SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Wood Products Credit Union has received state approval to covert to a community-based charter, officials announced today. The credit union has changed its name to Northwest Community Credit Union to reflect the new charter. "With this change, Oregon now has a credit union that most Oregonians can join," said Helen Byrnes, president of the credit union. "Expanding our membership will help us offer more services, competitive rates and easier credit union access for more consumers." The new charter will allow residents in a 12-county area in central and western Oregon to join the credit union. "This provides an unprecedented level of choice for Oregonians," said Gene Poitras, president of the Credit Union Association of Oregon. "It will provide thousands of consumers with an option they didn't have before to enjoy the benefits of improved customer service and better rates while being part of a local institution." Wood Products, with 58,000 members and $356 million in assets, began in 1949 as the Weyerhaeuser Credit Union. The credit union currently has 11 branches.