WASHINGTON – The latest Callahan & Associates 2002 2nd Quarter Research and Data Report finds that Suncoast Schools CU in Tampa, Florida; Westby Co-op CU in Wisconsin and North Star Community CU in Cherokee, Iowa are the new Top Return of the Member leaders. Top ROM ranks credit unions that provide the best value to members via high savings rates and low borrowing rates. Suncoast Schools scored 93.85, the top for credit unions with over $250 million in assets; Westby Co-op scored 97.31 for those between $100 and $150 million; and North Star Community scored 96.5 for those between $50 and $100 million. The average credit union scores about 50. The report shows that shares in credit unions with over $50 million in assets topped $400 billion by June 30, a 14.5% increase in the year since June 2001. According to Callahan Executive Vice President Jay Johnson, over 8% of this growth came in the first six months of the year-an amazing rate for credit unions that is not far behind last year's exceptional 10.1% pace for the first two quarters. Money market shares rose 36.5% over midyear 2001 levels while regular shares increased 21.1% in the same period. Loans grew 9.7% over the past year in credit unions with over $50 million in assets, according to the new report. Second quarter loan growth was 3.1%, up from the 1.0% rate during the first quarter with real estate lending showing the strongest gains. The 16.2% growth in real estate secured loans was led by first mortgages, which were up 18.6%. Used auto loans were the second highest loan growth category, rising 13.1% over the past 12 months. Real estate now comprises 45.4% of the loans in credit unions with over $50 million in assets, while auto loans are the second largest category with 36.9% of the loan portfolio, the report shows. The new report lists ROM rankings for the 1,819 credit unions with assets over $50 million, representing 84% of industry assets. Data comes from the 5300 Call Reports.