Witnessing the credit union experience with Homes for Our Troops, a handful of banks led by Bank of America, are now playing catch-up.

"I think the banks, struggling with their reputation and trying to restore confidence, see the positive exposure credit unions have enjoyed," explained a spokeswoman for HFOT, a Taunton, Mass. group spearheading the building of specially fitted homes for severely injured Iraqi and Afghanistan war veterans.

Just this week the $723 million Advantis CU of Milwaukie, Ore. said it was soliciting Oregon CUs for 2009 fundraising to build homes for two injured vets, one in Portland and the other in Hood River.

The two vets to receive the free homes "lost their legs in the line of duty and live in places that do not accommodate their disabilities and create obstacles for daily living." The specifically adapted homes include such amenities as wheelchair cabinetry, roll-in showers and automatic door openers.

Outside of Advantis, the HFOT spokeswoman said BofA and American State Bank of Texas are the latest title sponsors.

Last year CUNA, together with the Minnesota and Colorado/Wyoming Leagues helped erect homes in Golden, Colo. and Woodbury, Minn., gaining media and political exposure during the Democratic and Republican Party conventions. Active support for HFOT has also come from the Massachusetts and Missouri leagues.