TULSA, Okla. -- Regional leagues are in the credit union future and represent a new framework for trade group governance, two top leaders of the Texas Credit Union League said Thursday.

Appearing here at the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Credit Union League to discuss a new national "model" for regional league management were Richard Ensweiler, president/CEO of the Texas League, and its chairman, Ayn Talley, who also is president/CEO of the $295 million Houston Police CU.

The two were here this week to field questions from members of the Oklahoma League on a "partnership" offer in 2009 to handle an array of internal services now run by the Oklahoma League through its 15-employee Tulsa headquarters being relocated next year to Oklahoma City.

Under a "laundry list" service package which leaves intact advocacy and statehouse lobbying to the Oklahoma League, the Texas League is offering to handle for a fee an array of functions including IT, human relations, education, auditing and possibly others.

"We have already reached an agreement with the Arkansas League to handle IT, HR and accounting," said Ensweiler in underscoring how the regional service concept is on a fast track.