HealthAmerica CU, Jacksonville, Fla., named Delia Johnson human resources and training manager.

NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. - The bounced check fees and ATM surcharges being charged by the nation's banks have hit a new high, according to a new survey.

ATLANTA - VSoft Corp announced that Constitution Corporate Federal Credit Union (Constitution), a New England-based cooperative wholesale financial institution with assets of $2 billion, has successfully processed incoming image files from Bank of America using its Check 21 software and interface.

WASHINGTON - CUNA continued last month to build ties with congressional leaders and key constituency groups, doling out $20,000 to five so-called leadership PACs.

At press time, the number of co-sponsors on the CURIA bill. 217 are needed to have a majority.

NEW YORK - The College Board, which administers academic tests including the SAT and other Advanced Placement exams, is getting out of the student-loan business. The College Board began offering student loans in the early 1990s, partnering with companies that included Sallie Mae and Citibank. The lenders extended the money, while the College Board received a sort of finder's fee for referring the students.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Technology CU became the latest credit union to offer its members access to their accounts and transaction ability over cell phones and other mobile devices.

WALL STREET - Three more speculators were charged last week with illegally gaining access to lucrative initial public offerings of mutual savings banks-including several former credit unions-in a scheme that netted them more than $3 million.

DAYTON, Ohio - NCR Corp. is spinning off its Teradata warehousing division into a separate company, leaving its core financial self-services unit on its own again.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Zag, the parent of Autoland, a popular online car buying service for credit unions, has received $13.5 million in new equity financing. The company plans to use the additional capital to expand its offerings, including end-to-end transaction capability it plans to introduce later this year.

In a story on local financial institutions and the advice they provide, the Harrisburg Patriot-News included Belco Community CU and Pennsylvania State Employees CU, along with PNC Bank. The story focused on helping consumers distinguish between financial "advice" and a financial "sales pitch." The story noted that PSECU has expanded its financial services division from three people to 11, and that members of BCCU can contact a counselor by phone to receive information about budgeting, home buying, and debt management. Free one-hour counseling sessions are also available through a contracted third party company.

SAN FRANCISCO - Visa rolled out a new "fob" payment device, no bigger than your thumb, which can be used to replace the ubiquitous credit/debit card. The Visa Micro Tag is designed to attach easily to a key ring, and allows cardholders to pay by simply waving their Visa Micro Tag in front of a contactless payment terminal without the need to physically swipe or insert the device into a point-of-sale terminal.

CLEVELAND - Rita Haynes, CEO of Faith Community United Credit Union, was recently honored with the "Hardest Working" award from the Tom Joyner Morning Show, which airs daily on ABC radio syndicates nationally.

LAS VEGAS - "Executive skills" are not limited to executives, but they do map neatly to characteristics needed in the workplace, according to the author of books on success in business.

WILLIAMSPORT, Penn. - Horizon FCU is holding a Pampered Pet contest at each of its branches.

OCTOBER

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Searching for a provider of a particular product or service for your credit union? A new tool is available to help guide those decisions. Now on www.cujournal.com is a complete list of providers by business line category. Just click on link for product listings. If your company is not listed among the providers, you can also sign-up for inclusion online and select from the various packages. Should you have a question, please contact Greg Halpern at ghalpern@cujournal.com or 888-832-2929.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Steven Bisker is no Johnny-come-lately to the conversion game.

WARRENVILLE, Ill. - Corporate credit unions are on alert after the Federal Reserve's 50-basis-point rate cut had some observers interpreting the Fed's move as a signal it is concerned the credit-market crunch will slow economic activity well into 2008.

Patelco CU Seeks Return To NCUSIF Insurance