ALEXANDRIA, Va. - NCUA last week approved a request to provide non-dividend paying accounts to members who do not have a Social Security Number or other taxpayer identification number. The ruling will make it possible for immigrants to establish mainline financial accounts.

WASHINGTON - The banking lobby and its allies were assailing NCUA's new rules on conversions to banks, even before the ink was dry-making it likely the provisions will be challenged in court. "For the third time in three years, NCUA has imposed additional regulatory burdens on credit unions that seek to become mutual savings banks.

The North Dakota and South Dakota Credit Union Leagues will finalize their long-planned consolidation into one trade association for credit unions in both states named the Mid-America Credit Union Association (MACUA) effective Jan. 1.

Clarke American Wins Award

WASHINGTON - The Federal Housing Finance Board has put aside a controversial plan to lift retained earnings at the Federal Home Loan Banks, which could have forced as many as half of the 12 regional banks to trim the lucrative quarterly dividends they pay their bank and credit union members.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - ENCORE Electronic Service Cooperative's members overwhelmingly approved a merger of the regional electronic funds network for credit unions with CO-OP Financial Services.

WATERBURY, Conn. - Nine credit union members of Waterbury CT Teachers FCU made their television debut in a commercial touting the benefits of their $136 million asset CU.

The Wisconsin Credit Union League is building pro-credit union allies within communities and the government through its newest initiative called "1 With The League."

Harland Takeover To Eliminate Competition

MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Credit Union League is building pro-credit union allies within communities and the government through its newest initiative called "1 With The League."

America First Credit Union, Ogden, Utah, named Kent Anderson Centerville Marketplace branch manager and Heidi Carruth North Salt Lake Winegars branch manager.

The end of the year typically brings annual dividends paid out by credit unions to their members, with two of the three biggest bonuses in CU history coming just days apart.

San Antonio FCU has opened a new branch opposite the new Toyota truck manufacturing plant, abandoning a plan to operate the branch jointly with Toyota FCU in California.

BOSTON - Tremont Credit Union is keeping the faith by opening what is touted to be the first faith-based community credit union in Dudley Square here.

ARLINGTON, Va. - NAFCU is calling for several changes by NCUA to a proposed rule on nontraditional mortgage products.

PHOENIX - The end of the year typically brings annual dividends paid out by credit unions to their members, with two of the three biggest bonuses in CU history coming just days apart.

BATON ROUGE, La. - Two credit union volunteers have won President Bush's "Call To Service Award" recognizing lifetime volunteer service.

A man suspected of an armed robbery at Tennessee Members First Credit Union was arrested riding in the back of a limousine on I-75 headed out of state.

Affinity FCU has a new program to teach basic money management to homeless mothers. The credit union has joined with Middlesex Interfaith Partners with the homeless to teach residents of Amandla Crossing Transitional Housing, in Edison, N.J., basic financial skills they will need to transition to more permanent housing. The financial education course is paired with courses on other basic life skills, like literacy, childcare development and nutrition.

Tremont Credit Union is keeping the faith by opening what is touted to be the first faith-based community credit union in Dudley Square here.