ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA issued Jefferson Community Development Federal Credit Union, a faith-based credit union located in Birmingham, Ala., a charter last month. Residents who live, work, worship or attend school in the northeast corner of Jefferson County will be eligible for membership. "NCUA's emphasis on the role faith-based institutions, such as faith-based credit unions, can play in their communities across America is very much consistent with the Bush administration's Faith-Based and Community Initiative program," NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar commented. "As chairman, I am extremely pleased to see our board and agency continue to support such an important initiative as Access Across America that addresses in a positive and proactive way many of the economic issues facing residents of underserved and unbanked neighborhoods." NCUA staff worked with organizers to ensure the credit union would meet NCUA's safety and soundness requirements and be able to serve its members. Guiding Light Church sponsored the credit union.