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First Federal Bank Announces Agreement to Sell Third Party Origination Division to Mortgage Forward, a CUSO in the Great Lakes Credit Union Family of Companies

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LAKE CITY, Fla. and CHICAGO, June 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — First Federal Bank, headquartered in Florida, and Mortgage Forward, in Illinois, jointly announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement for Mortgage Forward to acquire First Federal’s Third-Party Origination (TPO) division, including QRL Financial.

The TPO division will augment Mortgage Forward’s long-term strategy to expand its national mortgage lending platform and strengthen support for clients seeking competitive, borrower-focused mortgage solutions. Through the acquisition, the division will have additional resources to continue and expand support for new and existing clients.

“We are pleased that this agreement allows our talented and dedicated team supporting TPO clients and institutions to continue to flourish,” said John Medina, President and CEO of First Federal Bank. “First Federal’s 2026 strategic plan emphasizes efficiency and execution which includes a strong commitment to the retail mortgage market. This agreement allows us to hone our focus.”

With the acquisition of the TPO group, Mortgage Forward will better serve TPO clients by offering additional technology and expanded products. Mortgage Forward will continue to invest in digital solutions coupled with CUSO expertise.

“This acquisition strengthens Mortgage Forward’s commitment to delivering innovative mortgage options for TPO clients. We are excited to welcome the talented First Federal Bank team and build on their strong foundation for future growth,” said Chip Adkins, President of Mortgage Forward.

With growth-oriented leadership, the company and its new division will continue to be recognized as best-in-class in the industry.

“This acquisition aligns with our vision for Mortgage Forward and our commitment to supporting credit unions and all mortgage partners nationwide. Together, we will expand our capabilities while maintaining the service and relationships our partners value,” says Michael Abraham, Chief Strategy Officer of Great Lakes Credit Union.

The parties anticipate this transaction to close in the third quarter of 2026.

About First Federal Bank & QRL Financial Services

First Federal Bank, headquartered in Lake City, FL, is a leading financial institution committed to serving the needs of its customers and communities. With banking locations across the southeast, First Federal Bank is a community-owned bank that provides a wide range of consumer and commercial banking solutions, services, and loans. QRL Financial Services provides mortgage solutions to financial institutions nationwide, out of Madison, WI. With over $4.4 billion in assets, First Federal’s family of brands has a steadfast focus on innovation and customer satisfaction. The bank has been consistently recognized with an “Excellent” rating from BauerFinancial, Inc. for over 20 years. Newsweek named First Federal the “Best Regional Bank” for 2024, 2025, and 2026. To learn more, visit www.ffbf.com.

Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

About Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) 

Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Northern Illinois, Great Lakes Credit Union is banking for a greater good. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than $1.4 billion in assets, GLCU is proud to serve more than 105,000 members in Chicagoland and surrounding areas, and to give back to its members and communities through education, volunteerism, and partnerships. Learn more at www.glcu.org

About Mortgage Forward

Mortgage Forward, LLC is a credit union service organization in the Great Lakes Credit Union Family of Companies specializing in nationwide mortgage solutions. The organization helps credit unions, financial institutions, and originators expand mortgage offerings, strengthen operational efficiency, and deliver exceptional experiences across the full lending lifecycle. Learn more at www.mortgagefwd.com.

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SOURCE First Federal Bank

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Best VPS Hosting (2026): Virterion Recognized for Performance, Reliability, and Scalability by Expert Consumers

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NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Expert Consumers has recognized Virterion in an assessment of the best VPS hosting solutions for 2026. The recognition highlights the provider’s performance-focused virtual servers, infrastructure reliability, and ability to scale from entry-level VPS plans to dedicated hardware.

Best VPS Hosting

Virterion – a provider of VPS hosting, Windows VPS, website hosting, and dedicated servers offering KVM virtualization, configurable resources, European server locations, backup options, and scalable infrastructure, supported by 24/7 technical assistance and remote server management tools.

Demand for virtual private servers continues to grow as websites, applications, and databases require more control than conventional shared hosting can provide. VPS hosting allocates processing power, memory, and storage to an independent virtual environment. This structure gives developers and organizations greater control over software, security settings, and server configuration.

Virterion addresses these requirements through several workload-specific services. The portfolio includes standard VPS hosting, high-CPU configurations, Windows VPS, storage-focused virtual servers, website hosting tools, and dedicated servers. The range allows customers to select infrastructure based on processing, storage, operating system, and location requirements.

Virtual Servers Designed Around Different Workloads

Virterion uses KVM virtualization across the VPS range. KVM technology separates virtual machines within a physical server and provides each environment with allocated resources. Customers receive administrative access and can install supported operating systems or use compatible ISO images.

Standard VPS plans are available in Naaldwijk, the Netherlands, and Sofia, Bulgaria. Entry configurations include 1 vCPU, 1 GB of RAM, and 10 GB of SSD or NVMe storage. Plans also provide a static IPv4 address, with IPv6 available on applicable configurations.

The Netherlands and Bulgaria VPS ranges support resource customization. CPU cores, memory, storage, bandwidth, IP addresses, and backup capacity can be adjusted through the ordering system. Existing configurations can also be upgraded when traffic or application requirements increase.

Several operational features are available across applicable VPS plans:

Remote server access: A VNC console allows server access when standard network connections are unavailable.Backup controls: Supported plans allow manual backups and scheduled backup creation.Network testing: Looking Glass tools provide information about routes, latency, upload speeds, and download speeds.Flexible operating systems: Customers can select supported Linux distributions or compatible custom images.Technical assistance: Support is available around the clock through email, tickets, and online chat.

These tools give technical teams direct control over routine server management. However, customers remain responsible for application configuration, data protection, and software security.

Performance and Reliability Across European Locations

Location can influence website speed because distance affects the time required to transfer information. Virterion positions the Netherlands location for audiences across Central and Northern Europe. The Sofia location can support projects targeting Southeastern Europe and nearby markets.

Standard plans at both locations provide 300 Mbit/s network options and unlimited traffic. The Netherlands range uses enterprise NVMe storage, while the Bulgaria range uses enterprise SSD storage. Both formats are designed to provide faster data access than traditional mechanical drives.

Projects requiring greater processing capacity can use the High CPU VPS range. These servers use dedicated CPU cores, modern server processors, DDR5 memory, and enterprise NVMe storage. Virterion reports approximately 80 to 90 percent greater CPU performance than the standard Netherlands VPS line. The comparison is based on provider testing and should be evaluated alongside the requirements of each workload.

Reliability also depends on the surrounding data-center and network infrastructure. Virterion cites service availability of up to 99.995 percent for overseas data-center operations. Prospective customers can use the available network-testing tools to evaluate latency and routing before selecting a location.

Backup policies require careful review. Manual and scheduled backups are available on several VPS products, but customers remain responsible for protecting important files and databases. The storage-focused VPS line does not include backup functionality.

Storage VPS configurations begin with 500 GB of SSD capacity. Standard options extend to 1.5 TB, while configurable upgrades can reach 3 TB. This category may suit media libraries, archives, or data-heavy applications when an independent backup process is already established.

Windows VPS and Website Hosting

Virterion provides Windows VPS options in both the Netherlands and Bulgaria. Entry plans include 1 vCPU, 2 GB of RAM, 20 GB of SSD storage, a 300 Mbit/s network connection, one IP address, and unlimited traffic.

Windows VPS plans include a graphical desktop through Remote Desktop Protocol. VNC console access provides another method of connecting to the virtual machine. Manual and scheduled backup tools are also available.

The Windows service is unmanaged. Technical support can help address issues involving the virtual machine, but software and applications running inside the server remain the customer’s responsibility.

Windows licensing is another important consideration. Virterion provides an evaluation version with a 180-day trial key. A permanent operating system license is not included. Organizations planning long-term deployment should account for licensing and administration requirements before selecting a plan.

Website hosting can be managed through optional control-panel software. Available editions support individual developers, teams handling multiple projects, and agencies maintaining larger website portfolios. Depending on the selected edition, domain allowances include 10, 30, 50, or unlimited domains.

Relevant control-panel options include visual website management, database administration, WordPress tools, subscription controls, and account management. These features can reduce the amount of command-line work required for common hosting tasks.

A VPS still requires more technical involvement than conventional shared website hosting. The tradeoff is greater control over allocated resources, operating system settings, application installation, and security configuration.

Scaling From VPS Hosting to Dedicated Servers

Virtual servers can support many websites, development environments, databases, and business applications. Dedicated servers become more appropriate when a workload requires physical hardware without virtualization, larger memory capacity, multiple storage devices, hardware RAID, or consistently high network throughput.

Virterion offers dedicated servers from the Netherlands location. The catalog includes configurations for smaller production workloads and higher-capacity business systems. Available specifications include ECC memory, enterprise SSD and NVMe storage, hardware RAID options, and multiple-drive configurations.

Selected systems provide network links ranging from 1 Gbit/s to 10 Gbit/s. Traffic allowances vary by configuration, with unmetered service available as an upgrade on applicable servers. Some systems support hundreds of gigabytes of memory, while higher-capacity models support multiple enterprise storage devices.

The dedicated-server range provides a migration path for projects that outgrow VPS resources. Customers can begin with virtual infrastructure and move to physical hardware when performance, storage, or network requirements justify the change.

Dedicated hardware involves more planning than a standard VPS. Processor requirements, memory capacity, drive layout, RAID configuration, bandwidth, remote management, and operating system selection should be evaluated before ordering. Virterion provides sales assistance for customers who need help selecting a suitable configuration.

Practical Considerations for Prospective Customers

Virterion is suited to developers, agencies, online businesses, and technical teams seeking configurable VPS hosting in Europe. The service may also fit organizations requiring Windows-based environments, large-capacity storage, or access to dedicated infrastructure through the same provider.

The platform requires a degree of technical knowledge. Windows VPS plans are unmanaged, permanent Windows licensing is separate, and some storage plans do not include backup tools. Application security and data protection remain customer responsibilities.

Expert Consumers’ recognition focuses on the combination of workload-specific VPS options, configurable resources, European server locations, practical management tools, and a direct route to dedicated hardware. For organizations evaluating VPS hosting in 2026, these factors provide a structured way to match infrastructure with current requirements while preserving room for future growth.

The full review is available at the Expert Consumers website.

About Virterion

Virterion provides virtual private servers, Windows VPS, storage-focused VPS configurations, website hosting tools, dedicated servers, domains, and SSL certificates. Virtual server locations include the Netherlands and Bulgaria, with scalable configurations available for websites, applications, databases, and other online projects.

About ExpertConsumers.org: Expert Consumers delivers news and insights on consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Expert Consumers may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/best-vps-hosting-2026-virterion-recognized-for-performance-reliability-and-scalability-by-expert-consumers-302870035.html

SOURCE ExpertConsumers.org

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Experience AI Companion in Everyday Life at Hisense IFA 2026

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BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2026 /CNW/ — Hisense, a leading brand in global consumer electronics and home appliances, is inviting visitors at IFA 2026 to experience how AI can make everyday home routines simpler and more intuitive. Under the theme “Innovating a Brighter Life,” the Hisense AI Companion Suite, powered by ConnectLife, brings connected intelligence to the kitchen, laundry and living spaces.

Step into the kitchen and a simple question– “What should I make?”–can set the experience in motion. The AI Companion Refrigerator recognizes stored ingredients and suggests meal ideas based on personal preferences. Once a recipe is selected, it can sync with the AI Companion Oven to support automatic cooking, while the AI Companion Wine Cabinet recommends pairings and maintains suitable storage conditions. After the meal, the AI Companion Dishwasher recognizes dish conditions and adjusts cleaning, demonstrating how AI can support the journey from planning dinner to cleaning up.

In the laundry area, visitors can see how the AI Companion Laundry Suite turns a routine load into a simpler, more automated experience. By recognizing clothing characteristics, it selects suitable wash and dry cycles and adjusts the process automatically, creating a load-and-go experience.

The experience continues in the living space. The AI Companion Air Conditioner senses indoor conditions and user presence, adapting airflow as people move through the room. Meanwhile, the AI Companion Energy System considers weather and time-of-use electricity pricing to help optimize household energy use.

Building on ConnectLife’s support, Hisense is collaborating with Alexa+ to be among the first home appliance brands bringing smart home devices to Amazon’s Alexa+ AI assistant using Amazon’s new Smart Home AI Toolkit. Available in the coming months, Alexa+ customers will be able to control select Hisense air conditioners by simply saying what they need. Alexa+ will then map the request, navigate the settings, and complete the action for them.

Hisense’s approach to innovation has also earned recognition at IFA, with several of its products receiving awards. The Multi Function II Series, an all-in-one energy-saving HVAC solution, received a Winner Award, while the X-zone Master was named an Honoree. The U8 Air Master Air Conditioner, W60 3D Kitchen-fit Series and 60cm Integrated Wine Cabinet were also recognized that underscores Hisense’s focus on combining intelligent technology, thoughtful design and everyday usability.

Across these IFA scenarios, Hisense brings its Smart Home Companion capabilities to life through V AIOS, giving devices the ability to Sense what is happening, Think through what to do, Communicate naturally with users and across devices, and Execute tasks by orchestrating devices and services autonomously. Together, these capabilities help AI Companion Suites understand context, make decisions and take action, helping the home do more while asking less of its users.

About Hisense

Hisense, founded in 1969, is a globally recognized leader in home appliances and consumer electronics with operations in over 180 countries, specializing in delivering high-quality multimedia products, home appliances, and intelligent IT solutions. According to Omdia, Hisense ranks No. 1 globally in the 100-inch and over TV segment (2023-2026H1). As The Origin of RGB MiniLED, Hisense continues to lead the next-generation RGB MiniLED innovation. As the official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026TM, Hisense is committed to global sports partnerships as a way to connect with audiences worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/experience-ai-companion-in-everyday-life-at-hisense-ifa-2026-302870635.html

SOURCE Hisense

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PITAKA Marks Its Next Chapter in Berlin With “Signals in the Wind,” Unveiling New iPhone 18 Accessories

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At The Feuerle Collection in Berlin, PITAKA hosted its inaugural brand event, premiering the new ‘Wind Over Wheat’ design and debuting Trace Form™—the brand’s original textured-weave technique.

BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PITAKA, known for its aramid-fiber phone cases, MagSafe accessories and tech accessories for iPhone and Samsung devices, marked a new chapter for the brand on the evening of September 4, hosting its first-ever brand event, “Signals in the Wind” at The Feuerle Collection, a converted industrial-era space turned art museum in Berlin. From 8 p.m., guests, press and industry partners filled the space, and the evening drew widespread praise as a striking debut for PITAKA’s move from tech accessories into a broader lifestyle brand built around materials and design.

The evening unfolded across five stations built around PITAKA’s philosophy of Material & Sense. In “Material Speaks,” a wheat-field-inspired product display let guests handle PITAKA Moment and Trace pieces side by side, feeling firsthand how aramid fiber shifts from an industrial material into something more emotional. “Meditation in the Wind” paired field recordings — wind through wheat, rustling stalks, birdsong — with the sounds of aramid fiber and weaving, inviting guests into a moment that can’t be repeated. The night’s centerpiece was the world premiere of the Wind Over Wheat Trace Form Edition, followed by the public debut of Trace Form™ itself: PITAKA’s technique for letting select fibers drift from their programmed path, so texture emerges from the interplay of human judgment and material response. A short film closed the evening, following a sound artist’s process from recording in the wheat fields to performing an original score live on-site — an experiment, PITAKA said, in how perception itself gets captured.

Wind Over Wheat, the latest addition to the Trace collection, is inspired by the fleeting movement of wind across a wheat field and uses woven aramid fiber to capture the rhythm of the landscape. It arrives in three finishes — Golden Drift, Surging Awn and Berlin Nocturne — with the limited Trace Form Edition launching September 17, timed to PITAKA’s new iPhone 18 accessories collection.

“Technology has become incredibly precise, but we’re interested in what happens when we leave room for material, human judgment and nature to participate in the process,” said James Zheng, Founder of PITAKA. “We want to create products that do more than perform a function — products that people can see, touch and feel a connection with.”

Through “Signals in the Wind,” PITAKA is shifting the conversation beyond conventional accessory features such as thinness and protection, toward material, aesthetics and sensory experience — establishing the brand not simply as a maker of phone cases and tech accessories, but as a distinctive voice in material-led design and modern technology lifestyle.

About PITAKA

PITAKA is a material technology and lifestyle brand exploring how advanced materials, craftsmanship and thoughtful design can shape the way everyday technology feels. Built around its philosophy of Material & Sense, PITAKA creates aramid-fiber phone cases, MagSafe accessories, tech organization and lifestyle products for Apple and Samsung devices.

Website: www.ipitaka.com

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SOURCE PITAKA

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