APPLE VALLEY, Minn. — Wings Financial Federal made more roundsthis week meeting with members of Continental FCU in both Houstonand Newark, N.J.

Wings Financial did say earlier this week representatives werein Houston as they were on March 9, the same day it submitted itsmerger proposal to Continental. With the announcement today that itwas withdrawing its merger proposal, Wings Financial remainedoptimistic saying it was “gratified by the many ContinentalAirlines employees and other former CFCU members who have joinedWings Financial since this effort began.” A comment on the totalnumber of members that have joined the CU was not immediatelyavailable.

Both Continental and Wings Financial have trade, industry andprofessions charters, which permits them to serve the entire airtransportation industry. Technically, members can belong to bothCUs. Wings Financial said its membership is drawn from more than 30airlines around the world.

In addition to Continental, $300 million FAA First FCU and $50million Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Employees FCU were alsoapproached by Wings Financial but each said they turned down themerger requests. The $4.1 billion American Airlines FCU said WingsFinancial sent it a letter in 2005 but there was no discussion of amerger.