ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Federal credit unions, including many larger ones, worked hard to add underserved areas to their fields of membership in September, according to NCUA's Insurance Report of Activity. The $1.9 billion Teachers Federal Credit Union of Farmingdale, N.Y., added the most underserved areas with 13 totaling 337,800 potential members. Ent Federal Credit Union ($1.7 billion in assets) added the most members with two underserved areas equaling 744,145 potential members. However, $38 million U S E Federal Credit Union also added 394,712 potential members in a single underserved area and $285 million Campus Federal Credit Union added 392,302. Capital Communications Federal Credit Union in Albany, N.Y. ($382 million in assets) added seven underserved areas. Twenty federal credit unions added 46 underserved areas during September, the most in a month since October 2002, out of a total of 185 approvals for the year through the end of September. The aggregate population of the areas adopted in September totaled more than 3.1 million. Another 15 underserved area applications were deferred for further information and two were denied. In addition, the report stated that $6.5 million Spokane Catholic Credit Union converted to a federal charter. The same month, Providence Health Systems Federal Credit Union was approved to expand to a TIP-trade, industry, or profession-charter serving the health care industry in Washington State and Oregon. The $55 million credit union's new field of membership includes up to 28,000 potential members. Finally, the credit union merger trend waged on with another 30 credit unions merging in September. The assets of all 30 totaled just around $248 million. -

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