First-responder Credit Union Newsroom

Most adults can safely drink  up to five 8-ounce cups of black coffee per day, and regular consumption may improve cardiovascular health, the American Heart Association said yesterday. An analysis of recent studies suggests that consuming about 400 milligrams of caffeine daily may lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and heart failure. However, because most research is observational, scientists are still unsure why caffeine may benefit heart health. Some studies suggest antioxidants  in coffee help reduce inflammation, indicating not all caffeine sources offer the same effects. Synthetic caffeine products, such as energy drinks, have been linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms. Coffee's benefits also diminish when sugar and high-fat creamers are added.  Brewing methods may matter, too. Cardiovascular benefits have been linked most strongly to paper-filtered or instant coffee. Unfilter...

BOSTON — Consumers facing financial pressure are increasingly turning to digital wallets not only for convenience, but also as a way to better manage their household finances, according to a new report from PYMNTS Intelligence . The report, titled “ The New Checkout: Crimped Consumers Lean Into Online Retail and Digital Wallets, ” is based on a survey of 2,108 U.S. adults and found digital wallet adoption is growing fastest among younger consumers and those experiencing financial stress. According to PYMNTS Intelligence, digital wallets are evolving beyond simple payment tools by offering features such as buy now, pay later options, real-time balance information and spending management tools that help consumers monitor their finances. Source: PYMNTS Intelligence Among consumers experiencing high financial stress, 28% said they used a digital wallet for their most recent retail purchase, compared with 11% of consumers reporting low financial stress. For grocery purchases, 21% of financi...

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer inflation cooled more than expected in June, offering relief after several months of elevated price pressures, though economists cautioned the improvement could prove temporary as renewed geopolitical tensions threaten to push energy prices higher. The Consumer Price Index fell 0.4% in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the largest monthly decline since April 2020, after rising 0.5% in May, according to data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Compared with a year earlier, consumer prices rose 3.5%, down from 4.2% in May.  Foot off the Gas Dawit Kebede “Falling gas prices led June’s decline and pulled headline inflation lower year-over-year. Renewed hostilities could complicate the energy picture ahead, and a reversal in gasoline costs would be the most likely channel for that pressure to show up,” said America’s Credit Unions Senior Economist Dawit Kebede. “But softening core prices point to broader-based moderation, suggesting the ea...

WASHINGTON — The bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law Friday without President Donald Trump’s signature after the president allowed the measure to take effect while Congress remained in session, choosing not to sign it in protest over the Senate’s failure to advance separate voter identification legislation.  The legislation includes the Credit Union Board Modernization Act, which reduces the frequency with which credit unions must meet and which had strong support from the credit union trade groups.  Trump announced on social media that he would not sign the housing package because the Senate had not passed the SAVE America Act, a measure he has championed requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. Under the Constitution, a bill becomes law if the president neither signs nor vetoes it within 10 days, excluding Sundays, while Congress is in session.  Scott Simpson ‘Steadfast in Commitment’ “America’s Credit Unions, our league partners, and cr...

 

NEW YORK—Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the defining force shaping banking strategy, with 80% of banking executives now expecting AI to significantly disrupt their business and operating models within the next three to five years, according to KPMG's 2026 Banking Technology Survey. The survey of 200 U.S. banking executives found institutions are responding by accelerating investments in cybersecurity, payments modernization and technology-driven acquisitions. "AI, payments modernization, cybersecurity, and tech-driven M&A are no longer separate agendas," said Peter Torrente, KPMG's U.S. Banking Sector Leader, who said banks are increasingly being challenged to keep pace across technology, risk and growth simultaneously. Cybersecurity remains a top concern. More than three-quarters (76%) of banking leaders reported an increase in cyberattacks over the past year, while 92% said they are boosting cybersecurity budgets. In addition, 84% are increasing cyb...

NEW YORK — At a time when there are some generational changes in credit union leadership taking place, a new analysis has found the nation’s bank CEOs are getting older, with half of the chief executives leading banks now older than 65, compared with fewer than 20% two decades ago. The KBW Bank Index from Truist Securities found that the median age of bank CEOs has increased by 10 years since the early 2000s, mirroring a broader aging trend among corporate leaders across the United States. However, bank executives remain older on average than their counterparts in many other industries, according to the analysis by Truist Securities Managing Director John McDonald and associates Peter Nicolo and John Manahan. One reason is tenure. Bank CEOs typically remain in their positions longer than executives in many other sectors. According to data from CristKolder Associates cited in the report, financial-services CEOs average nine years in the role, compared with 5.4 years in the energy secto...

WASHINGTON– World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) has released a new white paper that examines how stablecoins are reshaping the financial infrastructure that credit unions and other cooperative financial institutions rely on to serve their members.  According to WOCCU, the white paper, How Digital Money Is Impacting Credit Unions, Part 1: Focus on Stablecoins , is the first in a planned three-part series exploring how emerging forms of digital money are affecting the global credit union movement.  “The report begins by noting that stablecoins are no longer a niche fintech development, but part of a broader structural shift in how money is stored, moved and regulated,” WOCCU explained. “As commercial banks, payment networks, technology firms and retailers build stablecoin offerings or integrate stablecoin rails into their platforms, credit unions must consider how these changes could affect deposits, payments, member relationships and long-term institutional relevance.” For ...

07/02/2026 09:36 am         WASHINGTON--With Trump Accounts set to officially launch July 4, America’s Credit Unions updated its frequently asked questions document to clarify the role of credit unions now and in the future. Credit unions do not have a role to play yet, as the Treasury has not announced steps to transition accounts from initial provider BNY Mellon to other authorized institutions, ACU noted. Trump Accounts are tax-deferred accounts that can be established on behalf of a child under the age of 18. Account contributions begin after July 4, with contributions up to $5,000 a year allowed. Created by H.R. 1, the law also established a pilot program to deposit a one-time $1,000 grant into accounts of children born between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2028. Once the child turns 18, the account funds are available for educational expenses, home ownership, entrepreneurship, and other designated purposes. Once guidance is available from Treasury, credit unions ...

We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident .  The Declaration of Independence is the founding document that formally announced the American Colonies' break from British rule. Adopted on July 4, 1776, it laid the philosophical and moral foundation for American self-governance, asserting that individuals possess inherent rights and that governments must be accountable to the people. While it didn't create a government or legal framework, the Declaration marked the birth of the United States as a sovereign nation. >  Hear why the Continental Congress decided to declare independence, how the text took shape...

ATMs and the Windows 11 Software Upgrade Joe Woods, SVP Marketing & Partnerships Dolphin Debit Access There is a lot of information and misinformation circulating regarding the required Windows 11 software. Windows 10 is sunsetting and therefore Windows 11 is now the new operating system of choice moving forward. Many of us may not realize, however, that there are multiple versions of Windows 10. These different versions have different sunset dates, different options for extended service plans as well as different applications. Your ATM’s will be required to upgrade to Windows 11 at some point in the near future. However, that future could be four months away or forty months away. And if costs are similar to the Windows 10 upgrade, you could be spending $5,000-$14,000 per ATM for the upgrade.   To figure out what is best for you, you need to examine your ATM fleet. Several factors need to be considered for this change from Win10 to Win11. Making a rash decision to per...