Wyoming credit unions "are a proud group" and a majority of the 25-member Credit Union Association of Wyoming simply prefers to continue their close, working ties with the Credit Union Association of Colorado without pursuing a merger, the chairman of CUAW said Tuesday.

Elaborating on a decision last week to call off merger discussions between CUAW and CUAC, Marsha Tynsky, chair of the Wyoming group and president/CEO of Trona Valley Community CU of Green River, said trade group consolidation remains "a sensitive issue and emotion runs high about Wyoming identity."

Though a formal merger had been suggested a year ago, an improved Wyoming economy has changed opinions, said Tynsky. Also, another factor in altering perspectives has been geographic differences among border cities in southern Wyoming and those in the northern half, sources said. Nonetheless, CUs across the state, she said, are supportive of an existing service agreement in place since 1998 between the trade groups.