INDIANAPOLIS – The $918 million Forum Credit Union got plenty ofmedia mileage this month out of its $25 million expansion of itsnew headquarters building in suburban Fishers, but it alsotriggered an attack from the Indiana Bankers Association. Thebanker blast came in a letter to the editor in the IndianapolisStar, claiming the building was a “tax subsidy” unfairly foisted onIndiana citizens. The Aug. 20 letter written by James Cousins,president and CEO of the IBA, takes Forum to task for itstax-exempt status and wasting taxpayer money “while the federalgovernment is running billions of debt every year.” In his letter,Cousins made reference to the gleaming new glass and steel buildingin Fishers which includes a 700-seat conference center as well asfitness center and other facilities for employees. The IndianapolisCU had dedicated its headquarters expansion Aug. 9 in a ceremonyreceiving press coverage and attended by local dignitariesincluding Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman. “This is simply more ofthe same that we've been getting all along and this case we feelthat since we've been singled out, a rebuttal is required,”explained A C. Andrew Mattingly, senior vice president-strategy& marketing. Forum CU CEO Gary Irvin is sending in a rebuttalletter that the CU expects to be published.Irvin, the CEO, hascalled the Fishers headquarters addition “a testament to theemployees of Forum Credit Union and the members we serve.”Underscoring its growth, Forum, he said, intends to hire 200 newemployees over the next 10 years. The new building “demonstrates acommitment to serve member needs over the next 20 years,” he said.Forum, the city's largest with 84,000 members, built its initial45,000-square-foot corporate office in 1991. The new expansiontakes the headquarters to a total of 155,000 square feet. One mediastory noted the building is visible to motorists along I-69 and thearchitects, Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf of Indianapolis, designedit “as a perfect setting to display eye-popping paintings and otherwork by Hoosier artists.” But Cousins of the Indiana BankersAssociation told Credit Union Times the Forum expansion is simplyanother example of CUs like Forum “performing full service” justlike banks but taking advantage of their non-profit structure. Thenewspaper coverage of the building triggered his decision to writethe letter, “but this is an issue I've been concerned about for 30years and one that I will continue to highlight.” Cousins denied heor the IBA is waging any specific anti-CU campaign now, “but I willpoint this out every chance I get.” [email protected]