For their business, consumer and mortgage lending efforts, fivecredit unions were recognized Monday for their loan programs.

The CUNA Lending Council and CUNA Mutual Group named therecipients of the Excellence in Lending awards, which werepresented at the council's annual conference in Phoenix to thefollowing credit unions:

• $453 million Consumers Credit Union, Kalamazoo, Mich.: consumerlending, assets more than $250 million
• $227 million Texell Credit Union, Temple, Texas: consumerlending, assets less than $250 million
• $764 million Texas Trust Federal Credit Union, Mansfield, Texas: mortgagelending, assets more than $250 million
• $38.5 million Limestone Federal Credit Union, Manistique,Mich.: mortgage lending, assets less than $250 million
• $32 million Upper Cumberland Federal Credit Union, Crossville,Tenn.: mortgage lending, assets less than $250 million
• $1.6 billion GTE Financial, Tampa, Fla.: business lending
• Texell Credit Union: low-to-modest means

CONSUMER – Assets More than $250 Million

Consumers CU's “Silver Lining” home equity loan program wasaimed at meeting a need for near-retirees with good credit andequity with a desire to pay off their mortgages before retirement.A no-closing cost home equity loan, Silver Lining, is a three,five, seven or 10-year loans as low as 2.99% that allows members toaccelerate debt repayment and consolidate debt.

CONSUMER – Assets Less Than $250Million

Texell CU found that by developing new products and underwritingprocedures, implementing a sales-driven, relationship-buildingculture and by making a number of operational improvements, itachieved the highest loan-to-share ratio in its history, includinghigher average loan balances per member and more members that areborrowers. At the end of 2007, about 22.9% of members wereborrowers. By the end of 2012, that number increased to more than51%. At the same time, average loan balances increased from $9,249to $10,736.

MORTGAGE – Assets More Than $250 Million

Texas Trust CU started stabilizing its mortgage operation byaligning staff, improving efficiencies and making sure the rightpeople were in positions to meet the challenge. With more than 50%of its production being home equity loans, Texas Trust identifiedmarket needs and began marketing what turned out to be more than100 different first and second lien mortgage choices. Thoseawareness efforts paid off with member penetration for mortgagelending increasing from two percent to 15%.

MORTGAGE – Assets Less Than $250 Million

Limestone FCU took a deep dive into the credit union'sshortcomings and opportunities included polling members and ratingproducts and services. When 10-year, fixed rate mortgages wereoffered, members thought they couldn't afford them, but byeducating them against the “buy now, pay late” mentality, manymembers were put on a path to becoming financially independent, theaward announcement said.

MORTGAGE – Assets Less Than $250 Million

Upper Cumberland FCU created a 10-year, fixed-rate product witha 3.99% APR with no origination fees for members that owed $75,000or less on their home and had a minimum credit score of 680. Themortgage hit a special need in the community as many membersconsolidated all their debt into one payment, the credit unionsaid.

BUSINESS

GTE Financial had a business loan portfolio heavy on largecommercial loans on hotel property during a collapsingeconomy. In October 2010, the credit union's business servicesstaff decided to bring the credit union philosophy to the smallbusiness community with a focus on building relationships andproviding loans to local, small businesses, which were ignored bycompetitors. The new strategy put lending targets at $750,000 andunder. By building relationships with the local, small businesses,GTE Financial had less competition, more opportunity, and reducedrisk.

LOW-TO-MODEST MEANS

Texell CU has transformed its lending strategy to betterserve a predominantly low-income membership base. Thattransformation has propelled loan performance to the highest in thecredit union's history, including the highest loan-to-share andborrower-to-member ratios in the credit union's history. Some ofthose loans include Holiday Loans, a payday alternative extended,regardless of credit score; Yes! Loans, aimed at members andpotential members previously denied loans and Aspire Credit Card, apartially or fully secured card.