Woman arrested after robbing Union Bank

A tattooed woman suspected in a string of robberies was taken into custody after she used a demand note in a North Park bank heist, authorities announced today.

The 27-year-old suspect entered a Union Bank branch at 2927 University Av. around 11 a.m. yesterday and presented a demand note to a teller, according to Sgt. Kerry Tom.

The teller handed the woman an undisclosed amount of cash, and the suspect left the bank, Tom said.

A bank security guard followed the suspect outside and confronted her before taking her into custody without incident, he said.

Police said the suspect was involved in at least six other robbery cases, Tom said.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.