FRANCISCO - The National Federation of CDCUs yesterday said it plans to raise $25 million in new funds to make capital investments in its community development credit unions.

AUGUSTA, Maine - A local relief worker yesterday began a cross-state walk that will stop at each of the state's 52 local food banks as part of the Maine CU League's annual Ending Hunger Walking Tour.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - NCUA, which is about to become one of the largest landlords in southwest Florida, is competing against a rapidly deteriorating market in plotting one of the biggest real estate work-outs in the history of the credit union movement.

MANKATO, Minn. - Rather than hold their monthly chapter meeting, 66 members of the Southwestern Chapter of the Minnesota CU League helped pack 18,576 meals for starving children around the world.

ATLANTA - Credit bureau Equifax on Wednesday will begin offering customers in all 50 states the ability to freeze and unfreeze their credit files.

RIVERDALE, Utah - America First FCU is donating more than 6,500 pounds of food and supplies to the Utah Food Bank.

ATLANTA - Former John H. Harland Co. CEO Timothy Tuff has settled in here as a venture capitalist.

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. - PHH, which is in the process of being acquired by GE Capital, plans to eliminate about 300 jobs.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, Minn. - Financial One CU is seeking forfeiture of hundreds of thousands of dollars in homes and personal belongings from its former CEO, Richard Lange, after the long-time head of the credit union pleaded guilty to an embezzlement scheme.

MILWAUKEE - Marshall & Isley shareholders overwhelmingly approved the spin off of the company's Metavante unit to them.

SAN DIEGO - Arrowhead CU and Altura CU each donated $20,000 to the Inland Southern California Wildfire Relief Fund, part of $250,000 raised by the fund last week to help victims of the wildfires that have ravaged the region.

WASHINGTON - Lawmakers are expected to propose an amendment to pending legislation to rein in abuses in overdraft protection which would enable credit unions to continue to offer the popular programs.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - In a move that will ripple through the credit union movement, NCUA on Friday announced it has begun negotiations with three Colorado credit unions to buy the healthy assets of Norlarco CU, the once-$340 million institution that failed because of loans made to far-flung real estate developments in southwest Florida.

OSHKOSH, Wis. - A local man who tried to extort $3 million from Prospera CU by making a bomb threat has been sentenced to six months in jail.

FLASHER, N.D. - Flasher Community CU has signed a five-year processing deal with CO-OP Financial Services under an agreement by the credit union-owned electronic funds services provider to enter the Dakotas.

PASADENA, Texas - Texas Bay Area CU said it has expanded its long-term agreement with TNB Card Services to include ATM and PIN-debit processing.

SUITLAND, Md. - Andrews FCU yesterday said it is offering its employees a customized retirement analysis with a program from Synapses. The system shows employees both current and alternative 401(k) options.

ST. LOUIS - First Community CU said it has implemented Aimbridge Lending Solutions' Loan Generation Service, a new process launched to capture member loan pre-approvals via branch, phone or the Internet and make them accessible to members and auto dealers online.

LANSING, Mich. - Nu Union CU has introduced a high-rate checking account that also offers free ATMs for members who use the credit union's electronic services.

SAN DIEGO - A wafer-thin credit card with a 12-button keypad, an embedded alphanumeric display and microprocessor was rolled-out last week at the International Card Manufacturers' annual Card Manufacturing and Personalization Expo here.