SHREWSBURY, N.J. – Credit card fraud has made national headlines in recent years and in the credit union industry losses to fraud are rising.

CUNA Mutual has been sounding the alarms about plastic card losses all year, saying that losses need to be reduced or the insurer may have to consider the future viability of insuring CUs' plastic card programs.

Credit unions have also been selling off their credit card portfolios in recent years. Many believe they can't compete with large card issuers that continuously mail out low rate offers to consumers.

These factors beg the question: Is it worth it for CUs to stay in the credit card business? Advocates of staying in say it is because it is an important relationship product with members. But others believe consumers view cards as a commodity, and what name is on the card doesn't really matter.

This is the topic of Credit Union Times' new online voting poll. The question is as follows:

With mounting fraud and intense competition, should credit unions stay in the credit card business?

* Yes

* No

* Not Sure