FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – Ascend United, a broker of charge-off credit union loans, has signed with Bartley Ventures, LLC, to provide it with marketing services. Bartley Ventures will market Ascend United’s debt brokerage, outsourced recovery management and collection consulting services. Bartley Ventures in based in Tampa, Fla.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Truliant FCU said it has installed digital signs provided by Captive Indoor Media in 13 of its member financial centers across the state. The Captive Indoor Media package replaces a legacy system from inLighten Inc. Captive Indoor Media is based in Louisville, Ky.

LAS VEGAS – WestStar CU said yesterday it has chosen iovation’s Reputation Services to help guard against unauthorized access to member accounts. The company’s AccountLock will enable WestStar’s members to designate which devices are authorized to access specific online accounts. WestStar has also contracted for fraud management services that will include sharing of device reputations across a subscriber network. WestStar is a $200 million credit union which serves employees of any gambling services company in Nevada.

LONDON – Credit bureau Experian said it has acquired Hitwise, a leading Internet marketing intelligence. Hitwise help clients monitor the performance of their websites and target their online advertising. The purchase price was about $240 million. Hitwise collects and aggregates information from Internet service providers on how consumers use and search the Internet in the U.S., U.K., Australia and several southeast Asian countries. Experian, one of three main credit bureaus, was spun off into a publicly traded country six months ago by Gus plc. of England. The Hitwise acquisition continues the repositioning of Experian to use its vast credit database for marketing.

McLEAN, Va. – Mortgage rates continued to see-saw this week, with long-term rates declining, after rising last week, according to Freddie Mac. The average for the benchmark 30-year, fixed-rate loan dipped to 6.17% this week, from 6.22% last week; while the average for the 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage slipped slightly to 5.89%, from 5.90%. ARM rates also moved slightly lower, with the average for the one -year ARM declining to 5.45% from 5.47%; and the average for the five year ARM moving to 5.92%, from 5.93%. Mortgage rates slipped following the latest reports of moderation in inflation rates from the core producer price and consumer price indexes, said Frank Nothaft, chief economist for Freddie Mac. Excluding food and energy, the core inflation rate for consumer prices rose 2.5% year-over-year, the smallest annual growth since May 2006. This helped calm markets and brought mortgage rates down.

MONETT, Mo. – Taking advantage of a hot market for back-office credit union tech providers, Jack Henry & Associates’ President Tony Wormington scored a quick $753,600 with the exercise of 40,000 options Monday as the company’s shares hit a new high. Wormington then sold the shares for $24.87 each, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Jack Henry and other credit union tech stocks have been pushed higher by the ongoing buying frenzy in the market and speculation as to which company will be acquired next. The company’s shares rose to a new high of $24.87 Monday after news of the death of co-founder Jack Henry, fueling speculation the company could be the next target for a takeover.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Last year’s separation of Fidelity National’s two man business lines paid off in a big way for its engineer, William Foley, who earned more than $200 million through the scheme. Foley, who serves as chairman of the board and CEO of Fidelity National Financial, which consists of the nation’s leading title insurer, earned $31.1 million in total compensation, including a $19 million bonus last year–as well as another $157 million from the accelerated vesting of options and stock due to the separation, according to the company’s annual proxy statement. In addition, Foley earned almost $20 million in compensation as a director, executive chairman and chairman of the executive committee for Fidelity National Information Systems, the back-office vendor that was spun-off from the title insurance business. Fidelity National built up its back-office business through a number of corporate acquisitions: including Certegy, Aurum Technology, ALLTEL Information Services, VISTA Information Solutions, Sanchez Computer Associates and InterCept, then spun it off last year into a publicly trade company. After the spin-off, Foley ended up with almost three million shares of Fidelity National Information Services valued at $150 million; and more than 1.2 million shares in Fidelity National Financial valued at more than $30 million.

DENVER – First Data Corp., the focus of a huge takeover, reported yesterday that net income for its first quarter plunged 59% because of the absence of the company’s profitable Western Union operations that were spun off last fall. Net income for the first quarter was $175 million, or 23 cents a share, compared to $430 million, or 56 cents a share, for the same period last year when Western Union was included. Even still, revenues from continuing operations were up a healthy 12% to $1.8 billion for the quarter, as the company reported strong growth in its merchant services, check services and card services operations. First Data, which has been on a buying frenzy on its own, has agreed to be taken over by private equity giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. for $29 billion, one of the largest deals ever. Meantime, in recent weeks First Data has acquired Wells Fargo’s Instant Cash Systems ATM network and FundsXpress online services provider.

RESTON, Va. – The chances of another suitor moving in and sweeping Sallie Mae off its feet are slim because of a huge $900 million break-up fee agreed to by the student loan giant and its acquirers. Under the $25 billion takeover agreement either side would be responsible to pay the other $900 million if they walked away from the deal. The huge fee, representing 3.6% of the deal, is unusually large for a break-up fee, making it highly unlikely that another party would come in and top the offer and pay the fee. The deal calls for a group headed by private equity funds J.C. Flowers and Friedman Fleischer & Lowe and bank giants J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America to take the former government sponsored enterprise private for $60 a share. The deal, which puts the dominant figure in the student loan market into the hands of two of its biggest competitors, JP Morgan and BofA, must still be approved by antitrust regulators at the U.S. Justice Department.

WATERTOWN, N.Y. – In a market that is forever rewarding shoppers for their behavior, why not a rewards program for checking accounts? That’s what Northern FCU has been offering its members for the past six weeks, a premium 6.01% rate on their share draft accounts and a rebate of all ATM fees as a reward for certain behavior, including direct deposit into the account; using online banking at least once a month; use of electronic statements, instead of paper; and use of a debit card at least 10 times a month. “It really is a rewards program,” Brian Caird, vice president marketing for the $200 million credit union, told The Credit Union Journal yesterday. “You meet the criteria of the account and you become eligible for the rewards.” Account holders who do not meet all of the criteria are not eligible for the premium rate, and are relegated instead to the basis checking account that pays zero interest. In a legal opinion made public yesterday, NCUA approved the innovative program, noting the concept could be tied to other products and services to promote their usage. Caird said the credit union learned of the idea by one of its vendors who had been offering it for some of its community banking customers and sought NCUA’s advice to see if it is legal for credit unions.

CHANTILLY, Va. – An item in yesterday’s edition of The Credit Union Journal Daily incorrectly explained the pilot program being tested by Online Resources. The pilot is testing same-day bill payment posting.

HARTFORD, Ct. – American Eagle FCU, the 72-year-old credit union founded to serve employees of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, said yesterday it has hit the $1 billion mark in assets. The milestone comes after a year of double-digit growth in both shares (17%) and loans (15%). The credit union, the largest community charter in Connecticut, now serves residents of Hartford, Middlesex and Tolland counties in Connecticut.

SAN DIMAS, Calif. – Christian Community CU announced yesterday it is giving $30,000 in scholarships in 2007. The scholarships range from $500 to $2,000 and are open to members of the $440 million credit union. To be eligible to apply, students must be enrolled at an accredited college, university or seminary. Also, students must be taking 12 units or more for undergraduate students and 8 units or more for graduate and post-graduate students.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Technology CU said yesterday it has expanded its relationship with Quest Analytics LLC to automate customer loyalty and growth initiatives using customer behavior analytics. The $1.2 billion credit union said it will deploy the company’s Customer Opportunity Advisor opportunity management software to provide associates with insight into member needs and assist with offering enhanced services. Quest Analytics uses analytical techniques to deliver timely, event-based sales, retention and servicing leads directly to the branch desktop where action can be taken.

EUGENE, Ore. – SELCO Community CU said yesterday it has implemented the instant card issuing service offered by Card Express International, of Irvine, Calif. SELCO was able to use the system during the holiday season when it issued holiday gift cards to members. The company, known as CardEx, is working to expand its credit union market, following last fall’s deal with Pemco Technology to provide eight credit unions with customized Visa prepaid debit cards.

TAMPA, Fla. – Suncoast Schools FCU said yesterday it has signed a three-year agreement with Fidelity National Information Services to offer ScoreCard Rewards on debit cards. The $5.8 billion credit union has been offering ScoreCard Rewards on its credit card purchases for two years. Suncoast Schools has 355,000 credit and debit card accounts.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Data security legislation continued to progress across the nation’s state legislatures, which have decided not to wait for Congress to enact a national standard. The California Assembly’s Judiciary Committee endorsed a credit union-supported bill that would require parties involved in a data breach to immediately notify their customers and for the parties responsible for the breach to pay costs associated with containing the damage, such as card reissuance. Similar bills are making their way through as many as half a dozen other legislatures with the help of the credit union lobby. The credit union lobby is also working with Congress on similar legislation to help pay for the uninsured costs of reporting and protecting against data leaks. The California bill now moves to another Assembly committee, Business and Professions for an April 24 hearing.

SALEM, Va. – Freedom First FCU announced yesterday the forming of a Virginia Tech Memorial Fund to support the recovery and renewal process following Monday’s tragic events when 32 students at nearby Virginia Tech University were shot dead. Freedom First officials said all proceeds will be directed towards the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. Virginia Tech has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support. The fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to: grief counseling, memorials, communication expenses, comfort expenses, incidental needs.

ATLANTA – The Credit Union Loan Source, a CUSO owned by area credit unions, said yesterday it has signed with Quantum Auto Group LLC to connect its partners with 1,000 dealerships throughout the East Coast. The deal, marking Quantum Auto’s entry into the credit union market, will make indirect loans originated through the Melville, N.Y.-based company available to the CUSO’s credit union participants. They include Delta Employees CU, Georgia Telco CU, Atlanta Postal CU and Georgia CU Services Corp. Quantum Auto has originated and sold almost $500 million in auto loans or retail installment contracts.

RESTON, Va. – Banking giants JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America will be providing Sallie Mae with a $30 billion line of credit to fund its securitizations, the prime engine of the secondary loan market, under a proposed $25 billion buyout of the student loan giant. By dint of its shear size–Sallie Mae controls a $142 billion student loan portfolio–the company sets pricing and loan standards, thus controlling the secondary market for student loans. JP Morgan and BofA, already among the biggest players in the $85 billion-a-year market, have offered to acquire Sallie Mae, the biggest single player in the market, along with private equity funds J.C. Flowers & Co., and Friedman Fleischer & Lowe, for $60 a share in one of the biggest corporate deals ever. The two bank giants pledged to support the secondary market activities of Sallie Mae with an interim credit facility, which will be finalized after the huge deal is consummated. After the deal, J.C. Flowers and Friedman Fleischer & Lowe will own 50.2% of Sallie Mae and each of the banking giants will own 24.9%. Sallie Mae began life in 1972 as a government sponsored enterprise aimed at facilitating a secondary market for the nascent student loan industry. Between 19997 and 2005 the company was privatized in stages during which Sallie Mae was evolved to the major provider of student loans, in direct competition with the hundreds of credit unions and banks it was chartered to serve.