WASHINGTON - More and more households are turning to check cashing stores, payday lenders and pawnshops to meet their financial needs in part because the `fringe lending' industry is quickly becoming an outlet for one-stop shopping. This according to a recently released report by the Fannie Mae Foundation titled "Financial...

WEST PALM BEACH - Despite the gloomy forecast that mutual funds have weathered over the past year, there are a plethora of investors who value morals and conscience just as much as returns. Enter socially responsible investing (SRI) which seeks out mutual funds and stocks that are tied to companies...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - All signs are go for Members Trust Co. (MTC) to obtain a national trust charter that could potentially serve members outside of Florida. MTC, Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union's (SSFCU) credit union service organization was formed in 1987 and currently exists under a state charter serving 1,500...

MADISON, Wis. - Growing up on a farm and watching her father work for and buy feed and farm supplies from cooperatives, literally shaped one credit union CEO's foray into the movement. Joyce Harris, 69, retired as president/CEO of Heartland Credit Union on June 30 after 23 years of service...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - To meet the investment and insurance needs of the members who make up more than 450 select employee groups, Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union (DAFCU) recently formed Denali Alaskan Financial Services, LLC (DAFS). The credit union service organization is working with CUSO Financial Services (CFS), an independent...

MAUI, Hawaii - If one community group has its way, roughly 135,000 Native Hawaiians will have their financial and mortgage needs met under one umbrella. Hawaiian Community Assets Inc.(HACI), a non-profit community development organization, is in the final stages of establishing a credit union, bank and mortgage lending company to...

DENVER - Six credit unions and the Colorado Credit Union League (CCUL) are in the final stages of forming a trust company that could potentially reach 440,000 members who account for $3.5 billion in deposit assets. ENT Federal Credit Union, Bellco Credit Union, University of Colorado Federal Credit Union, Public...

MADISON, Wis. - For the first time since the last quarter of 1999, the Nasdaq, S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average have seen gains of 5 to 17% thanks in part to several Fed cuts, a liquidity surplus and the move of some investors out of cash and into...