The Wisconsin Bankers Association says the merger is another example of credit unions moving away from their primary mission of serving low and moderate income members. [Continue]

First Capital Partners LLC has acquired a Wisconsin maker of plastic film and bags for industrial use and a Washington company that offers outsource business services to the financial services industry. [Continue]

The familiar checkbook has gone electronic, says a recent Federal Reserve study. More than two-thirds of all non-cash payments in the United States are made electronically, with the biggest increase in electronic payments occurring between 2003 and 2006. [Continue]

Marti Rodamaker, president and CEO of First Citizens National Bank in Mason City, Iowa, and a past president of the Iowa Independent Bankers, was recently elected board chairman of the ICBA Services Network, the business services subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America. Rodamaker has been First Citizens president since 1994 and is board … Read more

ABA says merger brings members new clout with lawmakers The merger of the American Bankers Association and America’s Community Bankers became official on Dec. 1 and ABA officials believe the combined groups will offer unity when dealing with Washington policymakers. The ABA-ACB merger, announced in June and approved by each association’s membership in October, creates … Read more