WASHINGTON – Compared to last year, Texas state-chartered credit unions posted slower growth during the first half of 2005. According to Callahan & Associates, Inc., the fourth largest state in terms of the number of state chartered CU, Texas' $19.7 billion in assets represents 6.0% of all state chartered CUs' assets. Total membership increased 2.5% in the first six months of 2005 to 3.2 million, but this was down from a 4.5% increase during this same time last year. Share balances have increased 3.1% since last year to $16.7 billion, with an average share balance of $5,278. Still, loans have risen 8.2% since last year compared to a 16.4% in 2004, Callahan reported. Real estate lending led the growth rising 23.7%. Auto loans, which are the largest part of Texas state CUs' $13.7 billion loan portfolio, increased by 2.6% to $8.5 billion. As for the $1 billion OmniAmerican CU and $1.4 billion Community CU, which are both seeking to convert to mutual thrifts, both saw mixed results through June. CCU grew loans by 3.9%, shares by 7.2% and members by 2.3% over the past 12 months while OmniAmerican declined in all three categories over this same period. Both CUs were able to grow capital, with Community increasing its capital by 5.5% and OmniAmerican by 7.6%.