All employees of the Centralia branch of the $741 million TwinStar Credit Union were reported safe Monday after a lock down and occupation by a SWAT team after an early morning attempted robbery at the southeast Washington State facility.

The long running campaign by New York credit unions to win lawmaker support for deposit of public funds gained new ground this week with strong backing by both New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. David Paterson.

The Virginia Credit Union League was galvanizing its membership Friday for what it called a full court press to oppose state legislation permitting banks to merge with credit unions and vice versa.

The $8.5 billion BECU of Seattle cited recently as a favored financial institution in the media and Congressional focus on big bank practices is prepping for a February marketing campaign tapping into the "mad as hell" sentiment.

Despite banker opposition, Washington State credit unions are encouraged legislation allowing deposits of public funds in CUs could be enacted this session following support from a key lawmaker, the Washington Credit Union League said Thursday.

There'll be a definite credit union radio "spin" to this Sunday's American Football Conference title game between the New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts, thanks to New Jersey CUs.

Through ads, Internet postings and public statements, credit unions nationwide were enjoying the public rant against big banks last week highlighted in congressional hearings and in myriad network and cable TV news shows

The legal clash from last October pitting Alabama's top regulator against the CEO and board of the $193 million failed Mutual Savings Credit Union of Birmingham, has been settled out of court, it was announced this week.