First-responder Credit Union Newsroom

In an ongoing effort to keep your FRCUA education current, modules are continually updated to reflect current NCUA and other regulatory agency requirements. As an example, BSA 26 now includes  Artificial Intelligence and BSA,  Elder Financial Exploitation,  Pig Butchering & BSA, and Executive Order –  Free and Fair Banking.

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  COLUMBUS, Wis.— The U.S. housing market is bracing for what could be its steepest correction in more than a decade, as swelling inventories, slumping demand, and rising distress signals point to years of declining prices, according to a stark new outlook from Michael Eisenga, CEO of First American Properties. “Home prices across the nation are entering a prolonged period of downward adjustment,” said Eisenga. “What we’re seeing is not just a temporary slowdown—it’s the beginning of a broader recalibration that could last for years.” Michael Eisenga Housing inventory has jumped nearly 30% year-over-year, while transaction volumes have hit record lows during what are typically peak sales seasons, indicating softening demand, Eisenga said. Distressed and motivated selling are on the rise. An increasing number of homeowners, including those previously holding out, are now listing their properties amid rising delinquency rates reminiscent of pre-2008 indicators. There are projected ho...

  Microplastics, explained Microplastics , or MPs, are tiny plastic particles less than five millimeters long and have become one of Earth's most widespread pollutants. Like synthetic plastics, MPs are mostly made of long chains of hydrogen and carbon atoms, formed by linking byproducts of refining crude oil and natural gas ( watch explainer ). Other chemical additives may be incorporated to modify the final product’s properties. Primary MPs, such as microbeads commonly found in exfoliating cosmetic products, are intentionally manufactured to be small. Secondary MPs, like those released while washing synthetic textiles, form from the breakdown of larger plastics and make up the bulk of MPs in the environment ( learn why plastic doesn't biodegrade ). As of 2024, the FDA claims there is insufficient evidence  that MPs pose any human health risk, though initial biochemical studies have linked them to inflammation and hormone disruption. ... Read our full explainer on micro...

Andrew Pilecki, the current fire chief of Wendelville Volunteer Fire Company, has been re-elected to the board of directors of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York. Pilecki has been a member of the fire service for more than four decades, including the past 22 years as a responder with the Wendelville company. Previously he was an active member of Columbia Hook and Ladder Co. He’s also a former assistant director of emergency management for the City of North Tonawanda. FASNY directors serve five-year terms of office. During his first term, Pilecki was instrumental in supporting the association’s pandemic response, championed fire company recruitment and retention efforts, and worked to amplify the needs of Western New York’s volunteer fire service at the state level, according to FASNY. “I’m honored to be re-elected and to continue advocating for the men and women who volunteer their time, risk their safety and serve their communities across the state,” Pilecki said. “...

  The   Dow Jones Industrial Average  rallied to an all-time high Friday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled the central bank  could begin easing monetary policy  next month. The Dow climbed 846.24 points, or 1.89%, reaching a fresh high and closing at a record level of 45,631.74. The  S&P 500  rose 1.52% to end at 6,466.91. At its session high, the broad market index came within three points of its record. The  Nasdaq Composite  gained 1.88% and settled at 21,496.53. Shares of megacap technology stocks soared on Powell’s comments.  Nvidia  added 1.7%, while  Meta Platforms  jumped more than 2%.  Alphabet  and  Amazon  each climbed more than 3%.  Tesla  shares jumped about 6%. In a tepid speech at the central bank’s annual conclave in Jackson Hole, Wyo., Powell said that “the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance.” The Fed...

  Reading Up On Recessions       Background Stemming from the Latin word “recessus” (meaning “a retreat”), recessions are  sustained periods  of declining activity in a country’s economy. During a recession, unemployment rises while economic output falls across a large swath of industries. Recessions are inevitable in modern economies, with one occurring about every six to seven years ( What causes recessions ?).   One common definition of a recession is when a country logs two consecutive quarters of shrinking gross domestic product, but in practice, ...