The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Banking seized five small financial institutions. Another Illinois institution was closed by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Texas Banking Commissioner closed down a Dallas bank. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which announced the failures, was named receiver of all the failed banks. http://www.mortgagedaily.com/Closings070209.asp?spcode=rss

Mortgage Industry News for the Week Ending Feb. 29, 2008 http://www.mortgagedaily.com/Podcasts/MortgageDailyPodcast022908.mp3

A New Jersey defense attorney has been named the central figure in a 14-count indictment with three others who are accused of racketeering, murder and $1.1 million in mortgage fraud. http://www.fraudblogger.com/PRNJATTYARRESTED052909.asp

The advice is to lock your mortgage rate on the dips, and yesterday, we had a dip. http://www.bankrate.com/brm/story_content.asp?story_uid=28561&prodtype=mtg

Decide how much you can pay once you're well and working again, and map out a payment plan with creditors. http://ep.bankrate.com/hlink_redirects/hlink_redirects.aspx?link_address=http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/debt/20090702-debt-adviser-a1.asp&ht=9&suid=28506&web=brm

As seasons change, you should check your car for these potential safety problems. http://ep.bankrate.com/hlink_redirects/hlink_redirects.aspx?link_address=http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/car-miniguide1-2009/20090526-car-safety-issues-a1.asp&ht=9&suid=28209&web=brm