Bent on enhancing broad, industry awareness online and in social media, a group of state leagues announced today development of a specialized credit union-based "consumer website" to launch perhaps by year-end.

The branded web project, which has been in the planning stages since last year, would provide consumers referral services, financial literacy information, video clips, testimonials and potential to tap into the current anti-bank sentiment, said the league backers.

"While many of the trade organizations, including CUNA and the leagues, have worked hard at getting the credit union message out, much more can be done online based on the flexibility and pervasiveness of that channel," said Paul Gentile president/CEO of the New Jersey Credit Union League and head of the National Credit Union Consumer Website Task Force.