In the latest example of trade group economizing, the Missouri Credit Union Association and the Oklahoma Credit Union League have scheduled a joint fall leadership conference and expo in Branson, Mo.

The event, slated for Sept. 22-24 at the Chateau on the Lake Hotel, is simply being called Credit Union Convention & Expo, with two popular country music acts, Lee Greenwood and the Bellamy Brothers, on the entertainment bill.

For years the groups had been meeting separately in the Ozarks area until officials decided that 2009 was ripe for a joint conference to save CUs money and provide "credit union leaders from both states the opportunity to intermingle and share common ideas."