When credit union executives were recently asked what theyconsidered to be their top auto lending initiatives this year,nearly 70% said increasing dealer network relationships.

That’s according to the CU Direct Survey of Lending Officers2014. The Ontario, Calif.-based lending and automotive servicesCUSO collected data from 72 respondents on projected auto loangrowth.

Coming in second place at 37.5% was geographic expansionfollowed by increasing rate competiveness at 34.7%, easingunderwriting standards at 29.2%, and adding or expand an autobuying service at 23.6%.

On average, the executives said they are projecting 6.3% autoloan growth in 2013. About 25% were bullish on auto loans thisyear, projecting more than 10% auto loan growth. Another roughly25% projected between 6% and 10% growth. Click on thegraph above to expand and see all the responses.

To realize those goals the survey’s respondents said they planto deploy a number of strategies to make them happen. Among them,expanding existing member loan relationships and recapture andincreasing marketing efforts by email and direct mail. Theexecutives also plan to increase marketing, target marketing tomembers and expand member incentives.

Forming closer relationships with select employee groups,keeping dealer relations a top priority as well as solidifyingcurrent dealership relations were other ways the executives saidthey plan to carry out their auto lending goals, according to theCU Direct survey.