In a move reflective of the trend toward regional state leagues, a coalition of Mid-Continent trade groups, bent on cost cutting for their members, is meeting in Oklahoma City Nov. 2 to look at forming a CUSO to handle combined accounting and human relations functions.

The high-level meeting of both top league staffers and elected officers is being held in the new Credit Union House of the Oklahoma Credit Union League, which formally opened its doors today near the Oklahoma capitol building.

Invited to attend the Nov. 2 session are both chairmen and CEOs of at least nine leagues including Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, New Mexico and Colorado/Wyoming plus Oklahoma.

The concept for a joint CUSO arose out of an existing management pact covering a variety of back office services including accounting and human relations forged a year ago between the Oklahoma and Texas leagues, said Debra DJ Morrow, president/CEO of the Oklahoma League.

That agreement was reached to save on expenses and service duplication borne by member CUs and thus the leadership of other leagues believe similar deals through a CUSO might be arranged covering more leagues, particularly smaller ones with less resources, Morrow said.

Morrow noted that her league will look at renewing its one-year management agreement with Texas at the Nov. 2 meeting as well. She added that with some tweaks the program has worked successfully.