PHOENIX – There are still four months remaining to the end of 2005, but already Desert Schools FCU has added more than $1 billion in loans to its loan portfolio. Desert Schools VP and Chief Lending Officer Robin O'Rorke said the CU achieved its biggest lending month ever in its 66-year history in August when it surpassed $212 million in new loans just for that month. The $2.4 billion credit union attributes its loan portfolio growth to the booming housing market in the area and a diverse portfolio of new lending products including interest-only home equity options, refinancing programs like Master Mortgage, and Desert Schools' Business Services geared to assist small businesses more efficiently obtain loans. In addition, through the more than 200 dealers it has relations with, Desert Schools continues to dominate automobile and motorcycle lending in Arizona.