Police credit union merges with TruChoice Federal

The Portland Police Department Federal Credit Union has merged with TruChoice Federal Credit Union, which serves members who live or work in Cumberland and York counties.

The merger was prompted by increasing regulatory costs and required technology upgrades, said Ken Acker, TruChoice president, in a press release. The merger adds 1,000 new members to TruChoice and $7 million to its existing asset total of $93 million. Hosea Carpenter, CEO of the police credit union, retired at the end of 2014, three months after an employee was fired after an investigation into fraud allegations.

Average for a gallon of gas hits $2.35 at Maine stations

The average price of gasoline in Maine has fallen 11.5 cents a gallon in the last week. Website GasBuddy.com reports the average price was $2.35 per gallon, according to a daily survey of 1,228 Maine outlets. The website says the national average fell 7.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.19 per gallon.

The website says prices on Sunday were over a $1.18 per gallon lower than the same day a year ago and 51.4 cents per gallon lower than one month ago.

Morgan Stanley employee posted clients’ information

An employee of Morgan Stanley’s wealth management business stole information on about 350,000 clients and posted some of it on the Internet, the investment bank said Monday.

The bank said that it found the stolen data on about 900 clients online on Dec. 27. The personal data has been taken down and the U.S.-based employee has been fired.

The employee shared client names and account numbers, but did not reveal passwords, Social Security numbers or credit card information, Morgan Stanley said. A bank spokesman said the employee was likely attempting to sell the clients’ information, which is why the employee posted only a fraction of the data online – to give potential buyers a sneak peak.

U.S. authorizes Ireland to resume beef exports

The United States will permit imports of beef from Ireland, the first European Union country allowed to resume sales since the mad cow disease scare over 15 years ago, officials said Monday.

Simon Coveney, Ireland’s minister for agriculture, food and the marine, issued a statement announcing that access to the lucrative U.S. market will be restored after American authorities inspected Ireland’s beef production systems last year. Authorities estimate annual exports could be worth at least$30 million.

– From staff and news services