FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Even though all the $2.6 million funding isn't quite there yet, the credit union-backed Biz Kid$ financial literacy show on PBS-TV now looks to be a "go" after a contract signing ceremony last week.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - A now controversial bid by Wal-Mart Stores to cash checks at its Massachusetts outlets ran into flak last week from both bankers and two credit union CEOs complaining, in part, about the retailer fostering unsavory "unbanked" practices.

HANSCOM AFB, Mass. - In one of the state's biggest mergers in years, the $461 million Hanscom FCU is merging with the $90 million Milestone FCU of Burlington creating the ninth largest credit union in Massachusetts.

PHOENIX - The arguments about mixing commerce and banking at Wal-Mart may be raging in Washington and in Utah, but credit unions here, in Ohio and Massachusetts continue to expand their footprint in retail stores.

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Given the downsizing in textiles and manufacturing, it's hardly surprising North Carolina ranks high in having what might be the nation's poster credit unions for economic survival and social responsibility.

LAS VEGAS - The market is ripe for innovative CUSOs and executives from three fledgling firms described their ventures while also appealing for credit union support during a well-attended panel session at the annual NACUSO conference here.

PALM DESERT, Calif. - Credit union marketing professionals who work in the West, particularly California, earn the highest marketing salaries with a vice president getting paid an average of $91,000, according to a new compensation survey conducted by the Marketing Association of Credit Unions.

LAS VEGAS - At both the local and federal level, the industry needs to embark on a more vigorous legislative push to bring hamstrung law enforcement agencies into the fight on card fraud, advocates the president/CEO of SAFE CU, one of California's largest.