Two Virginia credit unions say they've disaffiliated with NAFCUand will retain only their CUNA memberships.

On Tuesday, the $1.9 billion Chartway FCU of Virginia Beach, Va., said in a release it madethe decision during a strategic planning session.

“We strongly believe that our industry should have only onevoice to represent us, and we needed to evaluate which tradeassociation best aligned with our value proposition in our businessmodel,” said Ron Burniske, president/CEO.

Burniske said both CUNA and NAFCU “demonstrate exceptional work”but added that the decrease in the number of credit unions meanstwo trade associations aren't the most effective and efficientmodel for the future of the industry.

The $300 million Belvoir FCU said it also decided to drop its NAFCU membershipfor 2013 and retain only membership with CUNA. The Woodbridge,Va.-based credit union had been a NAFCU member since 1996.

“We were looking to cut costs and we already work with theVirginia Credit Union League and CUNA,” said Chief MarketingOfficer Jason Lindstrom. “The Virginia Credit Union Leaguehas shown us that they are successful advocating for us on thestate level and CUNA has shown the same on the national level.”

Lindstrom said Belvoir hasn't completely cut the NAFCU cord,however.

“We appreciate our long-term relationship with NAFCU and we willstill support them when they have webinars and other learningopportunities that fit a need for us. That's the beauty ofthe system, we can still purchase a 'one-off' webinar when we needto,” he said.

The news follows the announcement earlier this month by the $1.7 billion JSCFCU ofHouston disassociated with CUNA and the Texas Credit Union Leaguefor 2013. President/CEO Mike Brown said he made the decision to cutout the redundant expense of belonging to two tradeassociations.

“Both CUNA and TCUL are fine organizations and we have nothingnegative to say about CUNA or the League,” Brown said Jan.4.

NAFCU President/CEO Fred Becker told Credit Union Timeson Wednesday he's not concerned with credit unions thatdisaffiliate from his trade association. He said NAFCU has added100 new members over the past few years, including one Wednesday,and even increased overall membership in 2012 despite the decreasednumber of credit unions.

He also sourced an independent survey NAFCU conducted in October2012 in which 97% of CEO respondents said they were “likely” or“very likely” to renew their membership. Additionally, 94% saidthey were “completely” or “somewhat satisfied” with NAFCU'sregulatory advocacy, and 89% were “completely” or “somewhatsatisfied” with the trade's legislative advocacy.

The survey was conducted by McKinley Advisors and was sent to11,275 credit union CEOs, chairs, staff, and volunteers. A total of1,275 responses were received for an 11% response rate.

Becker said that through the crisis, NAFCU never lost money orhad to lay off staff “as others did” and has recently hiredadditional employees to provide compliance expertise.

“I have other things to do than call somebody and ask why theyjoined,” Becker said. “And I think the members want me focused onthe issues facing them and the industry, not on us.”