It's tough for credit unions to stand out and win over potentialmembers in today's competitive market. But these credit unionsmight have an advantage, simply because of their names.

Click through this slideshow to find out what's behind eight ofthe most unique credit union monikers, and feel free to use the“Comment” function to add your own contributions to the list.

1. Quiet Corner Community Credit Union ($1.7million, Putnam, Conn.)

This name evokes thoughts of a library or another calm place forreading or studying. Is this credit union's service area reallythat low-key? Apparently so, according to its website. Putnam islocated in the northeast corner of Connecticut, also known as the“Quiet Corner,” and is home to small businesses such as antiqueshops. The 600-member Quiet Corner Community CU is open to anyonewho lives, works or worships in the five towns that comprise thestate's Quiet Corner.

2. Magic Valley Federal Credit Union ($6.2million, Twin Falls, Idaho)

This credit union must be where miracles occur, right? For thosenot from Idaho, Magic Valley in fact refers to an eight-countyregion in the south-central part of the state. The nickname “MagicValley” came about when the construction of several dams andirrigation canal systems along the Snake River “magically”transformed an uninhabited area into a region with thrivingcommunities. The credit union serves 1,200 members in the MagicValley.

3. Mile High Federal Credit Union ($20.4million, Butte, Mont.)

A credit union for airline pilots and flight attendants,perhaps? And it's not even in Denver, a place typically associatedwith that nickname. Mile High FCU is actually based in a placewhere the elevation is high – Butte, Mont. The credit union saidits name is based on the fact that the city of Butte sits one mileabove sea level. There are 2,300 members affiliated with Silver BowCounty currently belonging to the credit union. Mile High FCUemphasizes the soaring theme with an image of an eagle flying abovea mountain range in its newsletter logo.

4. Guardian Angel Credit Union($40.9 million, Berlin, N.H.)

Given its name, this credit union must want members to knowthey're being watched over (or, at least that their finances are ingood hands). When it opened in 1929, this credit union's originalemployment group comprised the French-speaking members of theGuardian Angel Parish, a church located next door to the creditunion. Guardian Angel CU now serves 4,600 members living or workingwithin a 50-mile radius of Berlin, N.H.

5. Forest Area Federal Credit Union ($88.3million, Fife Lake, Mich.)

This credit union first opened in Fife Lake in 1983 at a placerun and frequented by lovers of the outdoors – Larr's SportingGoods store. Tucked away in lower Michigan's woodsy northwestcorner near Lake Michigan, it would move locations twice in thenext decade, to Fife Lake's original bank building in 1985 and toits current location in a different building in 1993. Today, withservices such as mobile banking, financial education and aninteractive online banking site, Forest Area FCU ensures its 11,000members won't be left out in the woods.

6. Cutting Edge Federal CreditUnion ($39.4 million, Milwaukie, Ore.)

The name implies that this credit union – or its members, orboth – is forward thinking and progressive, but “cutting edge” ismore literal than you might think. Cutting Edge FCU began in 1953as Chipper Chain FCU and served the employees of chainsaw partsmanufacturing company Chipper Chain. Now, its 3,800 members areaffiliated with a number of primarily manufacturing companiesincluding Blount Inc., Pacific Scientific-OECO, Day Wireless, Bob'sRed Mill, CriterionBrock and ATK. But, the credit union says“cutting edge” is also in fact a reference to what it offersmembers – although it's a small credit union, it strives to matchthe big guys in terms of products and services.

7. Chocolate Bayou Community Federal Credit Union ($90.8million, Alvin, Texas)

What sounds like a cross between candy and swampy land is infact the name of an actual bayou near Alvin, which contains waterthat's “the color of chocolate candy and is as muddy as can be,”said credit union President/CEO Gary Davis. The credit unionstarted in 1962 as Monsanto Chocolate Bayou FCU to serve theemployees of Monsanto Chemical Company, and the company's plant waslocated right on the Chocolate Bayou. Today, it has 17,100 membersin Brazoria County, located just off the coast of the Gulf ofMexico.

8. Tip of Texas Federal Credit Union ($24.7million, El Paso, Texas)

This catchy name is a nod to the credit union's location in ElPaso, which is on the western tip of the state of Texas, right onthe Mexican border. The credit union became Tip of Texas FCU in2006, when it was renamed from SPUR FCU to better illustrate thefact that its field of membership stretched beyond Southern PacificUnited Railroad employees (in fact, the railroad company had beenbought out). The credit union now has around 5,600 members in theEl Paso area.