UPDATE: NEW JERSEY FIREFIGHTER DIES OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY WHILE OPERATING AT A FATAL HOUSE FIRE

A veteran Hopelawn Firefighter was among 2 people who died as a result of a house fire. FF Bruce Turcotte, 58, of the Hopelawn section of Woodbridge was pronounced dead shortly after 3 p.m. at JFK Medical Center in Edison. Turcotte, a member of the Hopelawn Volunteer Fire Department, apparently suffered a heart attack. He was laying hoses when he collapsed at the scene. A longtime Firefighter, Turcotte is from a family of firefighters in Hopelawn-including his son. RIP....Read More At ; UPDATE: NEW JERSEY FIREFIGHTER DIES OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY WHILE OPERATING AT A FATAL HOUSE FIRE:

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Sunday Reading - What's the point of a consumer electronics show?

What's the point of a consumer electronics show? Consumer electronics shows are large convention-type events where companies debut new technologies and products. The largest and most notable shows are CES in Las Vegas, a trade show every January, and IFA Berlin, which takes place annually in September. The events have historically introduced novel, cutting-edge products that later became household standards, like HDTVs, VCRs, DVDs, and gaming consoles ( see list ). Over time, these shows evolved from product showcases ( see last year's coolest gadgets ) into complex industry ecosystems, serving as a meeting ground for startups, multinational technology companies, investors, and the media. Hardware launches, keynote speeches, and...

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A Perfect Example - What Makes Credit Unions Different from Banks!

When the government shutdown hit in October and paychecks stopped, thousands of federal employees were left wondering how to make ends meet. Credit unions across the country stepped up—but Keesler Federal Credit Union went above and beyond. No loans, no hassle—just your paycheck Instead of making members apply for emergency loans, Keesler Federal launched its Paycheck Relief Program. Revolutionary in its simplicity, it worked like this: if you were a federal employee with direct deposit at Keesler Federal, your paycheck kept coming—interest-free, fee-free, and stress-free. Each qualified member could receive up to $6,000 per pay period for as long as 90 days. No hoops, no headaches. From October 1 until the shutdown ended, Keesler Federal advanced more than 5,000 paychecks totaling $6.5 million to 1,710 members. For non-members, they even offered zero-interest loans up to $6,500 with a year to pay it back. This proactive approach meant that before the first missed paycheck, Keesler Fed...

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Eight Credit Unions Pay $42 Million in Special Dividends to 1.1 Million Members

By Jim DuPlessis | January 05, 2026 at 04:00 PM So far this season, CU Times has tallied 19 credit unions, which have announced $160.3 million in special dividends for members. Eight more credit unions have reported special dividends, paying their 1.1 million members $42.1 million in December and January. The bulk of the dividends came from Police and Fire Federal Credit Union of Philadelphia and Eastman Credit Union of Kingsport, Tenn., which each announced $16 million in rewards approved by their boards. The late January payout from Eastman ($9.7 billion, 356,492 members) will bring its total special dividends to $225 million since 1998. A news release from the credit union said “the Extraordinary Dividend is never guaranteed, but the strong financial performance of ECU in 2025 enabled the Board of Directors to approve this year’s $16 million payout.” Eastman’s $16 million payout represents about $47 per member and 19 basis points of its averag...

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Auto Link, Home Link, and CalcuLink Unite Under New Parent Brand: Centergy Solutions

Auto Link, Home Link, and CalcuLink Unite Under New Parent Brand: Centergy Solutions Auto Link announced a major rebrand that unifies its three established product lines- Auto Link, Home Link, and CalcuLink- under one cohesive parent brand. The transition marks a strategic evolution designed to simplify the company’s ecosystem, strengthen product synergy, and enhance the overall experience for credit unions and the members they serve. The new Centergy Solutions brand reflects the company’s mission to deliver a more connected and integrated suite of digital tools across auto and home lending, auto and home buying, and financial decision-making. From an operational perspective, the unified brand also allows Centergy Solutions to accelerate innovation and improve platform alignment. Under the new parent brand: • Auto Link continues to support financial institutions with industry-leading digital auto lending tools that boost member engagement and loan volume. • Home Link provides consume...

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Temporary Corporate Credit Union Share Guarantee Expires December 31, 2012

NCUA LETTER TO CREDIT UNIONS NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 DATE: March 2012 LETTER No.: 12-CU-03 TO: Federally Insured Credit Unions SUBJ: Temporary Corporate Credit Union Share Guarantee Expires December 31, 2012 Page Content Dear Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officers: We are entering the final phase in the successful stabilization of the corporate credit union system. By the end of this year, all products and services offered by conserved corporate credit unions will be seamlessly transitioned to other providers – with no interruption of service to members. In the meantime, all ongoing corporate credit unions are meeting NCUA’s higher regulatory standards for capital, investments, and governance. ***READ COMPLETE LETTER; Temporary Corporate Credit Union Share Guarantee Expires December 3...

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Become a Royal Credit Union

Welcome Royal Member Services Royal Member Services About Royal We stand behind the most dependable automotive service plans in the business. We offer a range of automotive service plans for new and used vehicles that provide exceptional protection against repair costs while increasing dealer value on each and every sale. Our plans are backed by more than 50 years of dependability and customer satisfaction. We offer a world-class service organization, marketing, training, and a complete line of services. We have plans to fit most every vehicle and consumer budget. Call today and put Roya...

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PSCU: Inflation Helps Boost Member Spending in June

The gains in the amount spent far outpace gains in the number of transactions. By Jim DuPlessis | July 2022 Source: Shutterstock. PSCU reported Tuesday that the value of purchases it handles for affiliated credit unions rose much faster than the number of transactions in June, which it said indicated inflation was a growing factor in purchasing growth. The St. Petersburg, Fla., payments CUSO found members whose credit unions use PSCU services spent 16% more by credit cards in value and 12% more in the number of transactions in June than they did in June 2021. By debit, they spent 7% more by value and 3% more by number. “While overall consumer spending remained strong throughout June, current inflationary pressures are keeping growth in purchases outpacing growth in transactions,” Brian Scott, PSCU’s chief growth officer, said. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported July 13 that inflation rose a seasonally adjusted 1.3% from May...

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Home Prices Increased at Annualized Rate Near 20% in Q2

WASHINGTON—Single-family home prices increased at the annualized rate of 19.4% in Q2, down slightly from the previous quarter’s upwardly revised 20.5%, according to Fannie Mae’s latest Home Price Index (FNM-HPI) reading. The HPI is a national, repeat-transaction home price index measuring the average, quarterly price change for all single-family properties in the United States, excluding condos. On a quarterly basis, home prices rose a seasonally adjusted 4.3% in Q2 2022, Fannie Mae said. ‘Near-Historic Pace’ “Home prices maintained a near-historic pace of appreciation in the second quarter, as low levels of housing inventory continued to support price growth,” said Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae senior vice president and chief...

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Fed Raises Rates to Highest Point Since 2001; Here's What CU Economists Are Saying

WASHINGTON—Emphasizing it remains “highly attentive to inflation risks,” the Federal Resoerve has moved to hike interest rates by 25 basis points, setting the target range for federal funds at 5.25 to 5.5%--their highest level since 2001. The Federal Open Market Committee made the announcement Wednesday at the close of its July two-day meeting here, and suggested it may not yet be done with rate increases. “Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace. Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Inflation remains elevated,” the Fed stated in a release. Tighter Conditions “Tighter credit conditions for households and businesses are likely to weigh on economic...

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Earn your 1st, "First Responders Credit Union Academy" Certificate On Us!

www. NCOFCU .org National Council of First-Responder Credit Unions "By firefighters for all first responders." ...

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