As the industry joins the nation Sunday in marking solemn 9/1l events, the leaders of both CUNA and NAFCU Friday expressed their own sentiments about the tragic day citing both the blessings of being an American and facing the new regimen of terror dangers.

"Since that terrible day, all of us have lived under a new regimen designed to protect us from further acts of terrorism and in some cases, that has led to a greater regulatory burden for credit unions, but it is something that we work on every day to balance the need to protect our country with the cost to credit unions of compliance, as well as the intrusion into the privacy of our members' lives," declared Bill Cheney, president/CEO of CUNA.

While Sept. 11 "has changed everything," said Cheney, CUs now "rally behind the idea that we will continue to provide services to our members at the highest levels, despite any threats from those who may wish harm to our country and way of life."