First-responder Credit Union Newsroom

Underwater Kingdoms   Coral reefs are underwater ecosystems made from the skeletons of hard coral colonies. Each colony is composed of multiple polyps called corals—animals with tentacles around a mouth at one end and sac-like bodies at the other that attach to a surface and secrete calcium carbonate for protection. Over thousands of years, these secretions accumulate to form habitats that support about 25% of marine species, even though they cover less than 1% of the ocean floor. >  The first coral reefs formed hundreds of millions of years ago. ( More , w/video) > Coral polyps are tiny animals whose mouths both consume food and expel waste. ( More ) > See how coral reefs get their color. ( More ) Known as the "rainforest of the seas," coral reefs are found in tropical and subtropical waters of more than 100 countries, wi...

By Ray Birch WASHINGTON—NCUA nominee John Crews used his Senate Banking Committee confirmation hearing Thursday to lay out an agenda centered on reducing regulatory burden for smaller credit unions, encouraging technological innovation and reviving the formation of new credit unions, while declining to weigh in on the legality of the NCUA's current one-member board because of pending litigation. Although much of the hearing was dominated by sharp questioning of fellow nominee Christopher Phelan over the economy, inflation, tax policy and President Trump's agenda, Crews' exchanges with senators offered insights into how he might approach regulating the credit union system if confirmed. The hearing proceeded despite questions on Capitol Hill over whether it would even take place following Wednesday's political turmoil surrounding President Trump's demand that Congress pass the SAVE America Act before he signs bipartisan housing legislation and the Senate's decisio...

  In San Francisco, – SF Fire Credit Union has appointed Robert Kassab as its president and chief executive Officer. Kassab, who has served as the $1.6-billion credit union’s CFO and most recently as Interim CEO, will lead the organization as it builds on 75 years of community service and pursues an ambitious strategy for growth and member impact, the credit union said in a statement. Robert Kassab “SF Fire Credit Union has a 75-year legacy of doing right by its members, and I take that responsibility seriously,” Kassab stated. Kassab joined SF Fire Credit Union in 2022 as CFO, where he played a central role in strengthening the institution’s financial foundation and positioning the credit union for long-term growth. His appointment as CEO follows a period of interim leadership, during which he worked closely with the board to develop a strategic vision for the credit union’s future, according to SF Fire. An Institution That ‘Deserves Them Back’ “SF Fire Credit Union was built on ...

  ALEXANDRIA, Va.—An update on NCUA’s ongoing Deregulation Project was provided during the Thursday board meeting. Offering the update was Amanda Parkhill, acting director of the agency’s Office of Examination and Insurance.“There’s a lot going on and we anticipate over 50 rulemaking guidance and policy actions as a result of the deregulation project and other efforts taken to reduce burden and streamline processes,” said Parkhill. “These cover a wide variety of topics from new,   innovative technology to long standing anti money laundering and consumer compliance requirements. Many of the actions we are working on involve coordination with other regulators to ensure that requirements are consistent among banks and credit unions.” Parkhill said 31 proposals have been made as part of the Deregulation Projects, two of which are still out for comment.  “We are in very stages of finalizing several of the proposed rules,” Parkhill said. adding that objective is to wrap up phas...

  The Justice Department has charged 455 defendants across 45 states and US territories in a $6.5B healthcare fraud crackdown , which officials described as the largest coordinated enforcement action in its history and the second-largest amount ever charged in a single operation (behind last year’s $14.6B operation). Authorities say the schemes targeted Medicare, Medicaid, and other healthcare programs through fraudulent billing, illegal kickbacks, opioid distribution, and telemedicine operations. Those charged include 90 licensed medical professionals, while 295 defendants are tied to over $500M in false Medicaid claims. Investigators also seized more than $127M in cash, vehicles, jewelry, and other assets tied to the alleged fraud. The two-week crackdown comes amid the Trump administration’s antifraud push, with expanded data-sharing efforts across agencies (scroll to see coordinated effort ). Experts estimate healthcare fraud costs t...