A new research report on developing credit union collaborationfound that many credit union executives did not consider creditunion leagues or associations as good potential partners in suchefforts.

"While there is divergence with a slightly positive bias forhaving leagues encourage collaboration, there is a correspondingdivergence with a slightly negative bias for the trade associationsdoing so," wrote Michael Taylor, a business executive consultantwho authored the report A Road Map For Credit Union Back-OfficeCollaboration.

Taylor's research involved interviews with 154 executives from awide variety of institutions in the credit union industry. Despitewhat might be seen as an obvious role for the trade association'slike CUNA or NAFCU in helping to develop industry collaborativeefforts, he found many in the industry cynical and skeptical abouta role for the trades.