LAS VEGAS — Credit unions risk being outmaneuvered by big banks and the captives if they fail to tighten up their tracking and monitoring of auto loan data, a leading indirect lender, Larry Biernacki, president/CEO of the $509 million Arkansas Federal Credit Union, Jacksonville, Ark., warned last week.

By keeping closer tabs in such areas as dealer performance, borrower scores and loan terms, CUs stand a much-improved stance of beating back competitors "if they have a realistic idea of what is really happening in their shops."

"Keep track of everything," stressed Biernacki suggesting many CUs are lax in comparing and analyzing data affecting their loan operations in such areas as collections, scoring standards and even "what is the definition of bad–is it 60 days, 90 days, charge off or what?"