WASHINGTON -- CUNA's latest Straight to the Point brochure that gets distributed on Capitol Hill and elsewhere drives at the heart of what CUNA says is the motivator behind bankers' arguments against credit unions: greed.

For over 14 years, credit unions have remained at 6% of the financial services market while the large banks' portion continues to climb to the detriment of smaller banks. Yet the banks continue to target the credit unions as muscling in on their business.

CUNA contends this greed hurts small business by attempting to snuff out other lenders. It hurts local communities when multi-state banks "drain" funds and business decisions are made elsewhere. Finally, with less competition, banks can charge more and higher fees and rates and pay less on savings while less likely approving loans to low-income and minority applicants.

Credit unions are "different by design" the brochure emphasizes because they return earnings to the members, are democratically controlled by volunteers, nonprofit, charge lower fees and offer higher returns.