In another tweak of Bank of America and now Wells Fargo fortheir latest forays into higher checking fees, the head of the $4.2billion Bethpage Federal Credit Union over the weekend called themoves by the two megabanks another example of good news for creditunions.

Kirk Kordeleski, president/CEO of Long Island's largest CU, alsodisputed the notion, often spread by banks themselves, that CUs arepicking up the high-volume, low-balance accounts in a followup toBank Transfer Day.

“We're not in the numbers game but we are pleased that based onthe results we received in the last quarter we are getting primaryrelationships and these are members who will be taking on those carloans, mortgages and everything else we have to offer,” Kordeleskisaid in citing the profit potential from Bethpage BTDpromotions.

He said many of the largest banks experience higher cost percheck expense than Bethpage but the new accounts streaming to theCU represent profitable sources of new income.

The New York CEO also said that economic conditions have helped.He said Bethpage FCU has seen a $125 million boost in assets in thefirst 10 weeks of 2012.

Asked about the recent HarborOne CU plan for a mutual conversion in Massachusetts anda hint by Apple FCU in Virginia about doing the same, Kordeleskidiscounted any kind of trend under way and said there have not beenany major CU-to-bank switches in years.

“It's more pent-up demand surfacing,” he said, defending the CUcharter as a great business model that works for his CU.

The Bethpage CEO however, said he would not prejudge therationale behind HarborOne's plans to become a bank.

“(HarborOne President/CEO) Jim Blake is a smart guy” who made adecision based on his own market conditions, said Kordeleski. “Ionly know my community.”

He said a mutual structure is not in the cards for his creditunion.