From the Twin Cities to St. Louis, the pace of credit union merger deals in the Midwest was steady this month.

The $500 million Hughes Federal Credit Union of Tucson has landed the University of Arizona head basketball coach as a TV representative for the coming season.

The head of the nation's second largest airline credit union, the $5 billion American Airlines FCU, said Tuesday the merger of Alliant CU and the long-ailing Continental FCU, "seems to make sense."

Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union of Honolulu is moving ahead with expansion on two fronts: it merged a small, ailing CU and is opening its first out-state-branch in Las Vegas purchasing a Silver State Schools CU facility.

Faulty real estate loans and southern Wisconsin's high unemployment were key factors in the failure Wednesday of the $137 million First American CU and its subsequent FCU takeover, the state's top regulator said Thursday.

The $710 million Firstlight Federal Credit Union of El Paso, Texas has established a facility in cooperation with the United Service Organization to benefit soldiers coming home from Iraq this month.

The Credit Union Association of Oregon said Thursday it expects a sizable crowd to turn out next month for two separate visits by NCUA Chairman Deborah Matz to the state.

In a changeover with noteworthy symbolism, the $500 million First Citizens' Federal Credit Union of Fairhaven, Mass. has taken over a vacant bank building in Mattapoisett, a coastal community, opening it as a CU branch.