The Credit Union Associations of Colorado and Wyoming, Arvada, Colo., named Bryan Thomas director of product and business development and Barb Roth association consultant.

SAN FRANCISCO - Credit unions looking to cut costs and increase efficiencies at their branches may want to take a page from the credit union movement's overarching cooperative spirit and apply it to branch management.

WOODLAND, Calif. - Yolo Federal Credit Union was featured in the Biz Journal after it was awarded a federal grant to help home shoppers become homeowners. Coverage explained who is eligible for the grants, and quoted CEO Clyde Booker, as saying "Providing low- and moderate-income individuals and families the chance at realizing their dream of homeownership is a high priority for us." Low-income members can apply for up to $15,000 in matching grant funds for the downpayment and closing costs to purchase a home in the county.

WESTBROOK,Maine - Volunteers from Maine's credit unions donated nearly 20,000 hours of their time to various causes during 2006, according to the Maine league. The MCUL's five-year-old volunteer program, called Credit Unions Share for ME, documented 19,492.75 hours volunteered by credit union staff and directors last year. It calculated that based on figures from the Points of Light Foundation, which calculates the value of one hour volunteered at $18.77, the value of the time volunteered by Maine's credit unions equaled $366,015 in 2006.

LONDON - NCUA VIce Chairman Rodney Hood met with representatives of the British credit union system and the government to discuss credit union issues. Hood met in England en route to speak at the Defense Council of Credit Unions' meeting in Italy. Also on the trip was Mike Beall, president of the Maryland and District of Columbia Credit Union Association, who joined Hood in meeting with Her Majesty's Treasury, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL), and credit union leaders and volunteers.

WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. - A robbery suspect was shot and killed at a branch of Retail Employees Credit Union last week. The Associated Press reported that police had responded to an ambush alarm at 7:45 a.m. at Retail Employees Credit Union where they encountered the suspect. He was shot while the robbery was in progress and taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he died. Police said they recovered a gun and a duffel bag containing money. The credit union told the AP that no employees were hurt in the robbery or the shooting.

CHICAGO - Credit unions aren't the only ones who have trouble defining and quantifying how they serve the underserved.

PITTSBURGH - Credit unions talk about "marketing on a shoestring," but can branch expansion be done on a shoestring?

EL PASO, Texas - Six families will compete against each other to be the best savers-with up to $30,000 in prizes to be awarded by Government Employees CU. The contest, aimed at teaching financial literacy, reducing family debt and promoting financial responsibility, will award $10,000 to each of the two families who save the most and $2,500 to each of the other participants.

Fed Holds Rates Steady, Change Expected Later

PLANO, Texas - Two credit unions in various stages of converting to a bank charter showed last week the profits that can be had for insiders.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The former collections supervisor for Vermont FCU was barred from the credit union industry for stealing almost $44,000 from the Burlington, Vt., credit union, NCUA said yesterday. Michael Monette was convicted of bank fraud and sentenced to four months in prison for the crime.

ST. LOUIS - The economy isn't the only thing that's cyclical: credit union branching should be, too.

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Desert Schools Federal Credit Union unveiled a new creative campaign designed to promote its auto loan programs; specifically Member Value Pricing and Dealer Direct.

ST. LOUIS — The economy isn't the only thing that's cyclical: credit union branching should be, too.

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - As credit unions race to expand their branch networks, they need to beware of cannibalizing their existing branches and even undermining their own brand.

Fed Holds Rates Steady, Change Expected Later

PURCHASE, N.Y. - Consumers will be able to pay for small purchases with the flick of a wrist with new technology launched by MasterCard Worldwide-a wristwatch equipped with the company's PayPass contactless technology.

PFCU Adds Shared Services

PLANO, Texas - Two credit unions in various stages of converting to a bank charter showed last week the profits that can be had for insiders.