<p>Looking back five years ago finds credit unions feeling the chapter 7 punch. "The scary thing is that people are using bankruptcy as a first option instead of a last resort," said Sarah Cummer, federal compliance counsel for CUNA. "There's less of a stigma today, and with all the attorney advertisements, it is sort of being marketed as a relatively easy financial solution." To stem the tide until the bankruptcy code is revamped more and more credit unions are seeking out experts in collections and bankruptcy. Also in that issue a bank credit card offer turned into a public common bond/taxation argument. When the 19 year-old son of a credit union president received a pre-approved Aspire Visa card with a 30% interest rate, Gwinnett FCU President/CEO Marshall Boutwell saw it as "another example of how banks take advantage of consumers." Boutwell then fired letters off to not only the chairman of the holding company, but members of Congress, the state Senate, the Banking Committee Members of the Georgia legislature and to Reggie Cox, president/CEO of Eastside Bank & Trust Co. and outspoken member of the Community Bankers Association in Georgia. Bankers responded in kind and used it as an opportunity to bring up questions regarding CU common bond and taxation. Finally Senator Don Balfour settled the debate by agreeing with both sides.</p>