PHOENIX -- In separate announcements Monday, the $1.8 billion Arizona Federal Credit Union said it has distributed nearly $4 million in dividend earnings to its members while also disclosing what it calls an "exclusive" and precedent-setting pact with the city's YMCA organization to open its first financial institution branch.

PHOENIX -- In separate announcements Monday, the $1.8 billion Arizona Federal Credit Union said it has distributed nearly $4 million in dividend earnings to its members while also disclosing what it calls an "exclusive" and precedent-setting pact with the city's YMCA organization to open its first financial institution branch.

SALT LAKE CITY -- The president/CEO of the Utah League of Credit Union, Scott Simpson, apparently leads the pack in spending the most on lobbying state lawmakers during 2007, according to state records highlighted last week by the Salt Lake Tribune.

DEARBORN, Mich. -- The move by U.S. credit unions to loudly tout year-end dividend payouts spread Monday to the Internet with Michigan's largest, DFCU Financial, reporting more than 500 comments from members, most of them highly favorable, on a "feedback" section on its Web site.

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Marking what is being described as an "history-making" patronage payout of $17 million, the $1.8 billion DFCU Financial CU went out of its way Thursday to remind the public of its role in trying to help the state's deeply troubled economy.

Credit unions were hardly taking a back seat for the Iowa Caucuses with employees and volunteers joining the AARP last week, actively promoting financial education to the presidential candidates at campaign stops over the last month.

This is the kickoff week for the industry's BizKid$ PBS show on financial literacy with 143 TV stations in 33 states now slated to finally air the program which has been in the works for nearly two years.

The long-running industry dialogue on creation and feasibility of a credit union national brand took center stage last month with release of a much-anticipated, 62-page white paper prepared by CUNA's Marketing and Business Development Council.