In Pennsylvania, the chasm between credit unions and smallcommunity banks looks to be getting smaller-at least where it comesto operations and training.

In a departure apparently reflecting a changed financiallandscape, the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association and thestate's Association of Community Bankers are making plans for pilotjoint training and education sessions this fall with CU and banksign-ups for the program slated to start March 1.

The initial sessions are being geared to female executives inboth industries under the “Women's Leadership” banner.

“Politics aside, we may disagree on lots of issues, but we findmany of the challenges among credit unions and community banks verymuch alike,” said a spokesman for PCUA.

On the same wavelength, Kristine Warner, vice president ofcommunity and government relations for the 120-member PennsylvaniaAssociation of Community Bankers, said the “past two years and whathas gone down on Dodd-Frank has shown us that the big divide is nolonger so much between banks and credit unions but between the bigbanks and smaller financial institutions.”

There are too many areas, she said, where small banks and CUsshare mutual interests “and should be working together.”

The education series, said Warner, will deal with such topics asleadership skills, branch management, marketing and lending, witheight sites across the state being lined up.

The program's curriculum and the speakers will reflect “thenatural synergy” between banks and small CUs, she added.

She said she was unaware of similar joint CU-bank trade venturesbut there is no reason Pennsylvania cannot be a trailblazer withthe PCUA-PACB sessions serving as a template.

James McCormack, president/CEO of PCUA, said the series withPACB demonstrates a collaborative effort “to offer education,training/networking opportunities on common issues.”