Total savings for responding credit unions reached more than$1.1 trillion, according to World Council of Credit Unions' newlyreleased 2009 Statistical Report. That's the highest level sinceWOCCU first began conducting the survey in 1972, and representsnearly a 15% increase from 2008.

Loans were another indicator demonstrating strong growth overthe previous year, climbing to nearly $912 billion from $847billion in 2008. This sizeable increase is further accentuated incontrast to a slight decrease in loans globally between 2007 and2008.

In recent years, credit unions worldwide have seen notablegrowth in assets, membership, savings and other indicators.Cumulative assets reached nearly $1.4 trillion in 2009, up from$1.2 trillion in 2008, and reserves reached nearly $120 billion in2009, up from slightly more than $115 billion in 2008.