St. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Card Services For Credit Unions, the association of credit unions that process their card transactions with Fidelity National Information Services, reiterated its advice to member credit unions to prudently continue their credit card lending.

Speaking to member credit unions in an end of year CSCU online meeting Bill Lehman, CSCU's portfolio consultant, called the idea that credit unions should stop or sharply cut back on their credit card lending during these unsettled times a "myth." Instead, credit unions need to stick to the careful underwriting, introduce risk based pricing into their card programs if they have not already done so, and be quick to address cardholder delinquency problems should they occur.

Credit unions need to reach out to cardholders when they first become delinquent to offer them potential solutions to their problems before they worsen, Lehman urged. CUs should also recognize that many of their members with good credit are likely frustrated with their bank card issuers.