A new research report on developing credit union collaboration found that many credit union executives did not consider credit union leagues or associations as good potential partners in such efforts.

"While there is divergence with a slightly positive bias for having leagues encourage collaboration, there is a corresponding divergence with a slightly negative bias for the trade associations doing so," wrote Michael Taylor, a business executive consultant who authored the report A Road Map For Credit Union Back-Office Collaboration.

Taylor's research involved interviews with 154 executives from a wide variety of institutions in the credit union industry. Despite what might be seen as an obvious role for the trade association's like CUNA or NAFCU in helping to develop industry collaborative efforts, he found many in the industry cynical and skeptical about a role for the trades.

"The main concern here is that the trade associations would be like central planning, and there is a fear of industry mandates," Taylor wrote. "While many feel there should be tools for collaboration from the Credit Union National Association, there is much dissent and an inference that they could expect more hindrance than help from the trade association," he added.