ARLINGTON, Va. — Executives with card processors, CUSOs and card consultancies are generally upbeat about the prospects for CU card programs in 2009, despite the troubled economic picture.

"In general economic terms, 2009 is going to look at like 2008," said Robert Hackney, resident of Card Services for Credit Unions. "But we expect that the trends toward better card management and marketing that we have seen will continue and that cards issued by credit unions will remain the strong opportunity that they have been."

Hackney and other card executives cited things like the strong positions credit union card assets have in relation to other assets and strong consumer demand for available, reasonably priced credit as reasons for the continued strength. Possible brakes on the growth of CU card portfolios in 2009 included increased delinquencies and charge offs as CU members struggled with the poor economy and a possible consumer desire to pay down debt.