The pursuit of quality loans in the midst of tight margins and astepped-up merger scene presents a challenging environment for bothWest Coast credit unions and community banks, according to OregonCEO Ron Barrick, who holds a leadership role on a key FederalReserve regional panel.

Barrick, president/CEO of the $904 million Advantis CU ofMilwaukie, said he's found some comfort in knowing that financialinstitutions of all stripes are finding a tough climate ingenerating good loan volume.

And as for the spate of recent merger activity in his region,Barrick said, “Yes, there could be more of it down the road.”

Current deals include the planned $1 billion combination ofHarborstone CU of Tacoma/Lakewood, Wash., and Prevail of Seattleand the takeover of Montana First CU by Horizon CU of SpokaneValley, Wash., to form a $510 million CU.

Barrick made his comments as the Fed panel he serves as vicechair – the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council of theFederal Reserve Bank of San Francisco –

prepares for its fall meeting Sept. 25.

The district bank Fed panel, with a heavy preponderance ofcommunity bank CEOs as directors, deals primarily and mostlyprivately with economic and payments issues in the Fed's vast WestCoast district, which also includes Alaska and Hawaii.

Barrick said he feels privileged to serve on the San FranciscoFed panel and has found it particularly useful in guiding policyand gauging how to deal with internal marketing, management andpayment issues as he rubs shoulders with CEOs from major regionalbanks from Idaho to Arizona.

“I've found serving on the CDIAC a great opportunity to shareideas and compare notes,” Barrick said.

Also serving on the San Francisco Fed's CDIAC is Darin Moody,president/CEO of the $246 million Utah First FCU of Salt LakeCity.