PORTLAND, Ore. - York County woman was sentenced to 29 months in prison for a sophisticated check kiting scheme that drained more than $45,000 from area credit unions and banks.

SOUTHGATE, Mich. - On Oct. 1, the name "Education First Credit Union" will debut, replacing the name "Downriver School Employees Credit Union."

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - One week before the vishing attempt in Oregon, residents of New Hampshire began receiving telephone calls purportedly from Northeast CU on Aug. 13. Peter Kavalauskas, the credit union's CEO, said he received a call at his home at 8 p.m. on Aug. 13 from one of Northeast CU's directors. The director's daughter had received a call that night which she felt was very suspicious. Shortly thereafter, the director received the same scam call. Both he and his daughter live in Portsmouth.

The NEWS LEADER in British Columbia, B.C. profiled the growth of Westminster Savings Credit Union, which has grown to $1.52 billion in assets, up from $1.31 million one year earlier. The story noted that CEO Barry Forbes credits staff for the growth, and that Forbes has had coffee or lunch with nearly every one of the CU's 400 employees. Forbes hosts regular "CEO luncheons" where he invited 20 to 25 employees to lunch to listen to them, the News Leader reported, where no managers are invited and Forbes doesn't take notes.

ATLANTA - Financial Service Centers Cooperative, Inc. (FSCC), announced a strategic partnership with Atlanta-based Financial Management Solutions, Inc. (FMSI) to offer CUs a powerful suite of branch performance tools.

AUGUSTA, Maine - A statewide credit union marketing campaign returned to Maine's television stations this morning in all three major markets: Bangor, Portland and Presque Isle. Nearly 4,000 commercials sporting the "I Save" tag will air through November. The four spots that aired this past spring again will air on a rotating basis on a variety of stations and programs. The statewide campaign is part of a two-year, $800,000 advertising effort that is designed to build awareness of Maine's credit unions and drive interest in the new website at www.mainecreditunions.org. More than 13,000 TV commercials will air this year. (c) 2007 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. - Two credit card portfolio advisers have released their separate analyses of credit card portfolio sales activity.

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - A member of Bethpage FCU was arrested while trying to cash a counterfeit $25,000 check after the branch manager recognized her from a previous bid to pass phony checks.

CLARKTON, N.C. - The last of four suspects who used dynamite to access a North Carolina SECU ATM here last December-but failed to get at the cash-pleaded guilty to the failed robbery attempt.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Problems in the first mortgage market mean credit unions should keep a closer eye on their card portfolios, according to several analysts.

NEEDHAM, Mass. - As the "Young Women Leaders of Tomorrow" program enters its second year, it's adding nine more high schools-bringing the number of schools in the program to 31.

The $3.9-billion Wescom Credit Union CU West Mortgage, a full-service retail mortgage CUSO, and merged it with CUSO Mortgage, which Wescom acquired in 2006. Jane Wood, Wescom's executive vice president and chief operating officer, shared the CU giant's assessment of the current situation in the mortgage market.

Ever wonder if anyone really sees those billboards? Are the right people really hearing the ads on what are supposedly the area's most popular radio stations? And if those potential members saw the TV ad, do they remember anything about it? Or are all those marketing dollars just going to waste? Awareness and advertising research can answer those questions and more.

Redwood Credit Union, Santa Rosa, Calif., elected to its board: Rod Dole, chair; Greg McGuirk, vice chair; Jim Olmsted, secretary; Robert Steele, treasurer; June Funk and Dave Imoto. Elected its supervisory committee: Lou Funk, chair; Steve Sharpe, secretary and Martin Grove.

Check Forgers Hoist On Their Own Petard

FT. MYERS, Fla. - NCUA is counting the losses, expected to eventually run into the tens of millions of dollars, from three failed credit unions caught up in a land speculation scheme-gone-array here.

Check Forgers Hoist On Their Own Petard

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - With many credit union leagues struggling with affiliation, one league is hoping that by creating its own CUSO it will add more value to the credit unions it serves.

Redwood Credit Union, Santa Rosa, Calif., elected to its board: Rod Dole, chair; Greg McGuirk, vice chair; Jim Olmsted, secretary; Robert Steele, treasurer; June Funk and Dave Imoto. Elected its supervisory committee: Lou Funk, chair; Steve Sharpe, secretary and Martin Grove.

I was running my weekend errands with my 3-year-old in tow. As we approached one of our usual haunts, my child pointed to the red bullseye on the side of the building and confidently looked up at me at said, "Mommy, that says Target."